Alberta Innovates — Water Innovation Program
AB, Canada
Apply for the Water Innovation Program to secure funding for sustainable water solutions!
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|noCondition
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- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
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- Alberta Innovates
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grant_card_status|open
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The Water Innovation Program aims to fund projects that ensure safe, secure drinking water, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and reliable water supplies for a sustainable economy in Alberta. Eligible activities include technology development in water treatment, improving water use efficiency, and strategies for water quality protection and watershed management. Applicants can range from technology developers to academic institutions and must align their proposals with the program's priority areas.
grant_single_labels|projects
Yes, the Water Innovation Program funds several types of projects aimed at leading to safe, secure drinking water, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and reliable water supplies for a sustainable economy.
- Help create a cleantech industry in water treatment.
- Enable continual improvement in water use, conservation, efficiency, and productivity.
- Provide safe, secure, and reliable water resources while maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems.
- Theme 1: Future water supply and watershed management.
- Theme 2: Healthy aquatic ecosystems.
- Theme 3: Water conservation, efficiency, and productivity.
- Theme 4: Water Quality Protection.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$80,000
Vancouver
Develop an urban water conservation strategy targeting efficiency in residential areas
$90,000
Montreal
Design a water quality monitoring system for rivers to ensure healthy ecosystems
$180,000
Ottawa
Create a cleantech industry innovation hub focusing on water treatment technologies
$150,000
Calgary
Develop an advanced filtration system for municipal water treatment
$170,000
Toronto
Enhance the water quality's industrial sectors through innovative treatment solutions
$100,000
Edmonton
Implement a watershed management program to preserve aquatic ecosystems
grant_single_labels|admissibility
The Water Innovation Program is open to various applicants who are involved in advancing technology development within a certain Technology Readiness Level range and can demonstrate clear value and alignment with the program's priorities in Alberta.
- Open to technology developers, industry, industrial associations, small and medium-sized enterprises, research and development (R&D) organizations, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, government research labs, individuals, and others.
- Applicants need not be based in Alberta but must demonstrate a clear value proposition for the Province and alignment with the program area priorities.
- Eligibility is for projects advancing technology development within a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range of 3-7.
- Successful applicants must be legally able to execute the Investment Agreement.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
This grant is open to a wide array of organizations, and applicants do not need to be based in Alberta, but must provide a clear value proposition for the province and align with the program's priorities.
- Technology developers
- Industry groups
- Industrial associations
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- Research and development (R&D) organizations
- Post-secondary institutions
- Municipalities
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Government research labs
- Individuals
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
Applicants are not required to be based in Alberta, but must demonstrate a clear value proposition for the Province and be able to clearly demonstrate alignment to the program area priorities.
- Not required to be based in Alberta
- Must demonstrate a clear value proposition for Alberta
- Must align with the program area priorities
grant_single_labels|criteria
Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. Proposed projects will be evaluated against criteria in three major categories: Innovation; Execution; and Impacts.
- Innovation
- Execution
- Impacts
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Contact a Clean Resources Project Advisor to determine if project scope meets the requirements.
- Step 2: Register on SmartSimple, the online application portal.
- Step 3: Complete and submit the Intake Form on SmartSimple.
- Step 4: Wait for your Intake Form to be reviewed to determine if the proposed project will be invited to submit a Detailed Proposal.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
This grant focuses on ensuring stable water supplies and healthy aquatic ecosystems in Alberta while addressing the challenges posed by climate change and population growth.
- The grant supports innovation in water treatment, conservation, and efficiency to help develop a cleantech industry.
- The program is open to a variety of applicants including not-for-profits, academic institutions, and small to medium enterprises.
- Applicants must demonstrate a clear value proposition for Alberta and alignment with program priorities.
- Projects are evaluated based on criteria in innovation, execution, and impacts.
- Applications are accepted on a continuous basis through the SmartSimple online portal.
- Successful applicants must be legally able to execute the Investment Agreement.
grant_single_labels|contact
780-306-2934
Apply to this program
Water Innovation Program: Funding for Sustainable Water Solutions
The Water Innovation Program provides funding for projects aimed at ensuring safe, secure drinking water, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and reliable water supplies crucial for Alberta's sustainable economy. This program supports a wide range of applicants including technology developers, industry players, academic institutions, and not-for-profit organizations.
Detailed Overview of the Water Innovation Program
Water is an essential resource that sustains life, our communities, and our economy. In Alberta, the growing population and increased demand for water, coupled with the impacts of climate change, have made it imperative to ensure the availability of quality water. The Water Innovation Program was designed to address these challenges with the goals outlined in the Water for Life Strategy, focusing on safe, secure drinking water, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and reliable water supplies for a sustainable economy.
Administered by Alberta Innovates, the Water Innovation Program offers funding to support innovation and technological advancements in water management. The objective is to foster the development of a clean technology industry in water treatment, enhance water conservation, efficiency, and productivity, and provide reliable water resources while maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems.
What the Program Funds
The Water Innovation Program invests in projects under four key themes. These themes are strategically selected to address the most pressing water-related issues in Alberta. These themes include:
Theme 1: Future Water Supply and Watershed Management
Understanding the ability of Alberta’s mountain and foothill systems to continue providing a stable water supply is crucial. Given that most Albertans rely on surface water sources originating from the Rockies, holistic approaches are needed to manage these water supplies sustainably. This theme emphasizes the importance of understanding both surface water and groundwater systems to develop strategies that ensure a stable water supply for the province's rivers and watersheds.
