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Home > Funding Programs > NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance Program
Through this program, we offer funding to support Alberta university researchers in advancing discoveries to develop emerging technologies.
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NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance (Advance) is a partnership program between Alberta Innovates and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). View their website here.
Through this program, we invest in projects that, in alignment with Alberta’s technology and innovation strategies, advance discoveries to develop emerging technologies that can generate economic, environmental, health and social benefits for Albertans and Canadians.
Stream II is the general stream of the program. Funding is available to NSERC-eligible researchers at Alberta-based universities.
In 2026-27, Stream II targets emerging technology topics under two broad categories:
Please see Appendix A of the Program Guide for detailed description of the emerging technology topics and a priority focus area in Appendix B.
Research in the emerging technology topics and the priority focus areas offers transformational promise for challenges across Alberta’s existing sectors and entry into wider global markets. Our investment will augment the Alberta academic researcher’s capacity to accelerate, advance research excellence and create additional HQPs in Alberta’s emerging technology areas. The development of emerging technologies will provide the foundation for economic diversification and job creation into nascent industries in Alberta.
Stream II: Individual proposals can request up to $150,000 per year and can be for up to two years in duration. A maximum of $100,000 per year will be provided by Alberta Innovates and NSERC will match the Alberta Innovates contribution at a ratio of 50% up to a maximum of $50,000 per year.
Due date: September 14, 2026 4:00 pm
To qualify for funding all Projects must:
Stream II: Researchers submitting an application must be from a university on NSERC’s list of Alberta-based universities. To view this list of eligible universities, click here. The researcher must hold an NSERC peer-reviewed grant when they apply and meet NSERC eligibility criteria when applying and when funding is released.
Applicants cannot hold more than one Advance (Stream II) grant simultaneously, and only one application per Primary Applicant (PI) per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) is permitted.
Stream II
Applications approved by both NSERC and Alberta Innovates will receive Alberta Innovates funding. NSERC and Alberta Innovates will execute separate agreements with the successful applicants.
Stream II:
Alberta Innovates will review all applications first and then recommend whether to proceed to NSERC for review. Meeting all evaluation criteria is not a guarantee that an application will be funded as funding will be awarded on a competitive basis. If we recommend that an application goes to NSERC for review, NSERC will review and evaluate using its own review process. Applications that are approved by both NSERC and Alberta Innovates will receive the Alberta Innovates funding. The applicants are strongly recommended to demonstrate the practice of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) adequately in their proposed project.
Business Partner, Emerging Technology and Talent
Application Deadline: September 14, 2026 4:00 pm MDT
Advance – Stream II: AI EOI Deadline: September 14, 2026 AI Full Application Deadline: October 12, 2026