Explore Canadian government initiatives, scholarships, grants, and strategic investments supporting AI education and workforce development.
Launched in 2017, Canada became the first nation to implement a national AI strategy with $125 million investment over five years. The strategy focuses on strengthening research excellence, training talent, supporting AI adoption, and establishing global leadership in responsible AI development.
Key Components:
Federal student financial assistance available for Canadian citizens and permanent residents enrolled in designated post-secondary programs including AI-related degrees and certificates.
Support Available: Loans, grants based on financial need, grants for students with dependents, supports for students with disabilities.
Application: Apply through provincial/territorial student aid offices or directly through NSLSC (National Student Loans Service Centre).
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) provides scholarships for graduate students pursuing research in AI, machine learning, and related computational fields.
Programs:
Most Canadian provinces offer training grants and subsidies for employed or unemployed individuals seeking to upskill in technology fields including AI and data science.
Examples:
Eligibility and amounts vary by province. Contact provincial employment and training departments for details.
Federal and provincial initiatives promoting digital literacy and technology skills development for underserved populations, including women, Indigenous peoples, youth, and newcomers to Canada.
Focus Areas: Coding bootcamps, technology training, career transition support, entrepreneurship programs in tech fields.
Provides internships and fellowships connecting graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with industry partners for applied research projects including AI applications.
Awards: $15,000 - $60,000 depending on program level and duration
Supports leading AI researchers at Canadian institutions, providing research funding and facilitating collaboration between academia and industry partners.
Focus: Attracting and retaining world-class AI research talent in Canada
Master's program scholarships for students enrolled in recognized AI programs at Ontario universities including University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, and others.
Amount: $17,500 per year for up to two years
Support for graduate students conducting AI research at Mila-affiliated institutions in Quebec.
Benefits: Financial support, access to computational resources, networking opportunities