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Important dates
Application status: Closed – Applications are not currently being accepted
Overview
The Major Innovation Fund (MIF) is an outcomes-focused program that supports research and innovation investments of strategic and commercial interest as part of the Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy (ATIS). These projects will secure and strengthen Alberta's competitive position in research and technology development, attract and retain top talent, support industries and local businesses, and leverage additional investments by highlighting unique-to-Alberta initiatives.
Post-secondary institutions will have the opportunity to submit proposals and assemble teams to build research excellence and innovative capacity in the following areas:
- Disease Management and Therapeutic Development
- Medical Device Innovations
- eHealth and mHealth Technologies
- Critical Minerals Value Chains
- Climate Adaptation/Mitigation Technologies
- Sustainable and Smart Agriculture and Food Systems
- Water Quality and Conservation Technologies
- Space and Defence Technologies
- Mobilizing Cybersecurity
- Open Data through Digital Technologies
For more information, read the MIF call for proposals.
Learn more about the successful 2018-19 MIF projects.
Funding
The available allocation to this competition is up to $30M over 4 years.
The MIF Program will provide up to 50% of the applicant's identified total project cost. The MIF funding floor per project is $3M and the funding ceiling is $7M, over 4 years to support a 5-year project.
Only eligible Alberta post-secondary institutions may apply and hold MIF funding. Industry or other partners are not eligible.
Eligibility
Eligible institutions
Only Alberta Comprehensive Academic and Research Universities (CARUs), which consists of the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge and Athabasca University, not individual researchers, may submit a proposal. Application submissions are further restricted by challenge area and number of proposals per eligible research university, as outlined in the MIF call for proposals.
Researchers from eligible institutions must contact their institution’s research office to discuss their respective institutional processes and partnership requirements.
Partnership requirements
Alberta post-secondary institution partnership requirements
The lead institution must partner with at least 2 other comprehensive and academic research universities and at least 2 other eligible Alberta post-secondary institutions with demonstrated capacity to conduct research and contribute to the business environment. These partnering post-secondary institutions must make meaningful contributions, including intellectual contributions, to the outcomes of the proposal.
The lead institution, as the grant recipient, must ensure a pan-Alberta approach to the project and that the funding is sufficiently disbursed to partnering post-secondary institutions to support collaboration and project delivery.
Industry partnership requirements
Proposals must include industrial partnerships with at least one of the following:
- an Alberta-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- an Alberta-based multinational enterprise (MNE)
- an out-of-province SME or MNE that establishes a space, such as a head office, branch, or research facility in Alberta within the lifespan of the proposal
- an SME or MNE with at least one partner located in Alberta, or has a branch/subsidiary in the province
For out-of-province SME or MNE establishing a space in Alberta, documentation of both the partner organization’s engagement and their plan to establish in Alberta and/or a memorandum of understanding (if applicable), should be submitted.
Other partnerships
The MIF does not limit projects from forming partnerships with other end-users, such as:
- private sector organizations
- not-for-profit philanthropic organizations
- eligible public organizations
All partnerships are required to provide clear demonstration of support for the MIF project and illustration of benefits to Albertans.
Collaboration is further encouraged to extend to research institutes and centres, such as the Alberta Centre for Advanced MNT Products (ACAMP), TECTERRA, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), Genome Alberta, as well as national and international organizations and institutions to identify and promote regionally integrated projects with the potential for greater impact.
Reporting requirements
Awarded projects must regularly report on the outcomes progress and financial status of the project.
The schedule and reporting requirements will be outlined in a contractual agreement that must be signed by both parties prior to receiving payment. Any significant variations in project scope or other requirements of the contract must be agreed upon by both parties prior to any changes.
Documents and templates
- MIF application form
- MIF application – financial workbook
- MIF call for proposals
- MIF progress report template
- MIF progress report metrics table template
- MIF financial report template
2022-23 Successful projects
Contact
Inquires, requests and reporting submissions can be directed to:
Email: [email protected]