Renewable and Alternative Energy Program

Who is eligible?

• Technology developers advancing clean technologies at TRL 3–7
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Large and multi-national enterprises and industry
• Academic and research organizations, including post-secondary institutions and R&D organizations
• Municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, industrial associations, and government research labs

Who is not eligible

There are specific types of companies that are not eligible for this grant:

• Alberta-based organizations are not eligible.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and benefits for employees directly working on the funded project.
• Reasonable costs of materials required to carry out the project activities.
• Capital improvements and equipment, as well as software or information databases, with costs pro-rated to the project timeframe based on the asset’s expected economic life.
• Project-related travel expenses, including mileage, economy airfare, meals and accommodation necessary to execute the project.
• Fees for subcontractors and external service providers supplying services or products required for the project.
• Other project costs that Alberta Innovates has explicitly pre-approved in writing as eligible expenses.

Eligible geographic areas

• Projects originating anywhere globally, provided they demonstrate a clear and justified value proposition for the province of Alberta.
• Projects that are researched, piloted, demonstrated and/or implemented in Alberta, with long-term Alberta-based infrastructure or resources, are prioritized.

• Innovation: projects are assessed on their level of technological and innovative advancement, as outlined in the SmartSimple online application form.
• Execution: evaluation of the quality and credibility of the project plan, including the team’s capacity and the approach to carry out the work.
• Impacts: assessment of the expected outcomes and benefits, with detailed considerations specified in the SmartSimple application form.

• Step 1: Initial contact with Project Advisor
  • Contact a Clean Resources Project Advisor for the Renewable and Alternative Energy area to confirm that your project scope aligns with Government of Alberta, Alberta Innovates, and Clean Resources priorities.
  • Discuss whether your project fits within the Renewable and Alternative Energy focus areas and Technology Readiness Level expectations.
  • Obtain guidance from the Project Advisor on how to proceed with the Clean Resources Continuous Intake process.
• Step 2: Review program guides and resources
  • Download and review the Clean Resources Continuous Intake Program Guide.
  • Review the Clean Resources Continuous Intake Application Guide.
  • Examine the Standard Investment Agreement Template to understand funding terms and conditions.
  • Ensure you understand the evaluation criteria (Innovation, Execution, Impacts) described in the SmartSimple (Alberta Innovates Application Portal) forms.
• Step 3: Register on the Alberta Innovates Application Portal (SmartSimple)
  • Create an account on the Alberta Innovates Application Portal (SmartSimple) if you do not already have one.
  • Log in to the Portal and navigate to the Funding Opportunities tab on the dashboard.
• Step 4: Complete and submit the Intake Form
  • Access the Clean Resources Continuous Intake Form from the Funding Opportunities section of the Portal.
  • Complete all required sections of the Intake Form, following the guidance provided by your Project Advisor and the Application Guide.
  • Submit the Intake Form through the SmartSimple online application portal.
• Step 5: Intake review and invitation to Detailed Proposal
  • Wait for your Intake Form to be reviewed by the Project Advisor and the Clean Resources Management Team.
  • Receive a decision on whether your proposed project will be invited to submit a Detailed Proposal (Phase 2).
  • If invited, obtain access to the Detailed Proposal application in the Portal.
• Step 6: Prepare and submit Detailed Proposal (by invitation only)
  • For invited projects, complete the Detailed Proposal in the Alberta Innovates Application Portal.
  • Provide all requested technical, financial, and project management information as outlined in the Application Guide and online forms.
  • Indicate the funding request level (Low Dollar: under $250K, or High Dollar: $250K and higher) as applicable in the Portal forms.
  • Submit the Detailed Proposal through the Portal for evaluation.
• Step 7: Evaluation and funding decision
  • Undergo review by Alberta Innovates internal staff with subject-matter and business expertise, as well as external expert reviewers.
  • Have your project evaluated against the criteria in the three main categories: Innovation, Execution, and Impacts, as described in the online application.
  • Await the funding recommendation and final decision by Alberta Innovates senior management, which may include adjustments to funding amount or conditions.
• Step 8: Execute Investment Agreement
  • If approved, review the Investment Agreement issued by Alberta Innovates.
  • Ensure your organization is legally able to execute the Investment Agreement.
  • Sign and return the Investment Agreement to Alberta Innovates as instructed.
• Step 9: Project management and reporting
  • Work with the assigned Project Advisor as your primary point of contact throughout the project.
  • Carry out the project according to the agreed workplan, milestones, deliverables, and budget in the Investment Agreement.
  • Submit progress reports and milestone documentation as required to trigger project payments.
  • Provide required outcome and performance metric reporting during the project term and annually for up to five years after project completion, as specified by Alberta Innovates.

• This is a continuous intake program, meaning applications can be submitted at any time and are always being accepted.
• Applications may be reviewed by both internal subject-matter experts and external reviewers, whose identities are not disclosed to maintain objectivity.
• Funded projects are publicly profiled in a non-confidential summary after approval, and final outcomes and learnings are reported publicly while protecting competitive information.
• Alberta Innovates may share applications with selected external “Trusted Partners” funders for potential co-funding, subject to the applicant’s consent.