Canada's National AI Strategy Signals Scale-Up and SME Priorities
Summary
Canada's National AI Strategy sets policy priorities for AI adoption, commercialization, sovereign compute, and scaling Canadian AI companies.
Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, AI for All, sets out six policy pillars, including accelerating AI adoption among SMEs and scaling Canadian champions. Its stated actions include using BDC's LIFT initiative to help SMEs access financing for AI tools, expanding the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative, establishing a Canadian Tech Growth Fund, and expanding the Compute Access Fund. The strategy is a policy framework, not a single open funding program or application route; it does not itself establish that a business is eligible, approved, or funded. Next action: use the priorities to inform product and capital planning, then monitor the responsible organizations' official program pages for separate terms, availability, and application instructions.