Scale AI — Global Innovation Cluster

Funds Canadian artificial intelligence supply chain projects and ecosystem partnerships through its global innovation cluster.

Scale AI, the Global Innovation Cluster headquartered in Montréal, is Canada's industry-led AI cluster under Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, with Quebec as a co-funder and private-sector matching capital behind the model. It was launched from the federal superclusters initiative and now sits among Canada's five Global Innovation Clusters. The public funding base in the file includes a federal commitment of CAD 284 million and a Quebec contribution of CAD 53 million.

Its funding model reimburses up to 40% of eligible project costs on projects with a minimum value of CAD 1 million. The main routes in this file are AI Project Funding, the Acceleration Program, and the Training Program, covering adoption, commercialization, accelerator and incubator support, and workforce development.

Applicants are strongest when they can show a concrete AI deployment path, economic benefit, and a partner or delivery structure that can move quickly. The current intake is built around rolling cohorts and active engagement rather than a one-off competition, which makes it better suited to companies and ecosystem operators that already have a defined project plan.