The Government of Canada has launched an application for the AI Sovereign Computing Infrastructure Program, inviting proposals to build public AI at scale. super computer It is backed by approximately $890 million in funding over seven fiscal years.
The program, which will begin in the 2026-27 financial year, aims to give Canadian researchers and businesses access to advanced computing capacity while keeping data, governance and operations management within Canada.
Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of AI and Digital Innovation and Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, announced that applications are now being accepted on LinkedIn. He wrote that the initiative is a “national effort to put world-class computing power into the hands of Canadian researchers, businesses and institutions,” and said the computing power is needed “to power breakthroughs in health care, energy, advanced manufacturing and scientific discovery.”
He added that successful applicants will be invited to “design, build, operate and maintain a Canadian-owned, high-performance, AI-optimized computing system” that will “form a core part of our country’s digital backbone and anchor the next wave of Canadian AI innovation here at home.” Regarding Canada’s place in the world, he was frank: “Canada is already at the forefront of AI. What we need now is computing to match our talent.”
Program funding and who can apply
The program is structured around two tiers. The infrastructure build layer targeted by this recruitment is responsible for the design, construction, and operation of the national supercomputing system, including hardware installation, data center operations, and systems management. The independent National Services Layer will focus on enabling researchers and innovators to effectively use the infrastructure, providing user support, training and skills development, research consulting, and data services.
Approximately $890 million in funding will be applied to the infrastructure construction layer over seven fiscal years. All funding amounts are nominal and subject to negotiation, with spending subject to Congressional appropriations.
To maintain the program’s sovereignty requirements, eligibility is restricted to Canadian organizations. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations incorporated in Canada, higher education institutions incorporated in Canada, and consortia led by not-for-profit or higher education institutions. If the lead applicant meets Canadian incorporation requirements, the consortium may include academic institutions, research institutions, and industry partners.
Sovereignty, skills and access to research
The priorities listed in the program go beyond raw computing power. Alongside infrastructure expansion, the Government of Canada cites speed to delivery, future scalability, sovereignty and governance, and economic impact as guiding principles. Specifically regarding sovereignty, the program requires that systems be located in and managed by Canada, and that data storage, operational control, and decision-making authority remain in Canada.
The National Service Tier incorporates training and skills development as a core function, placing the program within the broader workforce and research capacity agenda. The program aims to anchor a national platform for innovation, allowing researchers and innovators to experiment with hardware, software and AI systems in a protected and sovereign environment, with the aim of strengthening Canada’s domestic technology value chain, reducing dependence on foreign supply chains, and creating pathways for domestic companies to trial, improve and commercialize new technologies.
The application deadline is June 1, 2026, and eligible organizations have just over six weeks to submit. The Government of Canada is hosting informational webinars for interested promoters.
For Canada’s higher education and research institutions, the program is one of the most significant public computing investments in the country’s history and includes within its remit skill development and access to research, making it of direct relevance to the EdTech and higher education sectors.
