Business plan drives our funding programs

Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions develops and manages funding programs focused on the agriculture, food and forestry sectors. These programs:

• Are targeted to engage various stages of the innovation spectrum
• Are aligned with Government of Alberta priorities
• Will contribute to achievement of AI Bio's business plan

Funding Programs hosted by AI Bio

APRI IDeal Program     OPEN - CONTINUOUS INTAKE
Launched on August 1, 2012 by the Alberta Prion Research Institute, a part of AI Bio, the Innovation and Delivery Program, also known as the IDeal Program, is intended to encourage collaboration among industry and Alberta universities and research organizations for projects of an applied nature and directed at a specific challenge identified by the private sector partner. A letter of intent may be submitted at any time. Click here for more information.

Biological GHG Management Program    OPEN - CONTINUOUS INTAKE
Partnering with Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions, the Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation launched the Biological GHG Management Program in May 2012 fulfilling part of CCEMC's mandate of achieving reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and assisting Albertans in adapting to climate change. This program offers support for projects that will discover, develop and deploy technologies and strategies and demonstrate cost-effective ways and means to help meet Alberta's climate change strategy  goal of reducing net emissions from the province by 50 Mt CO2e/yr by 2020. Read launch news release. Read the backgrounder. 

2013 APRI International Young Researcher Prize      CLOSED
To recognize work being done in prion and prion-like protein misfolding science, the Alberta Prion Research Institute (APRI) is presenting the APRI International Young Researcher Prize of $25,000 to a junior researcher who is the principal author of a research paper, published on or after April 1, 2008, that is considered to have the most innovative findings and expected to have the most impact on the field of prion or prion-like protein misfolding science. Click here for more information.

2013 APRI Explorations Program II     CLOSED
Launched on February 8, 2013 by the Alberta Prion Research Institute, a part of AI Bio, the Explorations Program II is intended to allow qualified investigators to seek funding for research directly related to prion diseases and human neurodegenerative diseases and dementias where the etiology involves protein misfolding and the pathogenesis has prion-like characteristics. The deadline for applications is April 2, 2013. Click here for more information.

2013 APRI Research Team Program II     CLOSED
Launched on February 8, 2013 by the Alberta Prion Research Institute, a part of AI Bio, the Research Team Grant Program II is intended to allow teams of qualified investigators to seek funding for research directly related to prion diseases and human neurodegenerative diseases and dementias where the etiology involves protein misfolding and the pathogensis has prion-like characteristics. The deadline for submission of Letter of Intent was March 15, 2013. Click here for more information. 

2012 APRI Explorations Program       CLOSED
Launched on August 1, 2012 by the Alberta Prion Research Institute, a part of AI Bio, the Explorations Program is intended to allow qualified investigators to seek funding for research directly related to prion diseases and human neurodegenerative diseases and dementias where the etiology involves protein misfolding and the pathogenesis has prion-like characteristics. The deadline for applications was Monday, September 17, 2012. Click here for more information.

2012 APRI Research Team Program     CLOSED
Launched on August 1, 2012 by the Alberta Prion Research Institute, a part of AI Bio, the Research Team Grant Program is intended to allow teams of qualified investigators to seek funding for research directly related to prion diseases and human neurodegenerative diseases and dementias where the etiology involves protein misfolding and the pathogensis has prion-like characteristics. The deadline for submission of Letter of Intent was Monday, September 24, 2012. Click here for more information. 

2012 Bioindustrial     CLOSED
Launched on July 4, 2012, this program is focused on stimulating a variety of innovative, competitive products or processes using renewable bio-based fibre feedstocks to generate new business opportunities for Alberta's agriculture and forest sectors. Read the launch information bulletin.  The call for applications closed on Friday, August 31, 2012. Successful recipients of funding from this program will be announced in spring 2013.

2012 Food Safety Program      CLOSED
Launched on May 1, 2012 in collaboration with Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, this program is focused on building on Alberta's already excellent reputation in food safety and contribute to the reduction of food borne illnesses. Read the launch information bulletin.  The aim of the program is to improve the health and well being of Albertans while maintaining consumer confidence in the province's food and agricultural industries. Applications were received from 35 individuals when the call for applications closed on June 21, 2012. Successful recipients of funding from this program will be announced in winter 2012. 

2011 Value Chain Sustainability Program     CLOSED
Launched on August 12, 2011, this program focused on projects to increase the competitiveness and profitability of Alberta's agriculture and forestry sectors through decreased cost of production or increased value of products. Read the launch information bulletin.  Applications were received from 64 researchers. The successful recipients of funding from this program will be announced in summer 2012.

2011 Quality Food For Health Program     CLOSED
Launched on May 11, 2011, this program focused on projects to improve the health and well being of Albertans while increasing the competitiveness of the province's food and agricultural industries. Read the launch information bulletin. Applications were received from 69 researchers with 13 recipients being successful in receiving a total of $5 million from industry and seven public funding partners.  Read the announcement news release.  

2011 Advanced Materials and Chemicals Program     CLOSED
Launched on January 18, 2011, this program targeted projects to commercialize the conversion of Alberta's biomass to advanced materials and chemicals. Read the launch information bulletin.  Applications were received from 33 companies with three companies being successful in receiving a total of $4 million in funding from this program. Read the announcement news release.

Funding Programs supported by AI Bio

Alberta Innovation Voucher    OPEN - ONE INTAKE EVERY QUARTER
The Alberta Innovation Voucher program, which is managed by Alberta Innovates Technology Futures with support from Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions, provides vouchers of up to $15,000 or $50,000 to eligible small companies, including agricultural and agri-food producers and processors, foresters, innovators in municipal solid waste or bioproducts, researchers with small companies and others in Alberta's life sciences sector.  Intake for applications to the program is continuous throughout the year with a call closing every three months i.e. in January, April, July and October.   Click here for more information.

Application of Genomic Tools to the Detection and Surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes      CLOSED
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Genome Canada and Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions are partnering in a $600,000 project that will help protect consumers from Listeriosis, a serious foodborne illness. The project aims to map the genome of Listeria bacteria so that more rapid tests can be developed. Read  report from workshop held on February 28, 2012 by Genome Canada and other agencies that explored the possibilities that genomic tools can offer with respect to a current and key food safety issue - Listeriosis.  Read the funding program launch news release issued by Genome Canada on July 26, 2012. Read details on how to submit a Request for Application. Alberta applicants must have registered by September 4, 2012 with Genome Alberta to signify their intent to apply.  Full applications were submitted to Genome Alberta by October 2, 2012.

Agriculture Funding Consortium    CLOSED
With the call for applications opened on June 1, 2012, this program is focused on supporting curiosity-driven basic or applied research projects in any of the priority areas of the 15 consortium members.  The consortium is an informal alliance among three main agricultural research funding agencies, including AI Bio, and an additional 12 associate members in an effort to align and coordinate an annual research application process using a one-window online approach. The 2012 call closes on Sunday, September 30, 2012. Successful recipients of funding from this program will be announced in spring 2013. 

Intellectual Property Principles

Intellectual property owned by the applicant must be managed by the applicant.

Confidentiality

The Funders are committed to keeping application details confidential, and are subject to the protection and disclosure provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act. External experts who act as reviewers must sign a confidentiality agreement.