The Innovation Relief and Recovery Program was designed to provide COVID relief and recovery support for pre- and post-revenue high potential, high growth, technology or knowledge-based Alberta small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The IRR program was fully subscribed and is now closed.
Update: funding top up from Alberta Innovates
Due to the high number of applications received in the November 2nd call, the total program funding was increased allowing for more companies to be supported. 161 applications were received, and 77 projects were approved for funding. Funding for the program was provided by Western Economic Diversification Canada and Alberta Innovates. The IRR program is now closed.
Read the news release.
Connecting to service providers
The purpose of the program is to provide quick access to support for activities that will help maintain jobs and continue to grow our Alberta innovation and technology sector.
Eligible companies
This program is designed for pre- and post-revenue high potential, high growth, technology or knowledge-based Alberta SMEs.
The program is not designed for entrepreneurs who are in the ideation or conceptualizing stage of company or technology development. Please visit the Regional Innovation Network in your area for any available training programs.
Support available
Eligible applicants can apply for up to $10,000, which will be paid directly to the service provider, to cover eligible expenses charged by the service provider for the purpose of one or more of the following activities:
- Product research and development;
- Design, engineering and prototype development;
- Product testing and refinement;
- Advanced market assessment or segmentation analysis;
- Advanced business and/or marketing strategies;
- Acquisition, adaptation and adoption of new technology processes;
- Process re-engineering;
- Manufacturing capacity improvement or
- Professional services, such as human resources, legal and financial, required to support relief and recovery
No matching financial contribution is required for this program.
How the program worked
This program is now closed. A call for applications was open until November 2, 2020 at 4:00 pm. Target start date of projects was December 1, 2020 with all projects ending before March 2, 2021.
Projects are a maximum of three months long and funding is paid directly to the service provider.
We’re here to help with any questions you might have. Please reach out to your Technology Development Advisor or Project Advisor, or email a Program Associate at inbox_grants@albertainnovates.ca.
Program resources
Program documents
- Innovation Relief and Recovery program guide
- Innovation Relief and Recovery agreement template
Related programs and services
- Search other programs
- Connectica, a database to help connect Alberta’s innovative technology entrepreneurs to publicly funded or not-for-profit services, funding and facilities.
To connect with the innovation ecosystem and technology entrepreneur supports in your region, check out the Regional Innovation Networks.
Background
The Innovation Relief and Recovery program is supported in part by the Government of Canada through Western Economic Diversification Canada, as part of the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund.