Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program

We offer funding for Alberta-based companies to adopt emerging technologies with the support of researchers from Alberta Post-Secondary Institutions.

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Program Status: Active
Program Status refers to the state of work going on within this particular program. If the Program is 'Active', it is either accepting new applications or research is currently underway. If the Program is 'Inactive', the Program is neither accepting new applications nor is any research being conducted.
Intake Status: Closed
Intake Status refers to the state of the Program's call for new applications. If the Intake is displaying 'Open', the Program is accepting new applications. If the Intake is displaying 'Closed', the Program is not accepting new applications.
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Program at a Glance

Business Area: Post-Secondary Investments & Emerging Technology
Priority Area(s): Connect Albertan academics and small businesses to work together and take advantage of grants with expanded budgets and timelines.
Program Guide: Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program - Program Guide

Eligibility

Alberta-based: Yes
Organization Type: Academic Institutions & Researchers
Small to Medium Enterprise
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Overview

The Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program is a leveraged funding partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to support collaboration between eligible Alberta post-secondary institutions and small-to-medium sized Alberta companies with up to $150,000 per year for a maximum of two years. View the NSERC website here.

Key objectives:

  • Create job, attract and retain technical talent.
  • Grow technical knowledge, skills and experience.
  • Solve real-world challenges with leading technology.
  • Create a stronger ecosystem through researchers and businesses working together.
  • Broaden access to world class facilities and talent in Alberta post-secondary institutions.
  • Diversify the economy through technology-based solutions to tackle real-world challenges.

Eligibility

  • CASBE is open to academics from Campus Alberta, with at least one Alberta SME as an industry partner.
  • Projects must be focused on one of the emerging technologies outlined in Alberta’s research and commercialization priorities identified in the Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy.

You’ll find the list of priority emerging technology areas listed under Intake Details below. Refer to the program guide below for a complete list of eligibility requirements.

How To Apply

  1. Review the CASBE program guide.
  2. Contact the program manager (listed below) with your project idea. They will determine if your project is aligned the program requirements.
  3. If aligned, we’ll ask you to visit SmartSimple, our application portal, and submit an intake form.
  4. Select CASBE on the Funding Opportunities tab and fill out the intake form labelled Post-Secondary Investments & Emerging Technologies (PSIET).
  5. If your intake form is approved, we’ll invite you to submit an AI CASBE NSERC full proposal.

The detailed steps are outlined in the CASBE Program Guide. Please use it to ensure your application is complete.

Evaluation Process

All applications are reviewed and evaluated by Alberta Innovates to determine fit with the CASBE Program objectives and intended outcomes. We evaluate applications based on:

  • Eligibility criteria for the applicant, the industry partner, and the proposed project, as stated in the Guide,
  • Merit indicators followed by NSERC.
  • All applicants are strongly recommended to demonstrate adequately the practice of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in their project plan.

Support Resources

SmartSimple Online Application Portal

CASBE Grant Agreement Template

CASBE Priority Emerging Technology Areas

Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy (ATIS)

Contact

Alaine Jaque

Business Analyst

587-686-7585

Adam Brown

Manager, Emerging Technology, Opportunity Development

780-450-5560

Maryjo Laurel

Administrator, Investments, Post-Secondary Investments & Emerging Technologies

Closed Intakes

CASBE - Intake

We offer funding for researchers from Alberta Post-Secondary Institutions to support Alberta-based companies in adopting emerging technologies. Note: Intake for this program has been closed for the year

Closed

Registration closed: November 6, 2025 12:00 am MST

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