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NEWS RELEASE
Ecosystem Development Program awards $9.1 million to 15 projects
CALGARY, ALBERTA, June 2, 2022 – Alberta Innovates is investing new funding to support Alberta’s small- and medium-sized technology companies and strengthen the province’s emerging technology ecosystem.
More than $9.1 million has been awarded to the first 15 projects selected through the Alberta Innovates Ecosystem Development Pilot Program. Projects range from short-term, collaboration-building projects for technology hubs to three-year, cohort-based projects that directly support growing companies.
This pilot program invests in non-profit and for-profit entities. The projects support activities in the following focus areas:
- Promote diversity and assist under-represented populations in the earliest stages of building a technology-enabled startup.
- Accelerate growth for scaling and established technology companies.
- Help high-potential digital companies grow in Alberta through talent development.
- Strengthen and convene innovative technology hubs.
The projects have a provincewide focus and will work collaboratively with other Alberta Innovates programs such as the Alberta Scaleup and Growth Accelerators Program and Regional Innovation Networks to support Alberta’s emerging technology companies from ideation to scaling.
See the Background section below for the list of funded projects, and the Alberta Innovates website for more details about the Ecosystem Development Pilot Program.
Also being announced, today, is the start of the Economic Development Partnership Program. Alberta Innovates will begin accepting applications in mid-June. Visit our program page for more details.
“Alberta’s technology and innovation sector is growing, creating jobs and finding solutions. We know the importance of ensuring the correct 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.”
Minister Doug Schweitzer, Jobs, Economy and Innovation
“We created the Ecosystem Development Pilot Program to address gaps in the innovation continuum from ideation to commercialization, to reach rural and under-represented populations, and to bring additional specialized knowledge into the system to spur entrepreneurial growth and mindset in every part of the province.”
Laura Kilcrease, CEO, Alberta Innovates
BACKGROUND
Ecosystem Development Pilot Program – Approved Projects
| Applicant | Amount | Project Term | Project Title |
| Alberta IoT Association Ltd. | $600,000 | 14 months | Alberta Science Park/Fast Track Program |
| Canadian Blockchain Consortium Corp. | $175,000 | 1 year | Accelerating Alberta’s Blockchain Leadership Through Collaboration |
| Central Alberta: Access Prosperity | $900,000 | 3 years | Manufacturing & Export Enhancement (MEE) Cluster |
| Cybera Inc. | $1,343,697 | 2 years | Applied Data Science Lab for Economic Development |
| Digital Media Association of Alberta | $600,000 | 26 months | Interactive Digital Media (IDM) Ecosystem Development |
| European-Canadian Centre for Innovation and Research | $300,000 | 2 years | Connecting Alberta high-growth and high-potential SMEs with European partners to scale business and speed up technology commercialization |
| GrowthX, LLC | $1,000,000 | 2 years | The Alberta Revenue Accelerator (TARA) powered by GrowthX |
| Intrinsic Innovations | $390,638 | 2 years | Entrepreneur Growth Retention in Alberta |
| Lethbridge Economic Development Initiative Society | $500,000 | 13 months | Rural Women Entrepreneurs in Technology (RWEIT) |
| Mount Royal University | $1,393,755 | 3 years | Growth Catalyst |
| ScaleUp Concierge Inc. | $105,940 | 1 year | Leadership Development Platform (SaaS)to accelerate diverse executives to the C-Suite |
| Start Up TNT Organization | $750,000 | 3 years | Startup TNT Investor Training and Access to Capital Program |
| The Natural Step Canada(Energy Futures Lab) | $500,000 | 3 years | Ecosystem Development for an Equitable Energy Future |
| University of Alberta | $90,000 | 8 months | Shared Innovation Group for Hard Technologies (SIGHT) Strategic Planning |
| University of Calgary (Creative Destruction Lab Rockies) | $500,000 | 34 months | Nurture program; helping entrepreneurs at an earlier stage than Creative Destruction Lab Rockies |
| TOTAL Investment | $9,149,030 |
