Protein Industries Canada — Artificial Intelligence Program
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- Scored mainly on market demand and growth. 19 lead with that.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Funds the development and deployment of AI tools across the plant-based protein value chain — from seed genetics and on-farm optimization to ingredient formulation and food safety. Total investment pool of $30M (with an additional $8M top-up in 2025). Requires a consortium of at least two members including one SME. Covers up to 45% of eligible project costs. EOIs accepted on a continuous basis.
Eligibility Requirements
- A consortium of two or more organisations, at least one of which is a Protein Industries Canada member and at least one of which is an SME (499 or fewer employees per Statistics Canada's definition)
- AI application must target the plant-based protein or agrifood value chain (seed genomics, supply chain, quality assurance, ingredient formulation, or food safety)
- At least two consortium partners must be Canadian companies (or multinationals with a significant Canadian business operation); non-Canadian entities may participate with Protein Industries Canada's approval
- Meaningful DEI participation from women, Indigenous Peoples, or underrepresented groups is expected (evaluative, not a strict eligibility bar)
- Projects must align with Canada's Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (PCAIS)
- All projects must have at least one partner with demonstrable experience deploying AI technology
- At least one consortium member (Project Stream) must represent a target customer or user of the technology solution
- A 4% project administration fee applies to the total eligible reconciled project cost (waived for Community and Capacity Building Stream projects)
- The project must be incremental — not already approved or in progress, and would not happen at the same scope or scale without PIC's co-investment
- Financial contributions from a single member may be permissible for projects under $500,000 (otherwise at least two members must contribute financially)
- Proposals must incorporate an aspect of economic reconciliation (approach may vary by project; PIC works with Indigenous governments/partners toward meaningful outcomes)
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to 45% of eligible project costs (part of $30M total pool)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 45% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing — continuous EOI intake; contact PIC before submitting
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Moderate — standard application process
Moderate competition — prepare a strong application
Moderate — standard requirements
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipPIC's AI program is still building its portfolio — the program team has been actively facilitating industry introductions and is open to projects from AI companies entering the agrifood space for the first time.
Success Profile
How Protein Industries Canada judges your application
What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.
Distilled from 6+ source documents on proteinindustriescanada.ca, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-11.
6 of the sources
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What Protein Industries Canada favours
Fit with Investment Thesis and cluster priorities◦
“All EOIs are assessed by a team of Protein Industries Canada staff. EOIs that meet eligibility requirements are assessed for fit with Protein Industries Canada's Investment Thesis, Global Innovation Cluster prioirites, and against other program criteria.”
The form
First contact and membership
- 1How to apply — first contact emailshort answerno limit
- 2Protein Industries Canada membership (at least one consortium member)checkboxno limit
Expression of Interest
- 3Step 1: The Expression of Interest (EOI)written answerno limit
Following the call, prospective applicants will be provided with the Expression of Interest (EOI). Each project should submit a single EOI and consortia members must work together.
- 4Declaration As To Authorization and Compliance (each consortium member)checkboxno limit
- 5Data and AI Readiness Assessment (conditional, between EOI and full proposal)written answerno limit
Protein Industries Canada may require consortia to complete a Data and AI Readiness Assessment for their proposed project. Completion of this program may be cost-shared with Protein Industries Canada following the Artificial Intelligence Program reimbursement model.
Project proposal
- 6Problem Scoping/Business Goal Determinationwritten answerno limit
- 7Consortium Building & AI Ecosystem Matchmakingwritten answerno limit
- 8Projects, AI and Data Assessmentslistno limit
- 9Intellectual Property (IP Rationale)written answerno limit
- 10Data & Data Governance Strategywritten answerno limit
- 11Commercialization and Scaling Planwritten answerno limit
- 12Economic Reconciliationselection + writtenno limit
- 13Step 2: The Project Proposal (Word template)written answer · 40 pagesno limit
- 14Project Budget (Excel template)spreadsheetno limit
Before the Master Project Agreement
- 15Project Approval — financial statements before the Master Project Agreementlistno limit
bar = length the funder allows, from its stated limits
Judged against
- 1
Is this a real, well-matched consortium?
