The Canadian federal government has unveiled the Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy, outlining how it will allocate the $2 billion CAD committed in Budget 2024 to enhance AI computing power for researchers, startups, and scaleups.
The funding will be distributed across three key initiatives:
SMB Access to Computing: $300 million CAD will be directed towards the AI Compute Access Fund, providing small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with affordable AI compute access. Details are expected by Spring 2025.
Public Computing Infrastructure: Up to $1 billion CAD will be invested in building computing infrastructure to support Canada’s AI sector.
AI Data Centres: $700 million CAD will be allocated to projects in industry and academia to create secure, affordable AI data centres via the AI Compute Challenge. This initiative will require applicants to submit proposals.
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Strengthening Canada’s AI Leadership
The strategy is based on feedback from consultations with over 1,000 stakeholders during the summer of 2024. François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, emphasized the importance of AI compute power in maintaining the nation’s global leadership in artificial intelligence.
Supporting AI Innovation Across Sectors
The initiative aims to empower Canadian companies and academic institutions by enhancing access to cutting-edge computational resources, enabling breakthroughs in AI research, development, and commercialization.
Further details on the programs and application processes will roll out in 2025 as Canada positions itself as a hub for AI innovation on the global stage.
