Canada’s G7 Presidency has officially kicked off one of its most ambitious digital-government initiatives yet: the G7 GovAI Grand Challenge, a multinational push to harness artificial intelligence for faster, smarter, more citizen-centred public services.
Unveiled in Ottawa on November 17, 2025 by Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali, the Challenge sets the tone for Canada’s global leadership on responsible, interoperable, and human-focused AI. At a time when governments around the world are racing to modernize service delivery, Canada is positioning its public service—and its innovation ecosystem—at the forefront of that transformation.
“In this fast-paced global climate, Canada’s new government is committed to leveraging responsible AI to address real challenges. The G7 GovAI Grand Challenge Rapid Solution Labs will harness the expertise of international innovators to create trusted AI solutions for governments with measurable, meaningful benefits for Canadians,” explained the Honourable Shafqat Ali, President of the Treasury Board.
A High-Intensity, High-Impact Global Competition
Running from November 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the G7 GovAI Grand Challenge brings together a diverse community of innovators from across the G7 nations and the European Union. Students, researchers, public servants, technologists, civil society organizations, and industry experts are all invited to tackle real-world public sector challenges using AI that is practical, scalable, and safe.
At the centre of the initiative is a two-week innovation sprint called the Rapid Solution Labs—a fast-paced competition designed to stress-test new ideas and sharpen them into deployable tools. Participants will work directly on public service challenges, supported by expert advisors who will guide teams in developing responsible AI solutions that could one day be implemented across governments worldwide.
“Through its expertise and leadership, Canada plays a pivotal role in shaping global norms and organizing collective action around AI. The G7 GovAI Grand Challenge is a valuable opportunity to exchange innovative ideas and build on our long-standing partnerships to advance the responsible use of AI for public services. We are actively pursuing cooperative work to advance our national competitiveness and resilience as well as shared prosperity,” stated the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
Fueling Innovation Through Global Collaboration
The Challenge isn’t just about ideas—it’s about accelerating them. Canada has committed financial support of up to $10,000 CAD for successful participants, with a total of up to $100,000 CAD available to advance promising solutions. For teams focused on interdisciplinary, human-centred, and ethically grounded AI, this support can be the catalyst that moves innovation from concept to implementation.
The Rapid Solution Labs officially open today and run until December 1, 2025. An international showcase of selected teams, as well as funding announcements, will follow in early 2026, marking another milestone in the evolving global conversation on AI governance and public service transformation.
With the world watching, Canada is offering a collaborative platform where cutting-edge innovation meets real-world public sector needs—and where the lessons learned can ripple across borders.
Those eager to participate can learn more or register at Canada.ca/ai-grand-challenge.