Show them Name every partner with its role and contribution, and point to the partner that has deployed AI and the partner that is the end user.◦
In the funder’s words · 1
- Ecosystem Development
- 2
Can the AI work on the data you have?
What to show, and the funder’s 1 criterion behind it in Premium
- 3
Will this sell, and would it happen anyway?
What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium
2 questions the reviewer answers about you, in Premium.
Where applicants fail
“At no time prior to, during or following a project evaluation may a member of a consortium attempt to influence or have a conversation about their project with any member of the Project Selection Committee. Doing so may result in the project being disqualified.”
“Each project should submit a single EOI and consortia members must work together.”
Premium · the rest of this brief
See all 13 rules that can reject you and every criterion you are judged on. Then we draft your application for you.
10 more rules that can reject you · 3 more criteria · 13 more prompts
Do you pass?
13 can rule you out; 1 is a preference. Tick the ones you meet.
Your organisation
One PIC member plus an SME
Be submitted by a minimum of one (1) Protein Industries Canada member with partners, at least one of which is a Small or Medium Enterprise (SME) as defined by Statistics Canada as a business with 499 or fewer employees.
Your partner
Two members contribute financially
At least two members of the consortium must contribute financially to the project. Protein Industries Canada will reimburse up to 45 per cent of eligible costs of approved Project Stream and System Stream Projects. Financial contributions from a single member may be permissible for projects under $500,000.
A partner has deployed AI
All projects must have at least one partner with demonstrable experience deploying AI technology.
AI use “The Government of Canada has a set of guiding principles on the responsible use of AI.”
1 thing this funder says you do NOT need, in Premium.
Documents to attach
Ticks are kept on this device.
The money
Reimbursement rateup to 45% of eligible costs
Protein Industries Canada will reimburse up to 45 per cent of eligible costs of approved Project Stream and System Stream Projects.
Programme pool$30 million to March 31, 2028
Between now and March 31, 2028, Protein Industries Canada will be investing $30 million into AI science that will benefit the plant-based and agrifood sector.
Single-member projectsProjects under $500,000
Financial contributions from a single member may be permissible for projects under $500,000.
Administration fee4% of reconciled eligible costs
This fee will be four per cent (4%) of the total eligible reconciled project cost.
Membership fee$500 annually, GST included
An annual $500, GST-included fee enrolls you as a Protein Industries Canada member.
Your shareAt least two members contribute financially
At least two members of the consortium must contribute financially to the project.
Costs before approvalReimbursement can begin once MPA signed
Eligible cost reimbursement can begin once the MPA is signed.
Fees4% of total eligible reconciled cost
This fee will be four per cent (4%) of the total eligible reconciled project cost.
From application to money
- Introductory callCall, then you receive the EOI
- Submit EOI and declarationsEmail EOI and declarations
- Readiness assessmentData and AI Readiness Assessment
- Submit full proposalSubmit both parts of application
- Committee decisionReview starts within six weeks of receipt
- Sign the MPASign Master Project Agreement
In the funder’s words · 6
- Introductory call
- Following the call, prospective applicants will be provided with the Expression of Interest (EOI).
- Submit EOI and declarations
- Once you’ve completed your EOI and Declaration forms, please submit them by emailing [email protected].
- Readiness assessment
- Protein Industries Canada may require consortia to complete a Data and AI Readiness Assessment for their proposed project.
- Submit full proposal
- Both parts of the application must be completed for a project to be evaluated.
- Committee decision
- Review of Project Proposals submitted to Protein Industries Canada will be initiated within six weeks of receipt.
- Sign the MPA
- Once your project is approved, Protein Industries Canada will work with the members of the consortia to sign a Master Project Agreement (MPA).
Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.
Everything you need to win Protein Industries Canada — Artificial Int...
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 13-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 13
Eligible Expenses 8
Ineligible Expenses 6
Deadline Notes
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow Protein Industries Canada — Artificial Int... Compares
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