Proposers selected through this process will be responsible for designing, building, operating and maintaining Canadian-owned infrastructure capable of supporting advanced AI workloads. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) said these systems form a “core part of Canada’s digital backbone” and are expected to enable breakthroughs in “sectors such as health care, energy, advanced manufacturing and scientific discovery.”
Interested applicants can access the program guide, review eligibility criteria, and learn how to apply from the AI Sovereign Computing Infrastructure Program webpage. The ministry said the call follows an earlier request for expressions of interest, which closed in 2025, and was open to “eligible organizations ready to collaborate in strengthening Canada’s technological sovereignty.”
In Ontario, Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar expansion of cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure across Ontario is expected to create 250 new permanent jobs and support 1,000 construction jobs, increasing competition for AI and data skills across the province.
National AI Supercomputing Initiative
Ottawa’s call for applications is part of a broader national effort to develop one of the world’s most advanced AI supercomputing systems in Canada. The initiative is a central element of Canada’s sovereign AI computing strategy and builds on what the federal government described as a “historic investment” in AI capabilities outlined in the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada said the program will support “the development of large-scale, Canadian-based computing infrastructure to advance AI research and innovation while protecting Canada’s national interests.” The ministry described the investment as “transformative” and positioned the new infrastructure as “the foundation of the country’s digital ecosystem” that will enable researchers and industry to develop “next-generation AI solutions”.
