Thunder Bay AI
FUNDING RADAR

AI and business grants in Northwestern Ontario

A verified, source-linked list of 17 AI, technology, and business funding programs open to Northwestern Ontario businesses and organizations in 2026 — from FedNor RAII and NOIC BBAA to NOHFC Invest North, NRC IRAP, and SR&ED. Each entry links to the official program page. Eligibility and amounts are decided by each program — always confirm directly before planning around a figure here.

FedNorActive

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII)

Supports AI commercialization and adoption in Northern Ontario — helping AI scale-ups bring products to market and assisting SMEs in integrating AI into their operations. A two-phase application via the FedNor portal; contact a FedNor officer to begin.

Max fundingVaries — confirm with program
CoverageUp to 50% of capital costs; up to 75% of non-capital costs (for-profits)
DeadlineContinuous Intake

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

FedNor (REGI)Active

Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP)

Repayable contributions to help established Northern Ontario businesses accelerate growth, adopt innovative technologies, enter new markets, and improve productivity. Well-suited to technology adoption and digital transformation projects.

Max funding$500,000
CoverageUp to 50% of eligible costs (repayable contribution)
DeadlineContinuous Intake — limited budget

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

FedNorActive

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

Helps Northern Ontario SMEs hurt by trade tariffs diversify markets, boost productivity, and build supply-chain resilience. Eligible activities include technology and automation investments, supply-chain optimization, reshoring, and market development.

Max funding$1,000,000 non-repayable (more available as repayable)
CoverageUp to 50% of costs (non-repayable to $1M); up to 75% (repayable above $1M)
DeadlineOpen to March 31, 2028

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

FedNorActive

Northern Ontario Development Program — Community Economic Development

Funds community economic development projects led by municipalities, First Nations, and not-for-profits — strategic planning, feasibility studies, workforce attraction, downtown revitalization, and economic-development internships.

Max fundingVaries — confirm with program
CoverageUp to 33% of capital costs; up to 50% of non-capital costs
DeadlineContinuous Intake — limited budget

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

FEATURED · AI ADOPTION
Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre (NOIC)Active

Building Blueprints for AI Adoption (BBAA)

Helps Northwestern Ontario SMEs explore and implement AI to improve productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. Applicants complete a 30/60/90-day AI adoption plan; funding reimburses eligible AI software, consulting, and integration costs.

Max funding$20,000
CoverageUp to 50% of eligible project costs
DeadlineVerify with program — limited funding

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre (NOIC)Verify

Costarter Accelerator

A 13-week intensive accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs in the Thunder Bay or Kenora districts ready to commit full-time. Provides a non-dilutive cash contribution, co-working space, mentorship, and investor connections for scalable ideas with early prototypes.

Max fundingNon-dilutive contribution + office space
CoverageCash investment plus 13 weeks of office space and mentorship
DeadlineVerify with program — between intakes

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)Active

NOHFC Invest North — Launch

A conditional contribution to help entrepreneurs launch new businesses in Northern Ontario. Covers eligible capital costs — equipment, leasehold improvements, IT systems, and limited marketing. The business must be operating 6 months or less, and the owner must work full-time.

Max funding$200,000
CoverageUp to 50% of total eligible project costs (conditional contribution)
DeadlineContinuous Intake

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)Active

NOHFC Invest North — Grow

Helps existing Northern Ontario businesses expand through a mix of grant contributions and/or term loans. Three structures: contribution-only (to $400K), hybrid contribution-plus-loan (to $1M combined), or loan-only (to $1M). Projects must create or retain full-time jobs.

Max funding$1,000,000 loan / $400,000 grant
CoverageGrant up to 20% of costs; loan up to 50%; hybrid option available
DeadlineQuarterly: Apr 30, Jul 31, Oct 31, Jan 31

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)Active

NOHFC Invest North — Innovation

Supports research, development, and commercialization of new technologies in Northern Ontario — technical labour, prototyping, testing and certification, IP protection, and commercialization-tied marketing. Apply alone or partnered with an academic or research institution.

