On This Page

Program at a Glance

Program Status: Active
Strategic Initiative: Clean Technology
Business Area: Clean Technology
Priority Area(s): Supports development of next-generation materials, critical minerals, and end products for a better minerals and materials industry.

Eligibility

Program Status: Active
Alberta-based: No
Organization Type: Academic Institutions & Researchers
Multi-National Enterprise
Post-Secondary Students
Small to Medium Enterprise

Overview

Clean technology can help addresses sustainability while creating economic diversification opportunities in Alberta. The Clean Technology program invests in projects to adapt, develop, and deploy innovative clean technology to benefit Albertans and grow of the province’s low-carbon economy. In each of the priority focus areas, we look for projects and activities that can reduce environmental impacts, support Alberta’s energy transition, generate jobs in a clean-tech economy, and engage industry, researchers, and communities to participate in their future energy systems.

Critical Minerals and Emerging Technology is positioned to help reduce emissions, diversify Alberta’s economy, and enable technologies that facilitate other clean technology focus areas. Additionally, Critical Minerals and Emerging Technology contributes to the decarbonization of energy systems, creates new end-use products, and enables achievement of emission reductions targets and net-zero goals. Critical minerals demand is driven by the batteries, e-mobility, and electronics.

Critical Minerals (Mining, Metals and Materials)

We are focused on innovation in the minerals, mining, and materials sectors in Alberta through investment in solutions supporting the development of next-generation materials, critical minerals, and end products. With a focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) contributions, this includes novel primary and secondary extraction technologies, processing of key economic minerals, and the creation of value-add high tech materials from resources and raw materials readily available in Alberta. Critical minerals includes lithium, vanadium, titanium, rare earth elements, potash, and others, as well as the creation and demonstration of novel carbon nanomaterials, graphene, novel chemistries for improved renewable energy development, and more.

Emerging Technology

Emerging Technology has development or practical applications and is still largely unrealized but is substantively disruptive to industries – dramatically altering the customer expectation and entirely reshaping the clean technology marketplace. Currently, Emerging Technology includes modern digital systems, solutions, and tools with profound development and impact in information management.

Open Intakes

Critical Minerals and Emerging Tech - Continuous Intake

Due date: Continuous

More details

Eligibility

Funding is open to all categories of lead applicant including technology developers, industry, industrial associations, small and medium-sized enterprises, research and development (R&D) organizations, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, government research labs, individuals and others, who are advancing technology development within a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range of 3-7.

Applicants are not required to be based in Alberta, but must demonstrate a clear value proposition for the Province and be able to clearly demonstrate alignment to the program area priorities.

For full details of eligibility criteria, consult the Clean Resources Continuous Intake Program Guide.

Successful applicants must be legally able to execute the Investment Agreement.

How To Apply

  1. Contact a Clean Resources Project Advisor, listed below, to determine if project scope meets the requirements.
  2. Register on SmartSimple, the online application portal.
  3. Complete and submit the Intake Form on SmartSimple.
  4. Wait for your Intake Form to be reviewed to determine if the proposed proejct will be invited to submit a Detailed Proposal.

For more details on eligibility and the intake process, consult the Program Guide.

If you have determined that your project meets our criteria, please contact a Project Advisor before submitting your Intake Form.

Evaluation Process

During the review process, Alberta Innovates leverages internal staff with subject-matter and business expertise and external reviewers to evaluate applications submitted.   

Proposed projects will be evaluated against criteria in three major categories: Innovation; Execution; and Impacts.  The considerations for each criterion are detailed in the SmartSimple online application form.

Amanda Mitchell, P.Ag., M.A., B.Sc.

Manager, Clean Technology


Open and Upcoming Intakes

Critical Minerals and Emerging Tech - Continuous Intake

This program supports development of next-generation materials, critical minerals, and end products for a more competitive, modern, and sustainable minerals and materials industry.

Funded Projects

View All Projects

Discover More