Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative

Overview of the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative program:

Administered by Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative is part of the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program stream. It focuses on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), non-profit organisations, and other regional stakeholders that aim to adopt or develop artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve productivity, foster innovation, and strengthen the economy outside major urban centres in Quebec. The initiative seeks to ensure that the benefits of AI are felt across all regions by funding projects that incorporate AI into business models, operations, and services. It is also designed to support organisations that assist SMEs in AI adoption, including innovation hubs, technology transfer centres, and sectoral groups. The programme encourages collaborative and inclusive economic development and aims to enhance the technological capacities of regional businesses, especially those that do not typically have access to advanced digital infrastructure or expertise. It supports AI integration in diverse sectors such as manufacturing, agri-food, logistics, clean tech, and healthcare. Funding is provided through repayable and non-repayable contributions, depending on the applicant type. Projects are assessed based on their potential to increase productivity, stimulate economic growth, and reinforce AI expertise outside major tech clusters.

Benefits of the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative program:

• Supports the adoption, integration, and development of AI technologies in regional Quebec
• Enables SMEs to improve productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness
• Strengthens AI expertise and infrastructure outside large urban centres
• Provides financial support for business process transformation through AI
• Enhances the capacity of regional innovation ecosystems to support AI development
• Promotes inclusive and regionally balanced innovation
• Encourages collaboration among business, academic, and innovation stakeholders
• Helps regions better position themselves in the global digital economy

Eligibility criteria of the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative program:

• Eligible applicants must meet the following:
• Location: Must be located in Quebec, with priority to regions outside major urban centres
• Eligible Applicants:
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Non-profit organisations, including technology hubs, innovation centres, accelerators, research centres, and business support organisations
• Project Types:
• Integration of AI in products, services, or operations
• Development of AI tools or platforms for use by businesses
• Support services helping SMEs adopt AI
• Training or knowledge transfer in AI technologies
• Project Requirements:
• Projects must demonstrate potential to improve productivity or economic outcomes
• Activities should align with regional economic development goals and innovation strategies
• Must show feasibility, sustainability, and measurable results