Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) for Northern Ontario
Modernize your Northern Ontario business with AI tools and get reimbursed for up to 50% of capital costs or 75% of non-capital costs. Just know this is a repayable contribution, not a grant, so you must pay it back. Applications are open.
How we verify funding records →
Before you spend a dollar
Intake is ongoing and there is no fixed deadline, but approval must come before you spend or start. Costs you commit to or pay before your eligibility date are not covered, except for a narrow 12-month retroactive window before your application is received (and no earlier than April 16, 2024). Apply and get approval before you start the work.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Not sure if you qualify?
Get a free, 2-minute read on whether this program fits your business. No obligation.
Check your fit →Is this for you?
- You are an incorporated business operating in or benefiting Northern Ontario for about two years or more.
- You have a defined project to commercialize Canadian AI tech or integrate AI into your operations.
- You can prove you have the financial capacity to complete the project and repay the contribution in full.
- You are ready to move beyond basic research, with commercialization projects at Technology Readiness Level 7 or higher.
Probably not the right fit if
- You run a retail shop or a service-based business, as these sectors are explicitly excluded.
- You are looking for free grant money you keep, since this is normally repayable for for-profits.
- You are in the early research phase, because basic research is excluded and projects must be at TRL 7+.
How much you'd realistically get
For a for-profit business, normally a repayable contribution of up to 50% of eligible capital costs and up to 75% of eligible non-capital costs. All government funding combined cannot exceed those same caps. Not-for-profits can receive up to 75% of eligible costs as non-repayable. There is no stated application fee. The actual amount you get depends on your project and FedNor's assessment.
What may be supported
- Commercializing Canadian-made AI technology (technology demonstration and commercialization, at TRL 7 or higher)
- Business and capacity development to scale up an AI product
- Strategic AI adoption and integration into your operations
- Process re-engineering and capacity development around AI
- AI cluster or ecosystem capacity building
- Eligible costs such as machinery and equipment, facility upgrades, incremental operating costs, project labour and subcontractors, advisory and technical services, prototyping and demos, IP and commercialization costs, and training
What's excluded or restricted
- Retail and service-based businesses
- Regular maintenance and/or ongoing operation costs
- Regularly scheduled capital expenditures and/or asset replacement
- Refinancing of an existing debt
- Costs of amortization and goodwill
- Acquisition of land and buildings
- Basic research
- The purchase of any assets for more than the fair market value of the said asset
- Costs for which the applicant has entered into a legal commitment/incurred prior to the eligibility date
How applying works
Effort: involvedThis is a two-stage federal application through the FedNor self-service portal: an initial application first, then a detailed application if you pass. You need to show a sustainable business model, financial capacity to repay, and managerial and technical capacity. Budget real time for it, and FedNor recommends talking to one of their officers before you submit.
- 01Confirm you qualify: incorporated business, project benefits Northern Ontario, about two years of operations, not retail or service-based, and TRL 7 or higher if you are commercializing.
- 02Talk to a FedNor officer first (recommended) to discuss your proposal and confirm fit before you submit.
- 03Create an account or sign in to the FedNor self-service portal using GCKey or Canadian online banking.
- 04Submit your initial application through the portal.
- 05If you meet the requirements, you will get an email saying the detailed application is available.
- 06Complete and submit the detailed application through the portal, then wait for FedNor's assessment.
Who to ask: Phone: 1-877-333-6673; Email (for portal questions): fednorcrmsupport-soutiencrmdefednor@fednor.gc.ca; Contact FedNor Officers via: https://fednor.canada.ca/en/contact-us/fednor-officers
Before you apply
Your lender will want to see what the money buys
A written quote for the project makes your application concrete and shows the lender exactly where the money goes. BBN Labs works with you on this: we prepare a quote for the work this program funds — scope, costs and timelines you can put straight into your application. Free, no obligation.
Get my quote for this program →Documents commonly required
- Proof you are an incorporated legal entity able to enter binding agreements.
- Financial statements or records showing a sustainable business model (normally about two years of operations) and financial capacity to complete and repay the project.
- A project plan and budget breaking out eligible capital and non-capital costs.
- Evidence of market or industry demand and growth potential for your project.
- Evidence of managerial, technical, and operational capacity to deliver the project (and TRL 7+ evidence for commercialization).
How BBN Labs helps
- BBN builds custom AI workflows to automate repetitive tasks, saving your team hours every week and letting you focus on high-value growth.
- BBN integrates smart data systems into your operations, turning raw numbers into clear insights that help you spot trends and make faster decisions.
- BBN designs process re-engineering strategies to scale your AI product, helping you commercialize technology and expand your market reach.
- Approval comes before spending here; BBN keeps your project timeline on the right side of that rule so the funding holds.
What to know before you count on it
- For a for-profit business this is normally repayable. You pay it back, and you have to prove upfront you can repay it in full.
- Retail and service-based businesses are not eligible at all.
- Approval must come before you spend. Money already committed or spent outside the narrow retroactive window will not be covered.
- It only covers part of the cost (the percentages above), so you fund the rest yourself.
What are your odds?
FedNor assesses applications as they come in, using its published criteria, so there is no fixed competition window. Your odds depend on meeting the hard gates (incorporated, Northern Ontario benefit, about two years operating, TRL 7+ for commercialization, not retail or service) and on showing demand, capacity, and ability to repay. Talking to a FedNor officer first helps you find out early whether your project fits.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay this money back?
For a for-profit business, normally yes. It is a repayable contribution, which works like a loan you repay. You must show upfront that you can repay it in full. Not-for-profits can receive non-repayable funding instead.
Is this funding taxable income?
Because the for-profit funding is a repayable contribution (money you pay back), it is not taxable income the way a grant would be. Confirm the treatment for your specific situation with your accountant.
When do I actually get the money?
The exact payment timing is not stated in the source. The portal references claims, which often points to reimbursement, but the specific mechanism is not confirmed. Confirm the exact payment timing on the official FedNor page or with a FedNor officer before you plan your cash flow.
My business is in retail. Can I still apply?
No. Retail and service-based businesses are explicitly not eligible for this initiative, even for AI projects.
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What you can combine it with
You can combine this with other government funding, but the total government share cannot exceed 50% of eligible capital costs and 75% of other eligible costs for a for-profit business (100% for not-for-profits). Plan your full funding stack with those caps in mind.
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Worth reading before you apply
Get alerted when this changes
Programs open and close, budgets run out, rules change. We send one short email when something changes that matters for this program.
Record last updated ; last verified today with the official source. Source: official program page.