AI Challenge 2026

Smart Cities

Canadian AI product and service providers are invited to participate in the AI Challenge: Smart Cities, a flagship initiative of ALL IN 2026, Canada’s largest AI and tech event. Submit your application today for the opportunity to showcase your solution live on stage during the event.
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AI Challenge: Smart Cities

This reverse pitch challenge aims to spotlight innovative AI-powered tools and solutions that directly address the challenges faced by cities and communities. As municipalities navigate increasingly complex urban issues, artificial intelligence offers new opportunities to improve quality of life, optimize municipal operations, and support more efficient and sustainable cities.

Applications Close on July 3, 2026

Why Participate in the AI Challenge: Smart Cities

Selected organizations will benefit from:

  • Two individual passes granting access to both days of the event
  • The opportunity to present their solution on one of the stages at the heart of ALL IN 2026
  • Premium visibility before a jury composed of municipal representatives, public organizations, and leaders from Canada’s AI ecosystem
  • The opportunity to be selected among the grand winners of the AI Challenge
  • Potential collaboration opportunities with cities, municipalities, public organizations, and innovation partners
  • Increased visibility through promotional communications from ALL IN and its partners before, during, and after the event

Use Cases

Cities and municipalities are increasingly facing complex operational challenges related to mobility, public safety, infrastructure management, sustainability, citizen services, and urban governance.

In this context, artificial intelligence represents a strategic opportunity to improve quality of life, optimize municipal operations, strengthen resilience, and support more efficient and sustainable urban environments.

The solutions sought may fall within one or more of the following application areas:

  • Urban mobility, traffic management, and transportation optimization
  • Roadwork planning and infrastructure coordination
  • Predictive maintenance of municipal infrastructure and critical assets
  • Public safety, emergency response, and urban intervention support
  • Citizen services and municipal service optimization
  • Homelessness, encampment management, and urban social services
  • Environmental sustainability and climate resilience initiatives
  • Energy management and operational efficiency
  • Waste management and urban cleanliness optimization
  • Municipal governance, administration, financing, and planning
  • Resource management and operational optimization for municipalities
  • Integration with municipal systems, open data, sensors, cameras, and smart city technologies

Submitted proposals must demonstrate measurable benefits for cities, citizens, and municipal operations, as well as the solution’s reliability, scalability, adaptability, and potential for integration into real-world urban environments.

Selection Criteria

AI Solution Criteria

  • Performance and reliability of the AI solution
  • Level of technological maturity (prototype, proof of concept, pilot, or deployable solution)
  • Quality and relevance of the urban use case
  • Ease of integration into municipal systems or infrastructure
  • Scalability and adaptability to different city sizes
  • Security, privacy, ethics, and responsible use of data

Business Model and Impact Criteria

  • Concrete impact for cities and citizens
  • Potential for cost reduction or service improvement
  • Operational efficiency gains
  • Clarity of the business and pricing model
  • Competitive advantages
  • Ease of adoption by citizens, municipal employees, or public partners
  • Measurable environmental or social impact
  • Contribution to Canada’s AI ecosystem

Other Criteria

  • The applicant must be a legally incorporated Canadian organization
  • Ability to develop, integrate, or deploy a technological solution
  • Team experience and relevant references
  • Experience working with cities, municipalities, or public organizations, if applicable
  • Quality of the mandatory pitch video
  • Availability to present the solution in person in Montreal during ALL IN 2026
Smart Cities

AI Challenge: Timeline

July 3, 2026 - Proposal submission deadline

End of August 2026 - Announcement of selected organizations

September 16-17, 2026 - Live presentation during ALL IN

Objectives and Requirements

To be eligible for this call for applications, submitted proposals must meet the following objectives:

  • Propose a solution or service using artificial intelligence
  • Address a concrete challenge related to urban realities or city infrastructure
  • Clearly define the targeted problem
  • Describe the proposed AI solution and services
  • Present a concrete use case applicable to cities or communities
  • Specify expected impacts, both qualitative and quantitative
  • Demonstrate the relevance and value of the solution for cities, citizens, or municipal operations
  • Present a reliable, secure, and scalable solution
  • Demonstrate a responsible approach regarding data, security, privacy, and ethics
  • Have reached at least the stage of a functional prototype, proof of concept, or pilot project
  • Include a mandatory pitch video of no more than 2 minutes
  • Be available to present the solution in person in Montreal during ALL IN

Eligible organizations include:

  • Startups, SMEs, and large enterprises
  • Applied research and innovation centers
  • Consortia or partnerships between multiple organizations

Applicants must demonstrate their ability to develop, integrate, or deploy a technological solution. Organizations must be Canadian.

Solutions already tested in real or simulated environments will be considered an asset.