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Major Innovation Fund

Supports transformative research and innovation excellence to advance Alberta's priorities and deliver results.

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Grants and funding

Important dates

Application status: Closed – Applications are not currently being accepted

Overview

The Major Innovation Fund (MIF) is an outcomes-focused program that supports research and innovation investments of strategic and commercial interest as part of the Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy (ATIS). These projects will secure and strengthen Alberta's competitive position in research and technology development, attract and retain top talent, support industries and local businesses, and leverage additional investments by highlighting unique-to-Alberta initiatives.

Post-secondary institutions will have the opportunity to submit proposals and assemble teams to build research excellence and innovative capacity in the following areas:

  • Disease Management and Therapeutic Development
  • Medical Device Innovations
  • eHealth and mHealth Technologies
  • Critical Minerals Value Chains
  • Climate Adaptation/Mitigation Technologies
  • Sustainable and Smart Agriculture and Food Systems
  • Water Quality and Conservation Technologies
  • Space and Defence Technologies
  • Mobilizing Cybersecurity
  • Open Data through Digital Technologies

For more information, read the MIF call for proposals.

Learn more about the successful 2018-19 MIF projects.

Funding

The available allocation to this competition is up to $30M over 4 years.

The MIF Program will provide up to 50% of the applicant's identified total project cost. The MIF funding floor per project is $3M and the funding ceiling is $7M, over 4 years to support a 5-year project.

Only eligible Alberta post-secondary institutions may apply and hold MIF funding. Industry or other partners are not eligible.

Eligibility

Eligible institutions

Only Alberta Comprehensive Academic and Research Universities (CARUs), which consists of the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge and Athabasca University, not individual researchers, may submit a proposal. Application submissions are further restricted by challenge area and number of proposals per eligible research university, as outlined in the MIF call for proposals.

Researchers from eligible institutions must contact their institution’s research office to discuss their respective institutional processes and partnership requirements.

Partnership requirements

Alberta post-secondary institution partnership requirements

The lead institution must partner with at least 2 other comprehensive and academic research universities and at least 2 other eligible Alberta post-secondary institutions with demonstrated capacity to conduct research and contribute to the business environment. These partnering post-secondary institutions must make meaningful contributions, including intellectual contributions, to the outcomes of the proposal.

The lead institution, as the grant recipient, must ensure a pan-Alberta approach to the project and that the funding is sufficiently disbursed to partnering post-secondary institutions to support collaboration and project delivery.

Industry partnership requirements

Proposals must include industrial partnerships with at least one of the following:

  • an Alberta-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
  • an Alberta-based multinational enterprise (MNE)
  • an out-of-province SME or MNE that establishes a space, such as a head office, branch, or research facility in Alberta within the lifespan of the proposal
  • an SME or MNE with at least one partner located in Alberta, or has a branch/subsidiary in the province

For out-of-province SME or MNE establishing a space in Alberta, documentation of both the partner organization’s engagement and their plan to establish in Alberta and/or a memorandum of understanding (if applicable), should be submitted.

Other partnerships

The MIF does not limit projects from forming partnerships with other end-users, such as:

  • private sector organizations
  • not-for-profit philanthropic organizations
  • eligible public organizations

All partnerships are required to provide clear demonstration of support for the MIF project and illustration of benefits to Albertans.

Collaboration is further encouraged to extend to research institutes and centres, such as the Alberta Centre for Advanced MNT Products (ACAMP), TECTERRA, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), Genome Alberta, as well as national and international organizations and institutions to identify and promote regionally integrated projects with the potential for greater impact.

Reporting requirements

Awarded projects must regularly report on the outcomes progress and financial status of the project.

The schedule and reporting requirements will be outlined in a contractual agreement that must be signed by both parties prior to receiving payment. Any significant variations in project scope or other requirements of the contract must be agreed upon by both parties prior to any changes.

Documents and templates

2022-23 Successful projects

  • Resilient and clean energy systems – University of Alberta

    The Resilient and Clean Energy Systems Initiative aims to develop breakthrough technologies and training programs in electrical grids, transportation electrification, and clean fuels, thereby propelling Alberta's leadership in clean energy implementation.

  • Medical device innovation – University of Calgary

    The A-MEDICO: Alberta Medical Device Innovation Consortium aims to develop solutions to unmet healthcare needs by reorganizing and redefining Alberta's medical device sector, thereby driving innovations, creating new industry leaders, and strengthening Alberta’s economy.

  • Innovation in eHealth and mHealth – University of Calgary

    The Health Everywhere project will merge digital and mobile technologies with Alberta's health care system further diversifying Alberta's economy, training next-generation talent, and positioning Alberta as both a driver of economic growth and a promoter of public well-being.

  • Space and defence technologies – University of Calgary

    The Space and Defence Technologies Alberta project aims to support the acceleration of Alberta's competitiveness in space commerce and its civil-to-defense pathway by advancing and next generation technologies, training the future workforce, and building upcoming Alberta leaders.

Previously funded projects

  • Autonomous systems – University of Alberta

    The Autonomous Systems Initiative aims to advance technological developments in artificial intelligence focused on sensing, communication, control, and computation technologies.

    It will address questions around the nature and application of autonomous systems within industrial, social, environmental, and medical contexts and then make these directly accessible and applicable to Albertans, enhancing the economy and the environment.

  • Quantum technologies – University of Calgary

    The Quantum Technologies Major Innovation Project aims to help establish Alberta as a hub for quantum technologies in Canada by building on its academic excellence and collaborations. The initiative will aim to commercialize new technologies, and leverage the unique capacity for quantum systems.

  • Antimicrobial resistance – University of Calgary

    The Antimicrobial Resistance – One Health Consortium will be an Alberta-led pan-Canadian effort that will leverage the exceptional capacity and expertise present within Alberta to stop the rise in antimicrobial resistance using the multisector One Health approach.

Contact

Inquires, requests and reporting submissions can be directed to:
Email: [email protected]

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