Alberta Innovates invests more than $14 million alongside partners to strengthen Alberta’s innovation ecosystem

CALGARY, AB — Alberta Innovates is investing more than $14 million in infrastructure to help Alberta companies develop, test and commercialize new technologies.

In the first quarter of 2026, these investments generated nearly $48 million in additional investment from partners including the Government of Alberta, Post Secondary Institutions, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, PrairiesCan and Farm Credit Canada.

The investments support programs that strengthen Alberta’s commercialization ecosystem by improving access to specialized infrastructure, research expertise, industry partnerships and market opportunities.

“We are helping build a stronger, more connected innovation ecosystem by aligning industry, academic and government partners around shared infrastructure and commercialization opportunities,” says Terry Rock, Senior Vice President, Operations and Chief Operating Officer at Alberta Innovates. “These investments will help Alberta companies accelerate technology development, attract investment and compete in global markets.”

The University of Alberta’s Alberta CREATE initiative will provide innovators with access to semiconductor, advanced materials and AI development infrastructure through the NanoFAB and Industry Sandbox for AI Computing platforms. The investment will support enhanced semiconductor fabrication capabilities and the development of a new Canadian AI Secure Development Environment, directly enabling Alberta SMEs to develop, build and scale new hardware locally, to meet the demands of national and international markets.

"The NanoFAB operates critical infrastructure for both the Albertan and broader Canadian semiconductor ecosystem,” says Vallen Rezazadeh, CEO, TransEON, a Canadian startup developing cutting-edge semi-conductor process technology. “Without it, TransEON and numerous other Alberta companies would not be able to develop and manufacture cutting-edge made-in-Canada semiconductor chip products for customers around the world. We look forward to continuing industrial innovation at the NanoFAB through the generous support of Alberta Innovates."

Alberta Innovates is also supporting DEFENDS, a province-wide initiative led by the University of Alberta, focused on building Alberta’s defence and dual-use innovation ecosystem. The project will help SMEs access specialized research facilities, secure testing environments and commercialization pathways in areas including autonomous systems, aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

“A strong Canada requires strong provinces,” says John Pleša, President and CEO, GN Corporations, an Airdre-based defence business who will participate in the program. “DEFENDS reinforces Alberta’s role in building domestic capability, supporting sovereign control over critical technologies, and embedding Alberta manufacturers into long-term defence programs.”

In southern Alberta, the Agri-tech Pipeline Pilot, led by Lethbridge Polytechnic and three partners; Lakeland College, Olds College and Medicine Hat College, will be working with global innovation provider, SVG THRIVE to build and test a commercialization pathway to help agri-food companies connect with applied research expertise to accelerate research-to-market outcomes. This pathway approach can then be scaled to other sectors and post secondaries.

“Colleges and polytechnics drive economic growth by providing essential applied research and market development testing,” says Todd Ormann, Vice President External Relations & Research, Olds College. “This project centres on agricultural institutions, each contributing specialized expertise in areas such as livestock and crops. This presents a valuable opportunity to establish coordinated strategies that more effectively support our agricultural industry.”

Together, these investments will help create stronger commercialization pathways for Alberta innovators while supporting long-term economic growth and diversification across the province.

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