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Home > Funding Programs > Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program
Funding collaborative research between Alberta post-secondary researchers and Alberta small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt, adapt, and build emerging technologies into products and services for the market.
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The Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program supports collaborative research between Alberta post-secondary researchers and Alberta small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Projects help Alberta SMEs adopt emerging technologies into products and processes, strengthen their operations, and move research to market use. CASBE offers up to $150,000 per year in Alberta Innovates funding, to a maximum of $300,000 over two years, with an NSERC-matching stream aligned to NSERC Alliance and ARD grants. In addition, funds provided connect researchers with commercialization support- knowledge, people and processes- to increase innovation readiness level and enable pathways to market, including new venture creation.
See Program Guide for additional funding details.
In alignment with Alberta’s Technology and Innovation Strategy 2.0, the program invests in projects that develop and use emerging technologies with the potential to generate economic and social benefits for Albertans. Projects must align with an Alberta Innovates Innovation Priority Area in Appendix A of the Program Guide.
Program objectives:
The 2026–27 CASBE intake (NSERC-matching and Alberta Innovates Direct) follows the dates below.
Due date: February 17, 2027 4:00 pm
Refer to the CASBE Program Guide for complete applicant, Industry Partner, project, and stream-specific eligibility requirements.
If you have determined your project aligns with program objectives and requirements:
Alberta Innovates’ review process leverages internal and external subject-matter and business expertise to evaluate applications submitted. Applications are evaluated on criteria including market opportunity, project feasibility (technical, plan and team), and impacts and benefits to Alberta, with major emphasis on market opportunity and potential impacts. At the EOI stage, applications are ranked and only a limited number are invited to submit a full proposal. NSERC-Match applications are also reviewed by NSERC. Meeting all criteria does not guarantee funding.
Business Partner, Emerging Technology and Talent
Application Deadline: February 17, 2027 4:00 pm MDT
Funding collaborative research between Alberta post-secondary researchers and Alberta small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt, adapt, and build emerging technologies into products and services for the marketExpression of Interest Deadline: December 4, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time.