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Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program
AB, Canada
Supports collaboration between Alberta SMEs and post-secondary institutions
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
grant_single|grantors
- Alberta Innovates
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program is a leveraged funding partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) to support collaboration between eligible Alberta post-secondary institutions and small-to-medium sized Alberta companies with up to $150,000 per year for a maximum of two years.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
The Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program offers specific financing modalities aimed at supporting collaborative projects between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and post-secondary institutions in Alberta. The funding approach is structured to ensure alignment with project scopes and outcomes, enhancing technological adoption and commercialization.
- Funding support of up to $150,000 per year for a maximum of 2 years per project.
- Matching of NSERC’s contributions up to specified limits, with NSERC guidelines determining the contributions of partner organizations.
- Funding disbursed to cover eligible expenses as defined by the investment agreement, exclusively for costs incurred after the agreement signing and between arm's length entities.
- Project funds contingent on milestone completion, with subsequent payments tied to the submission and approval of progress and final reports.
- Additional in-kind contributions from Alberta SMEs expected, beyond NSERC’s requirements, to qualify for matching funds.
grant_single_labels|projects
The Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement Program (CASBE) aims to facilitate partnerships between Alberta's SMEs and post-secondary institutions to adopt emerging technologies. This program supports projects that align with Alberta's research and commercialization priorities, contributing to technological advancements and economic prosperity.
- Projects to increase R&D activity within and between Alberta SMEs and academic partners.
- Initiatives for increased knowledge transfer to the Alberta SME industry partner.
- Projects designed to enhance the skill and knowledge base in industry.
- Development activities that increase experience and technical skills for highly qualified personnel (HQP) relevant to the Alberta SME.
- Projects aimed at creating new and improved products and/or services.
- Initiatives encouraging a reported increase in the SME R&D investment.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 75,000
Creating a bio-sensor platform to monitor wastewater quality
$ 75,000
Developing real-time traffic management solutions using IoT
$ 100,000
Implementing blockchain technology for secure supply chain management
$ 75,000
Developing AI-driven solutions to optimize oil extraction processes
$ 75,000
Developing renewable energy solutions for remote areas
$ 75,000
Creating a smart monitoring system for forest health
grant_single_labels|admissibility
The Industry Partner(s) must meet specific criteria to qualify for this grant.
- The company must be a for-profit SME with at least 2 Full Time Employees (FTE).
- The relationship between the Applicant and Industry Partner(s) must not create a conflict of interest.
- The company must have demonstrated operations (of at least 2 years) in Alberta and be able to continue to adopt and develop the results of the academic research in-house.
- The company must meet the definition of an SME: a company with fewer than 500 Full Time employees, and less than $50,000,000 in annual gross revenue.
- The company must be a legal entity, either incorporated in Alberta or federally/extra-provincially registered in Alberta, or a General Partnership, Limited Partnership, or Limited Liability Partnership registered in Alberta.
- The company must be in good financial and final reporting standing with Alberta Innovates and its subsidiaries, InnoTech Alberta and C-FER Technologies.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
The CASBE program is open to researchers from Alberta post-secondary institutions, including Alberta colleges, polytechnics, and universities, who meet the eligibility criteria for NSERC research programs within the scope of CASBE Stream I and Stream II. These researchers must be authorized to undertake the proposed project and execute a grant agreement with Alberta Innovates. Furthermore, they should not be prohibited from receiving Alberta Innovates funding due to issues like past bad debt, must have a physical presence in Alberta, and should notify Alberta Innovates and NSERC of any changes in the status of the Industry Partner during the project.Industry partners, specifically Alberta SMEs, must be for-profit businesses with at least 2 full-time employees, operational for at least 2 years, and legally registered in Alberta or extra-provincially. The project must involve at least one Alberta SME as an industry partner and adhere to Alberta's research and commercialization priorities and emerging technology areas. Additionally, projects should align with NSERC’s eligibility criteria.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
This grant excludes certain types of companies and industries primarily based on their eligibility status and activity alignment with the grant's objectives. The focus is on supporting for-profit SMEs actively operating within Alberta.
- Non-profit organizations and entities.
