The Canadian government has opened applications for a $300 million AI Compute Access Fund, aimed at helping small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) access AI computing resources.
The fund is part of the Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy, introduced in December 2024 as part of a $2 billion AI infrastructure investment outlined in Budget 2024.
Who Can Apply?
The AI Compute Access Fund targets Canadian-incorporated companies that:
- Have fewer than 500 employees.
- Are generating revenue or have raised a Series A round.
- Are developing AI-driven products or services.
- Have a commercialization plan and an existing AI compute service agreement.
A web portal has been launched where businesses can submit their interest before applications officially open this spring.
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Strengthening AI Compute Infrastructure
The $705M AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program, another component of the AI strategy, is also accepting proposals from organizations that can enhance Canada’s AI research ecosystem. The first investment from this initiative was a $240M grant to Toronto-based AI startup Cohere, which is building a multi-billion-dollar AI data center in Canada.
Government’s Expanding AI Strategy
Canada has been ramping up its AI efforts in recent weeks, including:
- Refreshing the AI Advisory Council, with Mila’s Yoshua Bengio now chairing the Safe and Secure AI Advisory Group.
- Launching the first AI strategy for the federal public service, focusing on:
- Establishing an AI Centre of Expertise.
- Ensuring secure and responsible AI deployment.
- Developing AI talent pipelines.
- Promoting transparency in AI use.
- Signing an international AI treaty at the Paris AI Summit, aligning with the EU’s pro-regulatory approach to AI.
Balancing AI Innovation and Regulation
The government has also introduced AI “no-go areas”, restricting AI use in:
- Criminal justice decisions.
- Hiring and social service eligibility.
- Mass data collection without consent.
- Policy decisions made without human oversight.
With $300M in new funding, Canada is taking a proactive approach to AI infrastructure and regulation, ensuring businesses can access the computing power needed to compete in the global AI race.
