Open
Source verified September 17, 2026
Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate
Competitive support for Alberta health technology validation
Latest source updateLast Update: July 12, 2026Latest change: The AICE page now shows new 2026–2027 intake and full-application deadlines, along with updated intake steps and portal access.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 12, 2026
Latest change: The AICE page now shows new 2026–2027 intake and full-application deadlines, along with updated intake steps and portal access.
AICE deadlines and intake process updated
The AICE page now shows updated intake and full-application deadlines for 2026–2027: September 2, 2026 and January 15, 2027, with intake submissions due 5 weeks before each deadline. The intake details also now point to an Apply Now portal link, and the intake-form and intake-meeting wording has been revised.
Funding available
$ 300,000
Deadline
November 27, 2026
Location
Alberta, Canada
Overview
Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate supports Alberta-based for-profit SMEs with up to 75% of total eligible project costs, to advance new health technologies toward validation and market readiness. It funds technology refinement, early validation of safety, efficacy and value proposition, and scientific preclinical, safety or clinical efficacy evidence generation.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Alberta
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- $ 50,000,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
- 500 employees maximum
Audience
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- Technology refinement and early validation of technology safety, efficacy and value proposition.
- Scientific, preclinical, safety or clinical efficacy evidence generation.
- Activities across Product-Market Fit, Business, Regulatory and Technical Development domains.
Documents Needed
- Financial Statements
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Alberta-based for-profit small-medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Companies with fewer than 500 full-time employees and less than $50,000,000 annual gross revenue.
- Corporations incorporated in Alberta and/or another jurisdiction and extra provincially registered in Alberta.
- General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, or Limited Liability Partnerships registered in Alberta.
- Alberta-based entities with an Albertan footprint.
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, InnoTech Alberta or C-FER Technologies.
- Applicants that would hold more than one AICE grant at a time.
Eligible expenses
- Project labour and salaries at reasonable market rates
- Materials, subcontractors, and basic professional services directly tied to the project
- Eligible software, equipment, and other direct operating costs
- Pre-approved travel and related accommodation and meals at reasonable rates
- Unrecoverable GST on eligible costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs incurred prior to the signing of the Investment Agreement.
- Costs greater than market prices.
- Costs not incurred between arm's-length entities.
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta
Selection criteria
- Technology and business opportunity.
- Overall risk profile and potential size of the return to Alberta.
- Management team, market conditions, competitive advantage, product-market fit and go-to-market plan.
- Financials, technical feasibility, robustness and clinical relevance of the project plan.
- Export potential and prior Alberta Innovates funding history and resulting achievements.
How to apply
- Register on the Alberta Innovates Application Portal.
- Access, complete and submit the AICE Intake Form within the Funding Opportunities tab on the Portal dashboard.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit the Intake Form as early as possible, and no later than 5 weeks before a Full Application submission date.
- An intake meeting can be scheduled to discuss alignment to the program streams, desired 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.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed by internal and external reviewers with relevant clinical, technology commercialization and business expertise.
- 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 must execute an agreement with Alberta Innovates to proceed with the Project.
- No funding is provided until the Investment Agreement has been signed by all Parties.
- The agreement includes reporting on progress to milestones and budget, and a payment schedule based on milestone achievement and progress reporting.
- A Progress or Final Report and sufficient progress are required before Alberta Innovates advances the next milestone payment.
Additional information
- Applications are reviewed in multiple cohorts throughout the year.
- Applicants who are declined may re-apply after a six-month cooling-off period.
- The program uses a standard Investment Agreement before funding is advanced.
- Alberta Innovates may contact listed customers or project partners during evaluation.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate Program
What is the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate?
Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate supports Alberta-based for-profit SMEs with up to 75% of total eligible project costs, to advance new health technologies toward validation and market readiness. It funds technology refinement, early validation of safety, efficacy and value proposition, and scientific preclinical, safety or clinical efficacy evidence generation.
How much funding can be received?
Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $300,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is November 27, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate program?
To be eligible for the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate program, you must:
The applicant must be an Alberta-based for-profit SME.
The company must have fewer than 500 full-time employees and less than $50,000,000 annual gross revenue.
The project must have completed readiness level 4 in all domains.
What expenses are eligible under Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate?
Technology refinement and early validation of technology safety, efficacy and value proposition.
Scientific, preclinical, safety or clinical efficacy evidence generation.
Activities across Product-Market Fit, Business, Regulatory and Technical Development domains.
Who can I contact for more information about the Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate?
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) – Validate available?
The Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate program is available the province of Alberta.