Closed
Source verified August 10, 2026
ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge
Transformative industrial decarbonization projects in Alberta
Latest source updateLast Update: May 1, 2026Latest change: ERA updated the Industrial Transformation Challenge with a much larger funding total, more funded projects, and broader 2025 environmental scope.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: May 1, 2026
Latest change: ERA updated the Industrial Transformation Challenge with a much larger funding total, more funded projects, and broader 2025 environmental scope.
Industrial Transformation Challenge updated
ERA has updated the Industrial Transformation Challenge with a major increase in funding, from $28 million to $69 million, and expanded the number of funded projects from 6 to 15. The project examples and stated objectives now include a broader mix of technologies, including geothermal, grid management, robotics, nuclear, battery storage, and other industrial solutions. The 2025 call also broadens the described scope beyond emissions reduction to include water management, soil remediation, reduced land disturbance, and lower air pollutants. The application documents and funding cap language remain present, but the main change is the substantially expanded program scale and target project scope.
Funding available
$ 500,000 - $ 15,000,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Alberta, Canada
Overview
Up to CAD 15 million per project supports pilot, demonstration, and first-of-kind industrial technology projects in Alberta. The program backs innovative solutions that reduce emissions and improve competitiveness across industrial, manufacturing, agricultural, forestry, and natural resource sectors.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Implement environmental initiatives
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Alberta
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
- Research
- Environment
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Academia / students
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Municipal
- Provincial
- National
- International
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Field test and pilot projects
- Commercial demonstration projects
- First-of-kind commercial deployment projects
- Projects using technologies at the TRL 7-9+ stage
Documents Needed
- Expression of Interest Document
- Milestone Summary Table
- Letters of Support
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Innovators and technology developers
- Indigenous communities, industrial facility owners/operators, and industrial associations
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research and development organizations, and universities
- Municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, government research labs, and individuals
Eligible expenses
- Direct labour costs for project staff identified as working on the Project, calculated from base salary, and employee benefits up to 20% of base salary.
- Purchase cost of capital assets required for delivery of the project, materials and supplies used during the Project, consumables, raw materials, tools, and software.
- Consultant/Sub-Contractor labour costs for work directly related to the Project, including third-party verification of GHG emission reductions as required by ERA.
- Travel and attendance at relevant conferences to present on the Project, workshop presenter and project team participant fees and travel expenses, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, parking, economy airfare, taxi costs, vehicle rental or mileage, and tips and gratuities up to 20%.
- Project-related overhead directly related to project activities, including office space, IT, administration salaries, insurance, and utilities.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Business-as-usual work, including standalone pre-construction studies such as feasibility or FEED
- Hiring and recruitment costs
- Regulatory approval costs
- Land purchase or leasing costs
- Marketing, entertainment, IP protection costs, and GST/PST
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta
- On a case-by-case basis, pilot or demonstration sites outside of Alberta for projects led by Alberta-based entities.
Selection criteria
- Technology Opportunity — 15%
- Implementation Plan — 15%
- GHG Benefits — 25%
- Economic and Environmental Benefits — 25%
- Market and Value Proposition — 20%
How to apply
- Step 1: Create an account in Grant Manager
- Access the ERA online application portal.
- Start an Expression of Interest submission.
- Step 2: Prepare the EOI package
- Complete the Expression of Interest template.
- Fill in the required online project information.
- Attach the Milestone Summary Table and any optional letters of support.
- Step 3: Submit the EOI online
- Upload the required files in Grant Manager.
- Finalize the submission before the deadline.
- Wait for the automatic confirmation email.
- Step 4: Advance to the next stage if shortlisted
- If selected, prepare the Full Project Proposal.
- Complete the oral presentation stage.
- Step 5: Complete final approval and agreement
- Receive the funding decision by email.
- Sign the Contribution Agreement if approved.
Processing and Agreement
- EOIs are evaluated in two stages, the Expression of Interest stage and the Full Project Proposal stage, and shortlisted applicants are invited to the FPP stage.
- Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Contribution Agreement with ERA.
- ERA’s funding will be disbursed on a milestone completion basis after eligible expenses have been incurred toward specified tasks over the course of the project term.
- All final funding decisions will be made by ERA’s Board of Directors.
- Funding recipients will be required to report on project outcomes, achievements, and lessons learned, including GHG reductions, job creation, and other environmental, economic, and social benefits, and projects with quantifiable GHG emissions benefits must provide a GHG measurement, monitoring, and verification (MMV) plan.
Additional information
- Applicants may submit more than one EOI, but ERA is unlikely to fund more than one proposal from the same organization.
- ERA may share submissions with trusted funding partners if permission is granted during the process.
- Project outcomes and learnings are generally made public after completion.
- Intellectual property is addressed in the Contribution Agreement and normally remains with the project owner.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge Program
What is the ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge?
Up to CAD 15 million per project supports pilot, demonstration, and first-of-kind industrial technology projects in Alberta. The program backs innovative solutions that reduce emissions and improve competitiveness across industrial, manufacturing, agricultural, forestry, and natural resource sectors.
How much funding can be received?
ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $15,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge program?
To be eligible for the ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge program, you must:
Pilot, demonstration, or first-of-kind stage
Project in Alberta
Emissions-reduction focus
What expenses are eligible under ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge?
Field test and pilot projects
Commercial demonstration projects
First-of-kind commercial deployment projects
Projects using technologies at the TRL 7-9+ stage
Who can I contact for more information about the ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge?
You can contact Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) by email at applications@eralberta.ca or by phone at 780.417.1920.
Where is the ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge available?
The ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge program is available the province of Alberta.
Is the ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge a grant, loan, or tax credit?
ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge is a Grant and Funding