Q: What procurement requirements apply to major system acquisitions after the Contribution Agreement is signed?
A: The Lead Applicant is responsible for establishing and implementing appropriate procurement processes to support the successful delivery of the project. Applicants should clearly describe their proposed procurement and commercial approach in the application, including how it supports sound governance, transparency, fairness, and value for money. Applicants are expected to ensure that procurement activities and commercial arrangements align with the requirements outlined in the SCIP Program Guide, including governance, accountability, security, and Canadian sovereignty considerations. Proposed procurement approaches will be reviewed during the assessment process, and any additional requirements or conditions may be further refined through Contribution Agreement negotiations and related due diligence before project implementation.
Q: What type of deployment is expected?
A: Applicants should propose the deployment model they believe best meets the program's objectives, which include:
- Meeting the compute needs of Canadian researchers for transformative AI projects;
- Supporting access for innovative Canadian businesses;
- Enhancing Canadian sovereignty and resiliency;
- Allowing integration of Canadian technologies; and
- Accelerating the build-out of national public AI compute capacity to keep Canada globally competitive and retain top AI talent.
Applications must clearly show how the proposed design and deployment plan advances key priorities such as increased compute capacity, speed, scalability, sustainability, sovereignty, governance, and broader economic impact. Projects are expected to target significant service delivery within 18 months of Contribution Agreement signing, possibly through phased deployment.
Q: What information should be disclosed about current and pending federal funding agreements in the application?
A: Applicants must capture information related to the Lead Applicant’s current or pending funding agreements with federal departments or agencies that overlap with, support, or may materially affect the proposed SCIP project. This includes situations where existing federal funding, resources, or activities may intersect with the project scope, contribute to delivery, or introduce duplication, dependencies, or coordination issues. The goal is appropriate due diligence and transparency regarding federal funding, especially when multiple federal agreements or streams are involved.
Q: How should applicants account for the National Service Layer in their applications and budgets?
A: The current call is specific to the Infrastructure Build Layer. Applicants should focus their activities, work plans, and budgets on AI compute infrastructure, including system administration, hardware, and data centre operations. Costs for the future National Service Layer are not to be included in SCIP budgets for this call. Applicants are expected to demonstrate future integration, covering interoperability, governance alignment, and compatibility with future user-facing systems. The Infrastructure Build Layer and National Service Layer are separate but complementary; successful applicants will need to collaborate with the National Service Layer provider for seamless integration.
Q: How was the $890 million funding amount determined?
A: The funding envelope for SCIP was set through federal budget decisions from Budget 2024 and Budget 2025.
Q: Is there a minimum or maximum project size?
A: The program aims to establish a large-scale, sovereign, AI-optimized supercomputing system of national significance. Applicants should demonstrate sufficient project scale, capability, readiness, and long-term viability to meaningfully contribute to Canada’s AI compute capacity.
Q: Can an institution or organization submit more than one application?
A: Each eligible organization may submit only one application as Lead Applicant but may participate in other applications as a partner or supporting organization, provided they are not the Lead Applicant in more than one submission. For unique scenarios, organizations should contact the SCIP team for guidance.
Q: Are land purchases and facility‑related costs eligible under the program?
A: Such expenditures may be eligible if justified and necessary. All related costs are contingent on departmental appropriations and authorities. Applications should include thorough justification and planning for land or building expenditures, and clarify approaches (e.g., greenfield vs. brownfield, rental vs. purchase).
Q: Is there a minimum or maximum limit on compute-related costs?
A: Applicants must propose a reasonable system design and budget that aligns with project scope and goals. Detailed budgets for components like GPUs, CPUs, storage, and networking are required. Applications are assessed for overall feasibility, value, justification, and alignment with SCIP objectives.
Q: How should applicants address international hardware supply chains (e.g., GPUs) in relation to sovereignty requirements?
A: Applicants must demonstrate how they will manage and mitigate risks related to foreign dependencies and global supply chains and must provide a thorough risk assessment. Strategies should include maximizing Canadian participation, resilience, operational continuity, and ensuring Canadian ownership and control over the infrastructure.
Q: What are the expected timelines for delivering operational AI compute capacity?
A: Projects are expected to achieve significant service delivery within 18 months of Contribution Agreement signing, with a credible deployment plan required.
Q: Will the Infrastructure Build Layer support one recipient or multiple recipients?
A: The current call is intended for a single recipient, which may be an eligible organization or a consortium led by one, responsible for national AI supercomputing system design, build, and operation.
Q: What is expected of recipients after the initial funding period ends?
A: Recipients must show a credible plan for ongoing operation, maintenance, and sustainability beyond the initial phase. This includes strategies for long-term funding, cost recovery, expansion, and ongoing alignment with program requirements.
Q: When will more information about the National Service Layer be available, and how should costs be scoped in the meantime?
A: Updates will be shared via official channels as available. For now, applicants should focus exclusively on Infrastructure Build Layer activities and not include costs for the National Service Layer, but should plan for future integration.
Q: Can software and AI model partners be included in an Infrastructure Build application?
A: Yes, partners can be included if they support the project’s design, operation, or effectiveness. For specific questions, applicants should contact the SCIP team.
Q: Will SCIP share information about applicants to help organizations find partners?
A: No, ISED does not release applicant or consortium information or facilitate partnerships. Applicants are responsible for finding and establishing their own partners.
Q: How can organizations determine whether their application aligns with the Infrastructure Build Layer or the National Service Layer?
A: Only the Infrastructure Build Layer call is open. Apply if your activities align with designing, building, and operating large-scale AI compute infrastructure. Refer to the Program Guide for details on program layers.
Q: Will webinar slides be shared with participants?
A: Yes, webinar slides will be shared with participants after the sessions.
Q: Was the webinar recorded?
A: No, sessions will not be recorded. However, the slide deck will be shared after the sessions.