The Primary Care Innovation Fund will help turn promising ideas into practical solutions that can improve how Albertans experience primary care. Projects will focus on making care easier to access, connecting patients with supports earlier, and finding better ways to meet the needs of communities across the province.
“Primary care is the foundation of a strong health system. The Primary Care Innovation Fund is helping bring promising ideas into practical solutions that connect patients to care sooner, make the system easier to navigate and reduce unnecessary trips to emergency departments and hospitals. We want to find what works and expand it to benefit more Albertans.”
A wide range of organizations will be eligible to apply, including Primary Care Networks, health system organizations, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, post-secondary institutions, non-profit organizations and eligible private-sector partners.
Projects funded through the first intake of the Primary Care Innovation Fund are already delivering results for Albertans. Through its InnovateHealth training, Praxus Health has equipped more than 200 primary care teams with practical tools to turn new ideas into lasting improvements in patient care. Arthritis Society Canada has screened 130 infants using enhanced portable ultrasound technology to catch hip dysplasia early and reduce the risk of lifelong joint damage, and the University of Alberta has delivered more than 630 virtual appointments to patients in 28 communities, bringing specialized perimenopause and menopause care closer to home for women across the province.
Building on the success of the fund's first intake, the 2026-27 program will support organizations, care providers, and community partners in testing, developing and expanding new approaches to primary care. This year, applicants can apply through two funding streams, Primary Care Innovation and Health Equity and Prevention.
“Introducing new approaches can be challenging for primary care teams managing complex demands. The Primary Care Innovation Fund helped launch InnovateHealth, giving teams practical tools to lead change, test new ideas and improve care for patients across Alberta.”
Funded projects will explore solutions that improve access to primary care, connect more Albertans to a regular provider or team, strengthen patient navigation, hospital-to-home transitions, and reduce avoidable emergency department visits and hospital stays. Approaches that prove successful may also be adapted and expanded to benefit more patients across the province.
Applications for the next intake of the Primary Care Innovation Fund are open until Nov. 2.
Quick facts
- Funding is available through three tiers:
- Proof of Concept: up to $500,000
- Validation: $500,000 to $1 million
- Spread and Scale: $1 to $2 million
Related news
- Grants to grow primary care (May 22, 2025)
Related information
- Primary Care Innovation Fund application portal
- 2026-27 Primary Care Innovation Fund program guide
- Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health Care System