NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance Program

• Approved NSERC Discovery Grants (Individual) full application
• NSERC’s Notice of Decision including Terms and Conditions
• Message from the evaluation group
• Alberta Innovates supplemental budget expenses
• Form 100A – Personal Information Form and Form 101 – Grant Application
• Technology Transfer Office evaluation form

Who is eligible?

• Researchers with active NSERC Discovery Grants (Individual), currently holding at a post-secondary institution in Alberta for Competition Year 2024, for Stream I.
• Researchers from post-secondary institutions that are on NSERC’s list of Alberta-based universities, for Stream II.
• For Stream II, the primary applicant must hold an NSERC peer-reviewed grant when applying and meet NSERC eligibility criteria when applying and when funding is released.

Who is not eligible

• Applicants who would hold more than one Advance Stream I grant simultaneously.
• Applicants who would hold more than one Advance Stream II grant simultaneously.
• Primary Applicants who submit more than one application per fiscal year, from April 1 to March 31.
• Applicants who are not in good financial standing with Alberta Innovates or its subsidiaries because of a past bad debt.

Eligible expenses

• Labour costs at reasonable market rates for individuals specifically identified as performing project services
• Materials at the lower of cost or fair market value, and additional direct operating costs
• Property acquisitions, including capital improvements to facility premises and capital equipment, and acquisitions of software or information databases
• Basic professional services, subcontractor costs, and travel when necessary, including mileage, airfare, accommodation, and meals at reasonable rates
• Unrecoverable GST on eligible expenses, and any other cost pre-approved in writing by Alberta Innovates

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Costs incurred prior to the Project Start Date, unless Alberta Innovates has provided written approval
• Transactions between Related Persons, interest on debt, losses on investments, bad debts, collection charges, fines, and penalties
• Unreasonable compensation for Project labour, professional training and development, depreciation and amortization charges
• Federal and Provincial income taxes, and goods and services taxes except unrecoverable GST not reimbursed
• Costs related to land and buildings not directly related to the Project, advertising except limited trade or professional journal advertising, routine testing and maintenance, meals, entertainment, hospitality, alcohol, and gifts

• Stream I applications are reviewed internally in the order received, and NSERC evaluation group comments are considered.
• Stream II intake applications are ranked in order, and a limited number are selected in each priority focus area to advance to full application.
• Stream II full applications are assessed on future market opportunity, research plan and team, training, and impact and benefits to Alberta and Canada.

• Stream I applicants must submit the Post-Secondary Investments & Emerging Technologies (PSIET) Intake Form in the Funding Opportunities tab on the AI online portal.
• If the Stream I intake form is approved, the applicant must submit the full proposal in SmartSimple.
• If successful, Alberta Innovates will execute an Investment Agreement with the academic institution before project activities can proceed.
• Stream II applicants must first contact the Alberta Innovates Advance program manager to determine alignment with the program requirements.
• After alignment is confirmed, Stream II applicants must submit the PSIET EOI in SmartSimple.
• If the EOI is approved, the applicant must complete the NSERC application, attach the PDF to the Alberta Innovates application, complete the joint call funding partner form, and then submit the application to NSERC.

• Stream I full proposals are reviewed internally, with NSERC evaluation group comments considered.
• Applicants are notified through SmartSimple once a decision has been made.
• Stream II applications are reviewed jointly by Alberta Innovates and NSERC, and Alberta Innovates may recommend whether an application proceeds to NSERC review.
• Applications approved by both NSERC and Alberta Innovates receive funding, and successful applicants execute an Investment Agreement with Alberta Innovates.
• For Stream II, separate agreements are executed by NSERC and Alberta Innovates with the Applicant.

• Alberta Innovates funds on a milestone completion basis.
• Applicants must submit a Progress and/or Final Report and show sufficient progress before the next milestone payment.
• Project outcomes may be monitored for up to five years after project completion.
• Applicants are strongly recommended to demonstrate Equity, Diversity and Inclusion adequately in the proposed project.