Alberta Innovates — Tech2Farm

• Expression of Interest form
• Industry Letter of Support
• Full Project Proposal
• Investment Agreement

Who is eligible?

• Alberta-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agri-tech sector
• For-profit companies focused on agriculture and food innovation
• Companies with a significant physical and operational presence in Alberta

Who is not eligible

• Companies that are not incorporated or not registered as a General Partnership, Limited Partnership, or Limited Liability Partnership in Alberta.
• Businesses that are not in good financial standing with Alberta Innovates or its subsidiaries (e.g., those with past bad debt).
• Organizations that are not operating at arm’s length from required partners or collaborators.
• Companies or project participants prohibited from receiving Alberta Innovates funding.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and benefits for individuals specifically working on the project.
• Reasonable material costs required for project execution.
• Capital improvements, capital equipment, and software or information databases (costs pro-rated to the project timeframe based on the asset’s expected economic life).
• Travel costs for project purposes, including mileage, low economy airfare, meals, and accommodation.
• Costs for services or products provided by sub-contractors.
• Other costs pre-approved in writing by Alberta Innovates as eligible for the project.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Costs incurred before the funding approval letter or before the project start date in the Investment Agreement.
• Costs above market prices.
• Overhead charged to employee labour rates.
• Costs for applying to government grants and programs.
• Taxes, fines, penalties, and interest on debt.

Eligible geographic areas

• Alberta

• Relevance and innovation opportunity of the proposed work for the target industry/end-user, including its advantage over existing solutions and alignment with Alberta Innovates and program priorities.
• Clarity and feasibility of the commercialization pathway, including plans for market readiness, end-user adoption, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Quality of the project overview, including clear objectives, deliverables, methodology, and measurable outcomes.
• Potential environmental, economic, and social impacts for Alberta and/or the markets being targeted, including benefits that extend beyond the applicant.
• Strength of the project team, including skills, commitment, access to facilities and resources, and partner participation.

• Step 1: Submit Expression of Interest
  • Complete and submit the Expression of Interest form through the SmartSimple application portal.
  • Have a confirmed industry match and an Industry Letter of Support.
• Step 2: Submit Full Project Proposal
  • If invited, complete the Full Project Proposal through the SmartSimple granting portal.
  • Work with the Project Team on the application template and due diligence review.
• Step 3: Sign Agreement
  • If approved, sign the Investment Agreement with Alberta Innovates before funding can be issued.

• Applications are reviewed to assess fit with the program objectives and intended outcomes.
• Alberta Innovates staff and external expert reviewers evaluate applications.
• Successful applicants must sign a standard Investment Agreement before funding is released.
• Funding is paid on a milestone basis, after progress or final reports show sufficient progress.
• Project outcomes may be monitored after completion, including for up to five years.

• Cash contributions from applicants are strongly preferred and demonstrate market demand.
• Funding is tied to milestone completion, and applicants must report progress before receiving further payments.
• Alberta Innovates may monitor project outcomes for up to five years after project completion to assess benefits.
• Reliance on uncommitted funding may delay or complicate the contracting process.