Theme 2: Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems
Healthy aquatic ecosystems are vital for the high quality of life enjoyed by Albertans. They provide critical ecological goods and services. However, the health of these ecosystems is increasingly threatened by population growth, economic development, climate variability, and global change. This theme focuses on developing tools and strategies to mitigate and manage the impacts on aquatic ecosystems, ensuring their health and sustainability for future generations.
Theme 3: Water Conservation, Efficiency, and Productivity
Water is a precious resource that underpins the economy and communities of Alberta. Despite being considered a water-rich province, only a limited amount of water can be sustainably extracted from the system. Enhancing water conservation, efficiency, and productivity allows for economic and community growth while preserving critical environmental flows. This theme aims to develop tools to inform decision-making and create business cases that facilitate the implementation of water conservation measures.
Theme 4: Water Quality Protection
All Albertans have the right to access safe and secure water supplies. Protecting water quality in Alberta requires a deep understanding of the inputs and impacts of various contaminants on both surface and groundwater. This theme emphasizes addressing non-point source inputs and emerging contaminants such as micro-plastics and pharmaceuticals. It also highlights the challenges posed by climate variability and evolving land management practices on water quality. Special attention is given to rural, Indigenous, and remote communities that have unique water security issues.
Eligibility Criteria
The Water Innovation Program is open to a broad range of applicants who are advancing technology development within a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range of 3-7. Eligible applicants include:
- Technology developers
- Industry players
- Industrial associations
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- Research and development (R&D) organizations
- Post-secondary institutions
- Municipalities
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Government research labs
- Individuals
While applicants are not required to be based in Alberta, they must demonstrate a clear value proposition for the province and align their projects with the program's priority areas. Successful applicants must also be legally able to execute the Investment Agreement with Alberta Innovates.
Application Process
The application process for the Water Innovation Program involves several steps:
- Contact a Clean Resources Project Advisor to determine if the project scope meets the requirements.
- Register on SmartSimple, the online application portal.
- Complete and submit the Intake Form on SmartSimple.
- Wait for the Intake Form to be reviewed. If the proposed project aligns with the program requirements, the applicant will be invited to submit a Detailed Proposal.
Detailed information on eligibility and the intake process can be found in the Program Guide available on the SmartSimple portal.
Evaluation Process
The applications submitted to the Water Innovation Program are evaluated by internal staff with subject-matter and business expertise, as well as external reviewers. Proposed projects are assessed based on criteria in three major categories: Innovation, Execution, and Impacts.
Each criterion category is evaluated as follows:
- Innovation: The novelty of the project, technological advancements, and potential for creating a clean technology industry in water treatment.
- Execution: The feasibility of the project, the capability of the team, and the robustness of the execution plan.
- Impacts: The potential benefits of the project on water quality, aquatic ecosystem health, water conservation, and overall water security for Alberta.
Contact Information
If you have determined that your project meets the criteria of the Water Innovation Program, it is essential to contact a Project Advisor before submitting your Intake Form. Here are the contact details for key advisors:
- Vicki Lightbown, Director, Water Innovation Program: 780-306-2934, Vicki.Lightbown@albertainnovates.ca
- Mark Donner, PhD, Senior Manager, Environmental Remediation and Restoration: 780-306-2383, Mark.Donner@albertainnovates.ca
Resources and Related Links
For additional information about the program, applicants can access various resources including the Clean Resources Continuous Intake Program Guide and the Clean Resources Continuous Intake Application Guide. The SmartSimple Online Application Portal is also available for application submissions and additional program details.
Examples of Funded Projects
The Water Innovation Program has successfully funded numerous projects aimed at enhancing water management in Alberta. Some examples include:
- Cost-Effective Granular Sludge-Based Process for Distillery Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: This project, led by the University of Alberta, focuses on developing a cost-effective sludge-based process for treating and reusing wastewater from distilleries.
- Development of Methodology to Generate Reservoir Operating Rules: Another University of Alberta project, this initiative aims to develop methodologies for generating operational rules for reservoirs to ensure optimal water management.
- Composition of Constructed Stormwater Wetland Muck Substrate: Conducted by Mount Royal University, this project studies the composition of muck substrates in constructed stormwater wetlands to improve their effectiveness.
- Microwave Sensing Technology for Hydrocarbon Monitoring in Water Resources: This University of Alberta project explores the use of microwave sensing technology for monitoring hydrocarbons in water resources, aiming to provide innovative solutions for water quality monitoring.
- Building Water Security and Climate Resilience into the City of Edmonton Through Innovative Watershed Management Practices: Focusing on the City of Edmonton, this project aims to enhance water security and climate resilience through pioneering watershed management practices.
- Treatment Strategies for Industrial Wastewater as a Step to Achieve Circular Economy: Technology Development and Implementation: This University of Alberta project works on developing and implementing treatment strategies for industrial wastewater as a step towards achieving a circular economy.
Conclusion
The Water Innovation Program is a crucial initiative aimed at ensuring the availability of safe, secure, and sustainable water resources in Alberta. By funding innovative projects across various themes, the program addresses critical water management issues and contributes to the development of a clean technology industry. Whether you are a technology developer, academic institution, or not-for-profit organization, the Water Innovation Program offers a significant opportunity to advance water sustainability in Alberta.