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 at a Glance

Program Status: Active
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.

Eligibility

Program Status: Active
Alberta-based: Yes
Organization Type: Academic Institutions & Researchers
Small to Medium Enterprise

Overview

The Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program is a leveraged funding partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (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.

Open Intakes

CASBE - Intake

Due date: Continuous

More details

Program Guide

CASBE Program Guide

Download Program Guide

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 Eligible Expenses – Schedule C

CASBE Priority Emerging Technology Areas

Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy (ATIS)

Contact

Shabbir Mustafiz, PhD, MBA

Senior Manager, Post Secondary Investments and Emerging Technologies

780-450-5286

Susie Li, PhD.

Senior Business Partner, Post Secondary Investments and Emerging Technologies

780-632-8229

Open and Upcoming Intakes

CASBE - Intake

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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