Open
Source verified November 3, 2026
Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program
Strengthening Alberta’s collaborative research and innovation ecosystem
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
The Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program supports organizations serving technology and knowledge-based businesses, inventors and entrepreneurs through initiatives that strengthen Alberta’s research and innovation ecosystem. It supports collaborative ecosystem services, capacity-building platforms and networks, and activities such as networking, convening and workshops.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- Providing communities, services and supports for inventors and entrepreneurs traversing the client journey.
- Building capacity, platforms and networks in areas of strategic priority.
- Collaborative initiatives that build connections, partnerships and capacity, including networking, convening, workshops and other ecosystem-development activities.
- Initiatives that strengthen emerging technology research commercialization and talent pathways from Alberta post-secondary institutions to Alberta’s technology SME sector.
- Health innovation initiatives supporting validation, commercialization, implementation, adoption and scale, including evidence generation and health-system connections.
Documents Needed
- Expression of Interest (EOI) form
- Full Proposal form, for applicants invited to submit one
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Post-secondary institutions.
- Non-Profit/Not-for-Profit Organizations.
- Associations, consortia and societies.
- Government entities, provided that financial assistance will not be used to fund the corporation’s capital or ongoing operational requirements.
- For-Profit Organizations, depending on the nature of the services provided; non-profit is preferred.
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 or its subsidiaries, InnoTech Alberta and C-FER Technologies.
Eligible expenses
- Project-specific labour costs, materials, and additional direct operating costs, subject to the stated market-rate, identification, and quantification conditions.
- Reasonable project-related hospitality, including food and event venue costs, excluding alcohol; luxury meals and venues require exceptional circumstances pre-approved by Alberta Innovates.
- Software and information databases critical to the project, and property acquisitions, capital improvements to facility premises, and capital equipment critical to the project, subject to the stated approval, valuation, and pro-rating conditions.
- Basic professional services, fees and disbursements directly related to the project, and subcontractor costs at fair market rates for project-related work.
- Necessary travel that is pre-approved or included in the approved project budget; reasonable advertising in trade, technical or professional journals; unrecoverable GST on eligible costs; and other costs pre-approved in writing by Alberta Innovates.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs incurred before the Project Start Date, unless Alberta Innovates has provided written approval, and transactions between Related Persons.
- Interest on debt; investment losses, bad debts and collection charges; losses on unrelated projects; fines and penalties; and unreasonable compensation for project labour.
- Federal and Provincial income taxes; GST except for eligible unrecoverable portions; land and building costs not directly related to the project; and depreciation and amortization charges.
- Costs of applying for government grants and programs; routine testing and maintenance; professional training and development; passport or immigration fees; and commuting between residence and place of employment.
- Entertainment, hospitality unrelated to the project, alcohol, gifts, and any other costs deemed ineligible by Alberta Innovates.
Eligible geographic areas
- Projects must serve ecosystem needs and demonstrate measurable impact for Alberta.
Selection criteria
- Applications are evaluated based on merit and the opportunity’s ability to achieve Program outcomes.
- Additional consideration is given to applicants that demonstrate cash or in-kind contributions or leverage funding from other sources.
How to apply
- Connect with the appropriate Alberta Innovates representative before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).
- Complete the EOI form in the SmartSimple online application portal and submit it for evaluation.
- If successful, submit a Full Proposal; applicants have four weeks from EOI approval to submit it.
Processing and Agreement
- Alberta Innovates reviews and evaluates applications for fit with Program objectives and intended outcomes; staff and external expert reviewers evaluate applications.
- Applicants submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for evaluation. Successful applicants are invited to submit a Full Proposal and assigned a Project Advisor.
- The Full Proposal is evaluated; applicants may be asked to present the proposed project or provide additional information during the review.
- After an application is evaluated and approved, the applicant must sign Alberta Innovates’ standard-form Investment Agreement. Funding is not provided until all parties have signed it.
- Applicants must submit a Progress or Final Report and demonstrate sufficient progress before Alberta Innovates advances the next milestone payment. Project outcomes may be monitored for up to five years after project completion.
Additional information
General intake is continuous. Campus to Commercialization and Pilot to Pathway calls close November 16, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time; review each call’s fact sheet and application guide. Technology Innovation Hub and Entrepreneur Ecosystem projects are described as fully subscribed for 2025/26.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program Program
What is the Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program?
The Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program supports organizations serving technology and knowledge-based businesses, inventors and entrepreneurs through initiatives that strengthen Alberta’s research and innovation ecosystem. It supports collaborative ecosystem services, capacity-building platforms and networks, and activities such as networking, convening and workshops.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program program?
To be eligible for the Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program program, you must:
The applicant must be an entity that supports technology and knowledge-based businesses, inventors, and entrepreneurs.
The applicant must exist as a corporate person with up-to-date corporate filings.
The applicant must be authorized to undertake the proposed project and execute a grant with Alberta Innovates on its standard terms.
What expenses are eligible under Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program?
Providing communities, services and supports for inventors and entrepreneurs traversing the client journey.
Building capacity, platforms and networks in areas of strategic priority.
Collaborative initiatives that build connections, partnerships and capacity, including networking, convening, workshops and other ecosystem-development activities.
Initiatives that strengthen emerging technology research commercialization and talent pathways from Alberta post-secondary institutions to Alberta’s technology SME sector.
Health innovation initiatives supporting validation, commercialization, implementation, adoption and scale, including evidence generation and health-system connections.
Where is the Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program available?
The Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program program is available across Canada.
Is the Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program?
Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program is funded by Alberta Innovates