NGen AI for Manufacturing Challenge

NGen's AI for Manufacturing Challenge funds Canadian consortia that apply artificial intelligence and machine learning to manufacturing. It sits under NGen's broader portfolio of themed challenges, and the 2025 intake closed on July 17, 2025, with project completion due by January 31, 2027. The program funds CAD 1.5M to CAD 8M projects, reimburses up to 40% of eligible costs, and caps NGen's contribution at CAD 3.2M per project. It also carries a 5% admin fee on total project cost and a 15% holdback until claims and reporting are complete. Eligible applicants include for-profit Canadian firms, primarily privately funded not-for-profits supporting manufacturing R&D, non-federal Crown corporations funded through commercial activity, and Indigenous organizations, with at least one manufacturing company, one AI company, and one SME in the consortium. The strongest applications pair a concrete manufacturing use case with a clear route to deployment, whether the work is systems optimization, robotics, automation, or rapid prototyping. NGen also allows research organizations and other technical contributors in supporting roles, but teams succeed most often when they show disciplined IP handling, realistic budgets, and a production path beyond the pilot itself.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.