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Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts

Competitive health-tech support for Alberta SMEs

Offered by
Alberta Innovates
Official source: albertainnovates.ca

Source change captured

Funding available
$ 600,000
Up to 75% of project cost
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Alberta, Canada
Who can apply
Alberta-based for-profit small-medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
See full eligibility

Overview

Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) provides staged funding of up to 75% of total eligible project costs to Alberta-based small and medium-sized enterprises advancing health technologies. It supports technology refinement, early and later-stage validation, and post-market studies focused on product-market fit, business readiness, regulatory compliance, and technical development.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding
$600,000
Maximum share of project costs
75%
Financing goals
  • Increase performance through digital transformation
  • Develop strategic partnerships
  • Develop a new product or service
  • Conduct research and development activities
  • Access new markets
  • Launch or market a product/service

Eligible candidates

Location
  • Alberta
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
$ 50,000,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
500 employees maximum
Audience
  • Startups
Legal structures
For-profit business

Start applying for this program

Take a practical assessment to gain a clear understanding of how well this program aligns with your specific needs and long-term goals.

Availability timeline

2026
Periods: 1

Latest changes

AICE intake deadline and application steps updated

AICE now shows a dated intake deadline, updated submission dates for 2026–2027, and revised intake-step wording.

See more

The AICE intake moved from continuous intake to a dated deadline of November 27, 2026 at 4:00 pm MDT, and the application schedule now lists 2026–2027 submission dates with a 5-week intake lead time instead of 6 weeks. The intake details section also adds an Apply Now link and revised wording for the intake form and intake-meeting workflow, while the program guide now points to the June 2026 version.

Official source: albertainnovates.ca
July 12, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Alberta-based for-profit small-medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
  • Companies incorporated in Alberta and/or incorporated elsewhere and extra provincially registered in Alberta.
  • General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, and Limited Liability Partnerships registered in Alberta.

Who is not eligible

  • Applicants prohibited from receiving Alberta Innovates funding, including due to a past bad debt or not being in good financial standing with Alberta Innovates or its subsidiaries.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Costs incurred before the Investment Agreement is signed.
  • Costs greater than market prices.
  • Purely business management or operational clinic/hospital backend software.
  • Unregulated products such as digital health information apps, virtual platforms, direct-to-consumer goods, wellness products, and natural health products.

Eligible geographic areas

  • Alberta

Activities funded

  • Technology refinement and early validation of technology safety, efficacy, and value proposition.
  • Later-stage efficacy validation and post-market studies to achieve market access and adoption in various jurisdictions.
  • Projects focused on product-market fit, business readiness, regulatory compliance, and technical development.

How to apply

  • Register on the Alberta Innovates Application Portal.
  • Complete and submit the AICE Program intake form within the Funding Opportunities tab on the Portal dashboard.
  • Alberta Innovates may schedule an intake meeting to discuss alignment to the program streams, project objectives, deliverables, and outcomes; applicants who meet basic eligibility requirements will be invited to submit a Full Application.
  • Submit the Full Application Form in the Portal by the posted deadlines on the program webpage.

Documents Needed

  • AICE Program intake form
  • Full Application Form
  • Financial Statements
  • Letter indicating the Testing site partner’s intention to participate, their commitment and role(s) in the Project

Selection criteria

  • Technology.
  • Business opportunity.
  • Risk profile and potential size of the return to Alberta.
  • Management team, market conditions, competitive advantage and product-market fit, go-to-market plan, financials, technical feasibility, export potential, and prior Alberta Innovates funding history and resulting achievements.

Processing and Agreement

  • Applications are reviewed by Alberta Innovates employees and external expert reviewers.
  • If the review is positive, a funding recommendation may be made to senior management and may include adjustments to the funding request and conditions.
  • Successful Applicants execute an agreement with Alberta Innovates before the project proceeds.
  • The Agreement includes reporting on progress to milestones and budget on an agreed timeline during and after the term.
  • Payment is based on milestone achievement and progress reporting, and Alberta Innovates advances the next milestone payment only after a Progress or Final Report shows sufficient progress.

Additional information

  • AICE is a competition-based funding initiative managed through Alberta Innovates’ Health Innovation Business unit.
  • The program offers two funding streams: Validate and Market Access.
  • AICE is designed to help Alberta health technology ventures advance toward validation, market access, and scaling.

Contacts

Markian.Bahniuk@albertainnovates.ca
780-984-0245

Official sources

Accelerating Innovations into Car E (AICE)

Program guide

Accelerating Innovations into Car E (AICE) program (2026)
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts Program

What is the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts?

Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) provides staged funding of up to 75% of total eligible project costs to Alberta-based small and medium-sized enterprises advancing health technologies. It supports technology refinement, early and later-stage validation, and post-market studies focused on product-market fit, business readiness, regulatory compliance, and technical development.

How much funding can be received?

Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $600,000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who is eligible for the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts program?

To be eligible for the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts program, you must: The applicant must be an Alberta-based for-profit small-medium sized enterprise. The company must have fewer than 500 full-time employees and less than $50,000,000 in annual gross revenue. The applicant must have an Alberta footprint with significant physical and corporate operational presence in Alberta.

Who can I contact for more information about the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts?

You can contact Alberta Innovates by email at Markian.Bahniuk@albertainnovates.ca or by phone at 780-984-0245.

Where is the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts available?

The Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts program is available the province of Alberta.

Is the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts is a Grant and Funding