Innovative environment

Alberta is a viable and attractive place for investment in the global knowledge based economy. Alberta’s research and innovation community is known internationally for developing products such as the SMART Board, Quick-Tax, and Cold-fX, and for making important discoveries in the field of diabetes research.

Alberta Innovates

The Government of Alberta’s policies are designed to ensure that innovation continues to flourish in the province. That is why the government recently formed Alberta Innovates, an amalgamation of 10 provincially funded research and innovation organizations.

The Alberta Innovates program creates an ecosystem for innovation – from basic research to technology commercialization, entrepreneurship and business start-up – in the areas of biosolutions, energy and environment, health, technology and research and innovation. The Alberta Innovates program was designed specifically to help technical industries find solutions, develop products and move technologies to market.

Commitment to Research and Development

  • Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures helps technical industries find solutions, develop products and move technologies to market through programs such as the Alberta Innovation Voucher. In the 2011-2012 fiscal year, 72 vouchers were awarded to small technology businesses, assisting them to transform their innovative ideas into commercial products or services.  
  • The Alberta government’s research and development expenditures are among the highest in Canada, on a per capita basis, partially thanks to annual draws on two research endowment funds currently valued at over $2 billion.
  • Alberta's Energy Innovation Fund commits $200 million to energy and environmental research.
  • Alberta's Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Credit is worth 10% of a company’s eligible research and development expenditures up to $4 million, for a maximum credit of $400,000. The credit will be refundable for all companies.
  • The Alberta Enterprise Corporation Act will encourage venture capital investment. $100 million has been allocated to co-invest in early stage capital funds focused on areas including information and communications technology, life sciences, green technology and nanotechnology.  

For more information about innovation and research in Alberta, please visit: Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Education