Closed
Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Alberta, Canada
Supports Alberta SMEs collaborating with post-secondary researchers for innovation
Grant and Funding
Overview
The Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program provides up to $150,000 per year for a maximum of two years to support collaborative research and development projects between Alberta post-secondary researchers and local SMEs. The program aims to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies, leading to technological innovation and commercialization within Alberta’s priority sectors.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Integrate new technologies
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new product
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Location
- Alberta
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- $ 50,000,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
- 2-500 employees
Audience
- All groups
Activities funded
- Collaboration between Alberta post-secondary institutions and SMEs to adopt emerging technologies aligned with Alberta’s research and commercialization priorities.
- Research and innovation projects that advance technology readiness from concept to prototype (TRL 2 to 6).
- Development and commercialization of new or improved products and services for Alberta SMEs through applied research partnerships.
- Initiatives aimed at transferring academic knowledge and technical skills to Alberta SMEs to accelerate technology adoption and workforce development.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 100,000
Implementing blockchain technology for secure supply chain management
$ 75,000
Creating a bio-sensor platform to monitor wastewater quality
$ 75,000
Developing real-time traffic management solutions using IoT
$ 75,000
Developing AI-driven solutions to optimize oil extraction processes
$ 75,000
Creating a smart monitoring system for forest health
$ 75,000
Developing renewable energy solutions for remote areas
Eligibility
- The applicant must be an Alberta-based for-profit small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) with at least 2 full-time employees.
- The company must have at least 2 years of demonstrated operations in Alberta and be able to adopt and develop in-house the results of the academic research.
- The SME must have fewer than 500 full-time employees and less than $50,000,000 in annual gross revenue.
- The business must be legally incorporated in Alberta, or incorporated federally/elsewhere and registered extra-provincially in Alberta, or a registered partnership in Alberta.
- The project must align with Alberta’s research and commercialization priorities and involve the adoption of emerging technologies (TRL 2-6) in collaboration with an Alberta post-secondary institution.
Who is eligible?
- For-profit small- or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with at least 2 full-time employees
- Companies with fewer than 500 full-time employees and less than $50,000,000 annual gross revenue
- Businesses with demonstrated operations (of at least 2 years) in Alberta
- Legal entities incorporated in Alberta, or federally/extra-provincially registered in Alberta, or registered partnerships in Alberta
Who is not eligible
- Companies that are not for-profit small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Businesses with fewer than 2 full-time employees.
- Organizations that have operated for less than 2 years in Alberta.
- Companies not legally incorporated or registered in Alberta (including those only incorporated federally or in other provinces but not extra-provincially registered in Alberta).
- Businesses not in good financial standing or with outstanding financial or final reporting obligations to Alberta Innovates or its subsidiaries.
Eligible expenses
- Reasonable costs incurred after signing the Investment Agreement between Alberta Innovates and the Applicant.
- Costs covered by NSERC for research partnership projects, provided they meet NSERC guidelines.
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta
Selection criteria
- Alignment with the objectives and intended outcomes of the CASBE Program.
- Demonstration of eligibility for the applicant, industry partner, and proposed project as per program guidelines.
- Assessment based on merit indicators followed by NSERC for the specific program applied to (e.g., NSERC ARD, NSERC Alliance).
- Demonstration and integration of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) practices in the proposal.
How to apply
1
Initial Contact
Reach out to the CASBE program manager with your NSERC-CASBE proposal idea to assess initial alignment to program requirements.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Additional information
- Applications are accepted on a continuous intake basis; there is no fixed deadline for submission.
- Performance monitoring may continue for up to five years after project completion to assess long-term impact.
- Alberta Innovates funds projects on a milestone completion basis, requiring sufficient progress for each payment.
- The applicant must agree to the sharing of application information between Alberta Innovates and NSERC for evaluation and reporting purposes.
Contacts
shabbir.mustafiz@albertainnovates.ca
780-450-5286
