EU–Canada Matchmaking Event at ALL IN 2026, Montreal: a direct entry point into Canada’s AI ecosystem

Between 15 and 17 September 2026, European cluster organisations and SMEs will have the opportunity to participate in the EU–Canada Matchmaking Event, organised in Montreal by the European Commission through the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), in collaboration with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Scale AI and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN).

The matchmaking event is hosted in the framework of ALL IN 2026, Canada’s leading event dedicated to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. ALL IN brings together the full Canadian innovation ecosystem — clusters, SMEs, large corporates, research and technology organisations, investors and public authorities — alongside international delegations. The 2025 edition gathered over 6,500 participants, 200 exhibitors and 200 speakers from more than 40 countries, positioning it as one of the most concentrated venues for AI-driven business development in North America.

For European companies, ALL IN represents direct access to the decision-makers, investors and technology partners shaping the next phase of AI adoption — and the dedicated EU–Canada Matchmaking Event offers a structured framework to convert that access into concrete partnerships.

Why this opportunity matters

The event embodies a strategic vision for the future of AI, bringing together leaders from the Canadian and international ecosystems to shape innovation and collaboration in a sector that is rapidly reshaping competitiveness across industries. For Romanian SMEs and cluster organisations, participation translates into:

direct access to qualified Canadian partners through Cluster-to-Cluster (C2C), Cluster-to-Business (C2B) and Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings;
exposure to investment opportunities and technology trends across high-growth sectors;
visibility within the Canadian innovation ecosystem and the wider international delegation present in Montreal;
the chance to identify areas of common interest for cooperation along the value chain, in research, development and innovation;
a structured environment to develop long-term commercial and academic-industry partnerships.

Focus areas

The matchmaking and seminar programme is built around five strategic sectors:

Artificial Intelligence
Advanced Manufacturing
Digital Technology
Quantum Technology
Defence and Security

Programme

The EU–Canada Matchmaking Event includes a full preparatory and on-site programme:

Preparatory Webinar — practical information on doing business with Canada and guidance for participating effectively in the event (date to be confirmed);
Technical Webinar — a working session dedicated to optimising company profiles in the B2Match tool and managing meeting bookings (date to be confirmed);
Site visits — 15 September 2026;
Sectoral seminar on key trends, investment opportunities and EU–Canada cooperation across the five focus sectors — 15 September 2026;
Pitching and matchmaking meetings between EU and Canadian cluster organisations and SMEs — 15 September 2026;
Debriefing session for feedback and testimonials — 16 September 2026;
Participation in the ALL IN Event — 16–17 September 2026.

Who can apply

The Call for Expression of Interest is open to:

cluster organisations from EU Member States and from non-EU countries participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP) / COSME Strand;
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the same eligible countries.