- Companies with a workforce of 500 or more full-time employees.
- Businesses generating over $50,000,000 in annual gross revenue.
- Companies that are not legally registered in Alberta or not extra-provincially registered.
- Entities with unresolved financial issues with Alberta Innovates or its subsidiaries.
- Start-ups or companies with less than two years of operational history in Alberta.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) program supports projects that facilitate the adoption of emerging technologies by Alberta's SMEs in alignment with provincial research and commercialization priorities. Eligible projects focus on enhancing collaboration between SMEs and post-secondary institutions to drive innovation and commercialization of new technologies.
- Projects enabling Alberta SMEs to adopt emerging technologies in their technological services and/or products.
- Research and development activities that increase R&D activity within Alberta SMEs in collaboration with academic partners.
- Projects that facilitate knowledge transfer to Alberta SMEs, enhancing their skill and knowledge base.
- Initiatives aimed at increasing HQP (Highly Qualified Personnel) experience and technical skills relevant to Alberta SMEs.
- Development and commercialization of new and improved products and services.
- Projects that report an increase in SME R&D investment in Alberta.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
Eligible companies for the CASBE Program must be located in Alberta. The program is specifically designed to support Alberta-based SMEs in collaboration with local post-secondary institutions and industry partners.
- Businesses and organizations legally incorporated in Alberta, Canada.
- Entities extra-provincially registered in Alberta if incorporated in another jurisdiction.
grant_single_labels|criteria
The evaluation and selection of projects for the Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) grant are based on specific criteria set by Alberta Innovates and NSERC to ensure the projects align with the program’s objectives and intended outcomes.
- Alignment with the CASBE program objectives and Alberta’s research and commercialization priorities.
- Fit with the emerging technology priorities outlined by Alberta Innovates.
- The eligibility of the Applicant, Industry Partner, and the proposed project as per the guidelines.
- Demonstration of the practice of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in the proposal.
- Merit indicators followed by NSERC as per the specific program applied for funding.
- Evidence of a conflict-free relationship between the Applicant and the Industry Partner(s).
grant_single_labels|register
Here are the steps to submit an application for the CASBE program:
- Step 1: Initial Contact
- Reach out to the CASBE program manager with your NSERC-CASBE proposal idea to assess initial alignment to program requirements.
- Step 2: Submit PSIET Intake Form
- If alignment is identified, submit the Post-Secondary Investments & Emerging Technologies (PSIET) Intake Form via the AI online portal, selecting CASBE within the Funding Opportunities tab.
- Step 3: Submission of Full Proposal
- If the PSIET Intake Form is approved, submit a full proposal through the SmartSimple application portal, attaching a draft PDF version of the NSERC application form.
- Ensure all sections of the application form are completed accurately.
- Step 4: Conditional Approval
- For Stream I (NSERC ARD) and Stream II (NSERC Alliance Advantage and Alliance Quantum): Alberta Innovates will provide a conditional approval email if applicable.
- Attach Alberta Innovates' conditional approval in the NSERC application portal as required.
- Step 5: Final Submission to NSERC
- Once you have Alberta Innovates' conditional approval, proceed to submit the final application through the NSERC online systems (NSERC Convergence Portal or NSERC online system).
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
The CASBE Program aims to boost small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Alberta by supporting research collaborations with academia, focusing on emerging technologies. The program offers funding of up to $150,000 per year for a maximum of two years.
- The program is open to Alberta Colleges, Polytechnics, and Universities eligible for NSERC research programs.
- Industry partners must be SMEs with at least two full-time employees, in operation for at least two years in Alberta, and meet financial criteria.
- Projects must align with Alberta's research and commercialization priorities and cover technology readiness levels 2 to 6.
- Applications undergo initial evaluation by Alberta Innovates before submission to NSERC for final review.
- Performance measurement involves progress reports and monitoring project outcomes for up to five years post-completion.
- An Investment Agreement with detailed roles and responsibilities must be signed before funds are disbursed.
- Contact persons for different streams within the program are provided for specific queries and assistance.
grant_single_labels|contact
shabbir.mustafiz@albertainnovates.ca
780-450-5286
