Scale AI Supercluster
Compared with the 242 other application forms we have read
- Publishes the score sheet reviewers actually use. Only 30 do.
- What does not disqualify you: Extra documents in Phase 1. 119 record an exemption like this.
- Asks 14 written answers. The median programme we have read asks 5.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Canada's AI Global Innovation Cluster, providing non-repayable co-investment funding covering up to 40% of eligible costs (50% in Quebec) for collaborative, industry-led consortia deploying AI across healthcare, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, retail, transportation, and infrastructure. Projects need more than one participant, including at least one SME. A startup-accessible Acceleration stream provides up to $50,000 through certified partner accelerators.
Eligibility Requirements
- A project needs more than one participant, and at least one participant must be an SME (under 500 FTEs)
- Projects must deploy artificial intelligence solutions — pure research is not eligible
- Participants can be solution adopters, product companies, service providers, academia or consultants
- Funding covers up to 40% of eligible project costs (50% in Quebec)
- Acceleration stream: startups can access up to $50,000 through certified Scale AI partner accelerators
- Open to AI adopters and AI solution providers in any sector, including (not limited to) consumer goods and retail, industrial goods and manufacturing, transport and logistics, healthcare, and infrastructure and construction
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Varies (project-based funding)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 40% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Moderate — standard application process
High competition — many applicants
Complex — detailed documentation needed
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipScale AI has quietly evolved from a supply-chain-only cluster into Canada's broadest applied AI co-investment platform -- if your project uses AI in healthcare, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, or public services, you now qualify.
Rejection Pitfalls 10
- Solo applicant: a project needs more than one participant, and at least one must be an SME (under 500 FTEs)
Success Profile
How Scale AI judges your application
What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.
Distilled from 6+ source documents on scaleai.ca, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-10.
6 of the sources
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What Scale AI favours
Innovative, collaborative projects using AI to improve Value Chains◦
“We look for innovative, collaborative projects that leverage AI to improve Value Chains.”
The form
Before you submit
- 1Notify Me When the Program Resumesshort answer
- 2Weekly info session with the Investment Teamshort answer
- 3Assemble the project participantslist
Project criteria
- 4In-Scopewritten answer
In-Scope: Does the project align with SCALE AI’s strategy of boosting industry Productivity by leveraging AI technologies to improve Value Chains?
- 5Collaborationwritten answer
Collaboration: Is the project collaborative, with meaningful contributions and benefits for multiple stakeholders in the Value Chain, and including at least 1 SME (<500 FTEs)?
- 6Incrementalwritten answer
- 7Readinesswritten answer
- 8How the project's new IP and data benefit more than the participantswritten answer
Budget and membership
- 9Project costs and reimbursementtable
- 10Become a Scale AI Member (if selected)yes/no + written
Gen AI call — Phase 1
- 11Submit your project (entry form)selection
- 12Eligibility formwritten answer
- 13project, role and partnershort answer
- 14internal support and activitieswritten answer
- 15expertise, feasibility and integration confirmationscheckboxes
- 16Project Benefitswritten answer
- 17signaturesshort answer
Gen AI call — Phase 2
- 18Gen AI call, Phase 2 — Detailed Proposal (portal template)written answer
- 11 – Strategic Alignment: 30%written answer
- 22 – Team and Project Plan: 25%written answer
- 33 – Ecosystem Impact: 25%written answer
- 44 – Business Impact: 20%written answer
Scale AI states no length limits for these answers.
Judged against
Scale AI publishes its score sheet. in Premium
- 1
Does this advance Scale AI's strategy?
Show them Name the value chain, the AI technique and the measurable productivity gain the project delivers.◦
In the funder’s words · 1
- Strategic alignment to Scale AI’s strategic plan (30%) 30%
- 2
Can this consortium actually deliver the project?
What to show, and the funder’s 1 criterion behind it in Premium
- 3
Will the results benefit others beyond partners?
What to show, and the funder’s 1 criterion behind it in Premium
- 4
Is the business case real and funded?
What to show, and the funder’s 1 criterion behind it in Premium
4 questions the reviewer answers about you, in Premium.
