PARTENAR-IA — CRITM — Académique Grant Brief ### 📋 Eligible Entities - Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as primary applicants - Research centres (CRITM) as mandatory partners - Academic institutions and research organizations that meet CRITM designation - Canadian-registered businesses with operations in Canada - Enterprises must demonstrate capacity to execute R&D projects in artificial intelligence - Joint venture structures where SME leads the partnership with academic research centre ### 💰 Funding Details - Maximum Grant Amount: $1.5 million CAD (non-repayable) - Coverage Rate: Up to 35% of eligible project expenses - Grant Type: Non-repayable contribution (subvention non remboursable) - Matching Requirements: SME must cover minimum 65% of eligible costs through own resources or other funding - No repayment obligation — funds do not need to be returned - Disbursement: Typically tied to project milestones and expense verification ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses - Salaries and wages for R&D personnel (researchers, engineers, technicians) - Labour costs directly attributable to AI research and development activities - Research equipment and tools for AI projects - Software licenses and digital tools for R&D purposes - Consulting fees for specialized AI expertise - Materials and supplies directly used in the research project - Digital transformation initiatives related to artificial intelligence - Project management and administrative costs (within limits) - Costs associated with research centre collaboration and knowledge transfer ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones - Mandatory Partnership: SME must formally partner with a designated research centre (CRITM) — partnership cannot be dissolved during project execution - Project Focus: All work must concentrate on artificial intelligence and digital transformation within specified sectors - Eligible Sectors: Project must align with targeted industrial transformation domains - Documentation Requirements: Detailed project plan, budget breakdown, and quarterly progress reports required - Expense Substantiation: All expenses must be documented, invoiced, and eligible according to program guidelines - IP Rights: Intellectual property ownership and commercialization rights must be