NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance Program

The NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance Program provides funding to support Alberta university researchers in developing emerging technologies aligned with Alberta's technology and innovation strategies. This initiative aims to promote economic diversification and job creation within nascent industries in Alberta by investing in research excellence and creating highly qualified personnel.

In the ever-evolving landscape of global research and innovation, Alberta Innovates has positioned itself as a key player in propelling Alberta, and by extension, Canada, into a future characterized by sustainable economic growth, technological advancement, and societal well-being. The NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance Program embodies this mission, offering a gateway for Alberta-based academics and researchers to transform their discoveries into tangible innovations that generate broad economic, environmental, and social benefits. The program's structure rests on a robust partnership between Alberta Innovates and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). This collaboration forms the backbone of a funding landscape designed to accelerate the translation of research into emerging technologies, thereby enabling new market opportunities both locally and globally. **Program Structure and Streams** The Advance Program is thoughtfully divided into two main streams, each targeting specific facets of research and technology development to maximize impact and efficiency: 1. **Stream I (NSERC Discovery Grants [Individual]):** This stream is designed to enhance existing research efforts by providing supplemental funding to researchers who hold active NSERC Discovery Grants in Alberta. The focus is on fostering projects that delve into emerging technology areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, and more—areas that hold transformative potential for industry applications and societal innovation. 2. **Stream II (General Stream):** The general stream expands the scope to NSERC-eligible researchers at Alberta-based universities who are working on pioneering discoveries across targeted information and communications technologies (ICT) topics. These include the Internet of Things (IoT), advanced data analytics, and quantum computing, which have significant implications for privacy, productivity, and economic prosperity. **Eligibility Criteria** To qualify for the Advance Program, projects must align with the program's objectives and should conform to the NSERC eligibility criteria. Additionally, Stream I projects need to focus on specific emerging technology areas, whereas Stream II demands alignment with defined ICT topics. All projects must have a specified timeframe for completion and must fall within Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 2 to 4, ensuring that projects are at a stage where they can effectively transition from research to development. **Application Process** Navigating the application process requires precision and foresight: - **Stream I Application:** Researchers interested in supplemental funding from Alberta Innovates must submit the Post-Secondary Investments & Emerging Technologies (PSIET) Intake Form via the SmartSimple online portal. Successful intake approvals lead to a more detailed application process, including the submission of budgets and a full proposal, ensuring the alignment of proposed activities with existing NSERC-funded endeavors. - **Stream II Application:** Applicants must first consult with Alberta Innovates program managers to ensure their research aligns with the program's ICT focus. Upon alignment, the PSIET Intake Form is submitted, followed by a detailed full proposal contingent on initial approvals. Joint evaluation by NSERC and Alberta Innovates guarantees that funded projects meet rigorous standards for innovation and potential impact. **Funding Details** Funding varies between the streams in terms of scope and scale: - **Stream I Funding:** Provides up to two-thirds of NSERC's annual Discovery Grants, capped at $20,000 annually per researcher for a period of up to two years. This focused investment aims to deepen research activities already underway within Alberta’s academic institutions. - **Stream II Funding:** Proposals can request up to $150,000 annually, with Alberta Innovates contributing a maximum of $100,000 yearly. NSERC matches this with 50%, ensuring robust financial support for innovative projects. This stream is particularly instrumental in ushering research from theoretical exploration to practical technology validation and potential commercialization. **Evaluation and Expected Outcomes** Both streams undergo thorough evaluation processes to ensure alignment with the program's comprehensive objectives: - **Stream I Evaluation:** Internal review considers NSERC group's insights, aligning Alberta Innovates' funding decisions with overarching provincial research priorities. Successful projects result in funding agreements crucial for advancing research activities. - **Stream II Evaluation:** An iterative review by Alberta Innovates precedes NSERC assessment, ensuring that all project aspects, from collaboration potential to market impact, adhere to stringent evaluation criteria. Program outcomes reflect Alberta Innovates' strategic goals: fostering increased R&D activity, developing new highly qualified personnel (HQPs) in burgeoning fields, and facilitating the creation of advanced products and services that drive economic growth and diversification. **Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion** The program strongly encourages the integration of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) into all research proposals. Emphasizing EDI not only ensures a broader spectrum of perspectives in research but also enhances the overall quality and relevance of innovations developed. **Performance Measurement and Accountability** Alberta Innovates invests with an emphasis on results-driven funding. Performance metrics are closely monitored, both at the project and program level, ensuring continuous evaluation of the economic, societal, and environmental returns on investment. The grant operates under a milestone-based funding system, where progress reports influence subsequent financial support, thereby aligning investment with tangible outcomes. **Conclusion** The NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance Program stands as a cornerstone for Alberta’s academic and technological landscape, driving forward the spirit of innovation. By leveraging both NSERC's and Alberta Innovates' resources and expertise, the program not only accelerates research but also strategically positions Alberta’s academia and industries at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancements. Through sustained investment in research excellence and emerging technologies, Alberta Innovates and its partners aim to create a robust pipeline of innovative solutions that not only tackle pressing challenges but also forge new pathways to economic prosperity and societal health.