Ottawa adds $500 million to regional AI program
The five-year expansion brings total federal funding for the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative to $700 million.
Ottawa is adding $500 million over five years to the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative, bringing total federal funding for the program to $700 million.
Canada’s regional development agencies deliver the program. It supports businesses adopting AI and Canadian firms commercializing or scaling AI products, with a focus on sectors including health, energy, transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and robotics.
In Québec, Canada Economic Development lists eligible applicants as small and medium-sized businesses, startups, non-profit organizations that support SMEs, and Indigenous-led businesses or non-profits. Applicants should use the regional agency’s program page to confirm eligibility and current intake details.
Sources: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, national expansion announcement, published October 13, 2026; Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Québec program page, accessed October 14, 2026.
Featured image: Illustrative digital artwork representing artificial intelligence, not equipment funded by the program. Image by Steve A Johnson on Unsplash; cropped and resized by West Island Blog.
AI-assisted news brief. Sources are linked above.
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