Sponsor

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) 

Program

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative – Productization and Commercialization Pillar 1

For More Information

Visit the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative program [1] webpage.

Description

Canada's regional development agencies (RDAs) are delivering $200 million through the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) to help bring new AI technologies to market and speed up AI adoption in sectors across the country. Through RAII, RDAs will support projects that help businesses and organizations turn ideas into real-world solutions for Canadians and compete globally.

Productization and Commercialization Pillar Objectives:

Through this pillar of RAII, FedDev Ontario will support projects that help businesses and organizations take AI solutions and technologies from the lab to the marketplace.

Eligible Projects:

Projects must be primarily focused on the productization/commercialization of responsible AI or AI-driven solutions to be eligible for funding under this pillar.

FedDev Ontario may give priority to projects that can demonstrate at least one of the following:

• Positive market traction, for example, through sales of their products or services, export potential and/or domestic and global patent filings.
• Evidence of past or current assistance from the innovation ecosystem, for example, investment from an accredited angel or venture capital investor or participation in a Canadian business accelerator, incubator, a government program, or a similar initiative.

See "Eligibility" for more details on what constitutes an eligible project.

Eligibility

Eligible Not-For-Profit Organizations:

Not-for-profit organizations are permitted to apply provided they can demonstrate the following: 

• Incorporation as a not-for-profit in Canada or Ontario; 
• A track record of providing services to multiple businesses in Southern Ontario*; 
• An intellectual property (IP) policy which addresses the ownership and protection of IP and rights to third party IP if required for the project; and, 
• A commitment to responsible AI (visit the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative program [1] webpage for more details on what this entails).

*The Research Innovation Office can provide guidance on this section if needed. Please contact ipadmin@uoguelph.ca [2] for assistance if required. 

Eligible Projects:

The Productization and Commercialization pillar supports the following:

• Projects focused on growing and sustaining AI clusters and ecosystems by supporting SMEs that are developing AI/AI-driven solutions to advance product development and/or commercialization of new applications for entry into (new) markets.

Examples of supportable activities could include:

• Providing AI expertise, training, mentorship and other advisory supports.
• Talent attraction and retention activities.
• Facilitating data access and secure management.
• Technology demonstration, testbeds and/or supplier showcase events.
• Improving availability of risk capital.
• Business development support.
• Expanding collaborative efforts among industry partners to, for example, reach global markets and/or facilitate supply chain development.
• Developing frameworks and reports on best practices related to the responsible development and use of AI that could be used to inform legislation, build trust and support stewardship.

Funding Availability

Not-for-profit organizations can request up to a maximum of $5 million. Exceptions may apply.

Maximum Project Value

Eligible project costs are shared between FedDev Ontario and the applicant. Preference may be given to projects that maximize funding from other sources (i.e., where FedDev Ontario's contribution is 50% or less).

• An applicant's portion of the cost-share (i.e., 50% of eligible project costs) may be comprised of cash contributions and in-kind contributions from other project partners.
• Total government assistance (federal, provincial and municipal) cannot exceed 100% of total eligible project costs.

Indirect Costs

10%

Special Notes

If you need to meet a deadline set by the lead institution for this opportunity, please ensure that you provide the Office of Research with at least five days notice in advance of the lead institution’s deadline to review the application, or your proposed component of the project. Please be in touch with the Office of Research (contact information below) ahead of the deadline if it looks like it will be difficult for you to submit all the required documentation on time (i.e. budget, proposal, OR-5 Form).

How to Apply

See the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative – Productization and Commercialization Pillar 1: Apply as an organization [4] webpage for details on how to download, complete and submit the Application for Funding for non-for-profit organizations.