Where applicants fail
“Associates are considered non-voting members, and are not able to submit projects for funding consideration.”
“You should never discuss or disclose confidential or proprietary information to potential project partners (or others!) without first having a signed non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in place.”
Premium · the rest of this brief
See all 12 rules that can reject you and every criterion you are judged on. Then we draft your application for you.
8 more rules that can reject you · 3 more criteria · 20 more prompts
Do you pass?
Each one can rule you out. Tick the ones you meet.
Your business
Cost within 40% of revenue
For companies directly funded by Scale AI, the project cost must not exceed 40% of the company’s annual revenues to ensure financial viability.
The project
New, not government-funded
Incremental to regular business: Project must be new, not funded by another government entity, and able to demonstrate that Scale AI funding would help bring it to life.
At least one SME in consortium
The consortium must include at least one small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) with fewer than 500 employees.
Gen AI budget at least $750,000
The project must have a minimum budget of $750,000 in costs.
1 thing this funder says you do NOT need, in Premium.
Documents to attach
Ticks are kept on this device.
The money
Project limitsNo minimum or maximum
There is no minimum or maximum funding allocated per project.
Grant not loanGrant, not repayable
The money invested by Scale AI is in the form of a grant. You do not need to repay it.
Quarterly reimbursementReimbursed quarterly
For those projects that are selected, a predefined portion of eligible project expenses are reimbursed on a quarterly basis.
Gen AI funding shareup to 50% of costs
If the project is approved, Scale AI will fund eligible costs, up to 50% of the total project costs, as follows:
Gen AI minimum budget$750,000 minimum project budget
The project must have a minimum budget of $750,000 in costs.
Adoption subcontractingAt least 50% to AI providers
For adoption projects, at least 50% of the project costs should be subcontracting costs paid to the AI service provider(s) included in the consortium of the project.
Your shareUp to 40% of eligible expenses
We reimburse up to 40% of eligible expenses for approved projects focused on AI adoption or commercialization for value chains.
StackingNew project, not government funded
Incremental to regular business: Project must be new, not funded by another government entity, and able to demonstrate that Scale AI funding would help bring it to life.
FeesAnnual membership fee
Every organization receiving funding from Scale AI must pay an annual membership fee, as per the following schedule:
What it pays for · 4
- Salaries, wages, or contracts for carrying out project activities
- Costs of purchasing or renting equipment, supplies, or services critical to the project
- Dissemination costs vital for performance of the project
- Capital expenditures linked to the objectives of the project agreement and vital for the success of the project
From application to money
- Info sessionThursdays 15h ESTWeekly info session Thursdays 15h EST
- Programme on pauseProgramme on pause until further notice
- Submit your projectSubmit project, then detailed proposal
- Selection decisionDecision in about one month
- Sign the agreementApril 30, 2025Sign agreement, start by April 30, 2025
- Quarterly claimsReimbursed on a quarterly basis
In the funder’s words · 6
- Info session
- Please join our weekly info session (Thursdays 15h EST), to validate your project meets your selection criteria and meet with our Investment Team who will suggest next steps.
- Programme on pause
- The program is currently on pause until further notice.
- Submit your project
- Once you’ve submitted your project, our investment team will work with you to develop a detailed proposal that we will then submit to our selection committee.
- Selection decision
- Once a comprehensive, detailed submission is provided, our selection process will take about one month to complete.
- Sign the agreement
- Successful applicants must enter into a Master Project Agreement with Scale AI, outlining the terms and conditions related to Scale AI funding, and start their projects by April 30, 2025, otherwise the Scale AI funding offer will be immediately revoked.
- Quarterly claims
- For those projects that are selected, a predefined portion of eligible project expenses are reimbursed on a quarterly basis.
Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.
Everything you need to win Scale AI Supercluster
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 10 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 9-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 8-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 9
Eligible Expenses 5
Ineligible Expenses 5
Deadline Notes
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow Scale AI Supercluster Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Mitacs Accelerate | $15,000 per internship unit | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Scale AI Supercluster