Program Overview
- Alberta Innovates believes in the benefits of developing and commercializing new technology and knowledge-based products to Alberta’s global competitiveness.
- The Alberta Innovates has two voucher programs (Voucher Program and Micro-voucher Program) to support technology development and help small to medium-sized businesses reduce time to market and improve their competitiveness.
- These programs help subsidize the costs of service providers for the development of technologies in the mid-to-late developmental stages.
- Funding of up to $100,000 can be received to cover the costs of the following activities:
Company Eligibility
- Be a for-profit SME (fewer than 500 full time employees, less than $50M annual gross revenue).
- Demonstrate the relationship between the Applicant and the Service Provider does not create a conflict of interest.
- Have a physical presence in the province of Alberta.
- Be a legal entity:
- Incorporated in Alberta, or
- Incorporated federally AND extra provincially registered in Alberta, or
- A general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership AND registered in Alberta
- Be in good financial standing with Alberta Innovates and its subsidiaries (i.e. InnoTech Alberta, C-Fer Technologies)
Service Provider Eligibility
- At arm’s length from the applicant
- Provides services/products at reasonable market rates
- Be legally permitted to enter, remain in, and perform services in Canada during the project term
- Be in good financial standing with Alberta Innovates and its subsidiaries
Project Eligibility
Voucher Program
- Have clear, critical “go/no go” milestones
- Completed within the 2-year terma
- Submit to other criteria that Alberta Innovates may develop periodically
Micro-Voucher Program
- Completed within the 12-month term
- Submit to other criteria that Alberta Innovates may develop periodically
- Project activities include but are not limited to the following:
- New product research and development
- Leading-edge design, engineering and prototype development
- Advanced product testing and refinement
- Patent development
- Advanced market assessments
- Other technology development activities may be considered on a case by case basis
Eligible Expenses
- Labour costs for individuals identified to be performing the service for the provider
- Materials that can be specifically identified for use in the project
- Software critical to the project
- Capital assets critical to the project (on a case by case basis)
- Other costs pre-approved by Alberta Innovates
Funding
This program offers up to $10,000 for the Micro-Voucher program and up to $100,000 in funding for the Voucher program over the course of the project.
The Micro-Voucher Program funds one service provider while the Voucher Program funds up to three service providers, and Applicants are to contribute 25% of total eligible project costs.
Deadline
These programs have a continuous intake period.
