Supporting emerging tech in Alberta | Soutenir les technologies émergentes en Alberta

Alberta Innovates’ Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program encourages growth in the province’s research and innovation ecosystem. This program fosters collaboration between technology providers and entrepreneurs to grow the technology sector.  

Through this investment, Alberta’s government is enabling 19 Alberta partners to access tools and resources that will help advance their concepts and prototypes to prepare them for the marketplace. This support is vital to helping further build Alberta’s reputation as a technology and innovation hub while diversifying and growing the economy.

“There’s no better time to be in tech in Alberta than now. We know the importance of ensuring appropriate supports are in place to help small and medium-sized technology companies grow and bring their ideas to market. The investments being made in these organizations will help solidify Alberta’s reputation as a growing and thriving technology hub.”

Across the province, 19 innovation ecosystem providers will work to provide skills, resources, mentoring and supports to innovators and entrepreneurs looking to advance their ideas and companies. Projects range from the Alberta Science Park, by the Alberta IoT, to a hub for neuroengineering solutions at the University of Lethbridge. Partners will have up to 36 months to implement their projects. 

Other successful projects include the University of Calgary’s SPARK Alberta, which aims to advance digital health innovations at Alberta’s post-secondary institutions, and the Green Building Technology Network by the Smart Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure Association, which employs innovative technologies, products or processes to support the reduction of emissions in buildings.

“Alberta Innovates created the Ecosystem Development Pilot Program to address gaps in the innovation continuum from ideation to commercialization, to reach rural and underrepresented populations, and to bring additional specialized knowledge into the system to spur entrepreneurial growth and mindset in every part of Alberta.”

Smart Technology (ST) Innovations, an Alberta-based technology company, is one of the recipients that will receive $1.8 million in funding from the program to create a Digital Health Technology Development and Validation Centre at the University of Alberta. This project will help create a cluster for digital and health technology product development and validation in Alberta, attracting global investment and talent.

“ST Innovations is pleased to receive support from the Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program. This funding will allow us to utilize our state-of-the-art facilities, skills and resources to advance Alberta-based digital health technologies, taking innovations from concepts to prototypes and right through to validation to make them market fit and suitable for additional investment, manufacturing and upscaling. This pushes the health technology ecosystem in Alberta to critical capacity so that it can explode on the national and international scene.”

Quick facts

• Alberta Innovates is a public agency that reports to the minister of Technology and Innovation.
• The Alberta Innovates Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program aims to enhance the research and innovation ecosystem in Alberta.