PARTENAR-IA — CRIAQ — Academic

📋 Eligible Entities - Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) operating in Canada - Research centres (academic institutions, publicly funded research organizations) - Must operate as a partnership between an SME and at least one research centre - SMEs must meet Canadian small business definitions (typically fewer than 500 employees) - Research partners must be recognized post-secondary institutions or eligible research organizations ### 💰 Funding Details - Maximum Grant Amount: $1.5 million per project - Coverage: Up to 35% of eligible project expenses - Grant Type: Non-refundable grant (no repayment required) - Matching Requirement: SME and partners must fund remaining 65% of eligible costs through: - Private investment - In-kind contributions - Other funding sources - Cost-sharing: Shared responsibility between SME and research partner (specific allocation to be negotiated) ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses - R&D Payroll: Salaries for researchers, engineers, and technical staff engaged in the project - AI Development & Experimentation: Software development, algorithm development, machine learning model creation - Research Equipment & Tools: Hardware, software licenses, and computing infrastructure for AI research - Materials & Supplies: Laboratory materials and supplies directly related to the project - Subcontracting: Specialized services from qualified vendors (subject to approval) - Travel: Essential project-related travel for research teams - Aerospace-Specific Applications: Focus on AI applications in aircraft design, maintenance, operations, or safety ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones - Project Focus: AI research and development must be aerospace-specific (no funding for other sectors) - Partnership Requirement: Active collaboration agreement between SME and research centre required before submission - Project Duration: Typically 2-3 year projects (specific timelines to be confirmed with program) - Reporting & Milestones: - Regular progress reports tied to project milestones - Financial reporting and audit requirements - Demonstration of research outcomes and deliverables - **IP Ownership