Government of Canada invests over $1 million in innovation in Northern Ontario
News release
FedNor funds will enable NORCAT to deliver critical innovation support to eligible companies across the region
August 26, 2025 – Sudbury, ON – Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario – FedNor
Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, today announced that FedNor is investing $1,050,000 in support of two important NORCAT initiatives. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for FedNor.
Of the FedNor investment, $700,000 will support NORCAT in delivering the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative, which aims to provide advisory services and funding to innovative small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). The project will support the adoption, integration, and commercialization of AI tools, products, and services. This project will help companies address skill and productivity gaps related to AI technologies and foster in-house expertise in Northern Ontario, and support SMEs to enhance efficiency, innovation and competitiveness. FedNor funds will also enable capital purchases and expansion, including servers and cloud infrastructure; targeted training, commercialization expenses, professional services.
The remaining $350,000 will support the renewal of NORCAT’s Innovation Acceleration Program (IAP) for an additional three-year period. The IAP provides financial assistance to SMEs to support access to technical and business resources. This initiative enables SMEs to invest in impactful growth activities such as materials and equipment acquisition, labour expansion and training, research and development, commercialization and market expansion, and other business expenses related to the development and commercialization of new technology. The IAP is a critical support program in the region that helps businesses enhance operations, improve competitiveness, and create new jobs.
These two investments will help drive innovation and critical skill development in Northern Ontario and will support the modernization and expansion of over 35 SMEs in the region. These initiatives will help ensure that Canada remains on the forefront of new industries and technologies, and that Canadian enterprises have the resources they need to thrive and to meet the demands of Canada and the world.
Quotes
“Canada is a global leader when it comes to many industries, and to remain at the vanguard, we are supporting and fostering homegrown talent and homegrown organizations. These investments will help do exactly that, by providing resources to ensure our industries have what they need to stay on the cutting edge. When local partners succeed through innovation, new technology, and business development, so do our local economies.”
- The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister Jobs and Families and Minister Responsible for FedNor
“When we focus on innovation and new technologies, today’s innovators become tomorrow’s industry leaders. This investment will help ensure that Canadian opportunities benefit Canadians, and that the many enterprises that make Greater Sudbury an international hotspot for natural resource extraction will thrive for future generations.”
- Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury
“Technology, innovation and entrepreneurship go hand in hand in building and supporting resilient local industry, and NORCAT is proud to be a regional leader on all these fronts. We are proud to promote, educate, and support organizations and their staff, and thanks to FedNor and the Government of Canada, we can continue to foster innovation and skill development for our partners and clients.”
- Don Duval, CEO, NORCAT
Quick facts
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The funding announced today is provided through FedNor’s Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation Fund (REGI) and Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative for Northern Ontario, which supports the growth of Northern Ontario businesses, their expansion into new markets, and their adoption of new technologies and processes.
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These projects inline the Government of Canada’s Prosperity and Growth Strategy for Northern Ontario, which identifies investing in building the economic development capacity of municipalities and Indigenous communities in the region as a key action.
Associated links
Contacts
Aissa Diop
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for FedNor
Aissa.diop@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Media Relations