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Home > Funding Programs > Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE)
The Accelerating Innovations in CarE (AICE) program offers staged funding streams and support to Alberta’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that require robust scientific and clinical evidence to develop, advance and commercialize cutting edge new health technologies.
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The AICE program supports Alberta health technology ventures to grow and generate the evidence needed along their journey to achieve validation, market access, and start scaling. The objectives are to mitigate the risks faced by innovative Alberta health technology SMEs that require preclinical and clinical evidence to get to market by providing non-dilutive funding and access to advice and partners along the way.
AICE offers two funding streams, Validate, and Market Access, based-upon the proposed project activities and the stage of readiness of the technology, the product-market fit, the business, and regulatory compliance:
Each stage is outlined further with details of specific activities and milestones to be achieved for each domain in the Health Innovation Roadmap document. Click the graphic below to access the document:
The roadmap is a guide to assess your stage of readiness and alignment to the program streams. Applicants will work closely with Alberta Innovates to determine which funding stream is most appropriate during the application process.
Funding Available: up to 75% of total eligible Project Costs depending on stream:
Funding Stream:
AICE-Validate
AICE-Market Access
Funding limit from Alberta Innovates:
up to $300,000
up to $300,000-600,000*
What the funding stream supports:
Technology refinement and early validation of technology safety, efficacy and value proposition.
Later stage efficacy validation and post-market studies to achieve market access and adoption in various jurisdictions.
Stage required before applying:
Readiness level 4 in all domains completed
Readiness level 6 in all domains completed
A minimum of 25 per cent of total eligible Project Costs must be provided by the Applicant as cash or in-kind contributions.
The success of this program will be measured in aggregate across the portfolio of projects. While individual project outcomes are expected, all projects should align with the Program Objectives and contribute to the Indicators of Success outlined below:
Generate economic benefits to the province by commercializing Alberta- health technologies that will make a positive health impact, both locally and globally.
Due date: Continuous
The AICE program is open to:
with projects that include:
Generally NOT a good fit:
Consult the Program Guide for further eligibility criteria and our website for other programs you may be eligible for.
If you have any questions about the application process, feel free to contact Alberta Innovates at any time.
Applicants must submit Intake Forms at least 6 weeks in advance of the posted application deadline to be considered, and must submit their Full Applications by 4:00 pm Mountain time on the following submission dates:
Applications are reviewed by Alberta Innovates employees and external expert reviewers. We evaluate submitted applications to the AICE program based on the technology, business opportunity, risk profile and potential size of the return to Alberta. Applicants who are declined may re-apply after a six-month cooling-off period.
Consult the Program Guide for full evaluation details.
Health Tech Commercialization Supports – Alberta Innovates partners with a variety of other organizations in the ecosystem to provide support for Health Innovators. View the Health Tech Commercialization Supports page here
Entrepreneurial Investments – Alberta Innovates offers a variety of related, high demand entrepreneurial investment programs that are of interest to SMEs. View the Entrepreneurial Investments page here.
Technology Development Advisors – provide front-line business coaching and technology development advice to small and medium-size enterprises in technology or knowledge-based industries. View the Technology Development Advisors page here.
Regional Innovation Networks – Entrepreneur-centric, community-based networks with the goal of providing programs and services to accelerate growth of technology and knowledge-based businesses in Alberta jurisdictions. View the Regional Innovation Networks page here.
Senior Business Partner, Health Innovation
The AICE program supports the advancement of innovative Alberta health ventures along their journey to generate the evidence needed to achieve proof of concept, validation and market access.
16 projects
Jan 1, 2020 – Jan 1, 2027
September 2024 - February 2028
February 2024 - January 2027
8 projects
February 2022 to January 2025
6 projects
February 2023 to January 2026
February 26, 2024
An AICE-Concepts-funded project at the University of Alberta is developing a non-invasive way to determine the extent of upper-body injuries.
March 23, 2023
Qualisure uses digital health technology to produce and market a thyroid cancer diagnostic test called Thyroid GuidePx.
October 27, 2022
Improving healthcare while reducing costs with technology
Health & Life Sciences
Sectors: Health & Life Sciences
Initiative description: We are advancing digital health technologies to accelerate improvements in the quality and long-term sustainability of our health system and the health of Albertans.