Max funding$2,000,000
CoverageUp to 50% of eligible costs (R&D to $500K; combined R&D/demo/commercialization to $2M)
DeadlineContinuous Intake

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)Active

NOHFC Workforce Development Program

Subsidizes internship wages so Northern Ontario organizations can hire and train new workers in skilled trades, technology, and professional roles. Up to two funded positions at once; interns must be 18+ and legally entitled to work in Canada.

Max funding$35,000 per internship / year
CoverageUp to 50% of intern salary (businesses); up to 90% (municipalities, Indigenous communities, non-profits)
DeadlineContinuous Intake

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

National Research Council Canada (NRC)Active

NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)

Canada's flagship innovation funding for SMEs developing and commercializing technology products and services. Provides R&D contributions plus advice from an Industrial Technology Advisor. Streams include Core, AI Assist, and Clean Technology.

Max fundingVaries — scoped with your NRC Industrial Technology Advisor
CoverageFinancial contributions for R&D plus advisory support
DeadlineContinuous Intake

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)Active

Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive

A federal tax incentive that reduces income tax payable — or provides a cash refund — for qualifying R&D done in Canada. Applies to basic research, applied research, and experimental development, and can stack with provincial R&D credits. Changed in 2026: Budget 2025 (Bill C-15) doubled the enhanced-credit expenditure limit from $3M to $6M, retroactive to tax years beginning on or after December 16, 2024, and raised the taxable-capital phase-out to $15M–$75M.

Max fundingUp to 35% refundable credit on up to $6M of eligible R&D (CCPCs)
Coverage35% refundable ITC for CCPCs; 15% for other businesses
DeadlineFiled annually with your corporate tax return

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

Futurpreneur CanadaActive

Futurpreneur Canada — Core Startup

Startup financing and a mandatory two-year mentorship for entrepreneurs aged 18–39, including in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. Combines a Futurpreneur loan with a BDC co-investment loan for up to $75,000 total.

Max funding$75,000
CoverageUp to $25,000 Futurpreneur loan + up to $50,000 BDC co-loan, plus 2 years of mentorship
DeadlineContinuous Intake

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

Ontario · Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre2026 Intake Closed

Starter Company Plus

A provincial grant and training program for Ontario entrepreneurs starting, buying, or expanding a small business — up to 15 hours of training, business-plan help, a grant up to $5,000, and a three-month mentorship. A dedicated Indigenous stream is available locally. Applications for the 2026 program are closed; the program runs in intakes, so check with the Entrepreneur Centre for the next one.

Max funding$5,000
CoverageGrant up to $5,000 plus training and a three-month mentorship (applicant investment required — confirm the current terms)
Deadline2026 intake closed — ask the Entrepreneur Centre about the next intake

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

Ontario · Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre2026 Intake Closed

Summer Company

Up to $3,000 in seed funding plus hands-on coaching for full-time students aged 15–29 who want to start and run a summer business, working with local business leaders throughout the program. The 2026 application deadline (May 15) has passed; the program reopens seasonally each spring.

Max funding$3,000
CoverageUp to $3,000 in seed funding plus coaching
Deadline2026 deadline was May 15 (closed) — reopens each spring

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF), Thunder BayActive

NADF Business Loans (incl. Microloans & Indigenous Women in Business)

Business loans and advisory support for Indigenous entrepreneurs and majority Indigenous-owned businesses across Northern Ontario, including Thunder Bay. Specialized streams include microloans, winter-road financing, and the Indigenous Women in Business Program.

Max funding$500,000 (up to $1M in exceptional cases)
CoverageLoans at 8.5%–12%; minimum 10% cash equity (ages 18–39)
DeadlineContinuous Intake

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

Thunder Bay Ventures (CFDC, FedNor-funded)Active

Thunder Bay Ventures — Community Futures Loans

Flexible business loans for startups and expansions in the Thunder Bay area through the FedNor-funded Community Futures network — term loans to $150K, fast microloans, and larger NWOIP loans to $600K, plus free business counselling.

Max funding$600,000 (NWOIP) / $150,000 (term loans)
CoverageFlexible repayable loans; rates by term & risk
DeadlineContinuous Intake

Details last verified July 10, 2026 against the official source

New programs, deadlines, and AI moves — weekly

The funding radar updates as programs open and close. Get the ones that matter for Northwestern Ontario in one email a week, checked by a human.

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