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Part of Grants and funding

Innovation Catalyst Grant

Entrepreneurial fellowship to support recent STEM graduates in commercializing innovative science-based technologies.

Important dates

Expressions of interest: June 15 to September 1, 2025

  • Applicants are encouraged to submit their expression of interest early to receive feedback from program managers.

Full proposal: September 30, 2025

  • By invitation only.

Overview

The Innovation Catalyst Grant (ICG) is a pan-Alberta entrepreneurial fellowship designed to support recent Master’s or PhD graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

This grant provides a 2-year runway for applicants to develop and commercialize innovative, science-based products and services that contain a hardware component.

It is designed to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with:

  • annual stipend
  • seed funding
  • lab and office access
  • technical mentorship
  • business development and networking

The ICG has annual intakes from 2022 to 2025 and is administered by the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge, with participation and oversight by the Ministry of Technology and Innovation.

Read the ICG Program Guidelines for more information.

Eligibility

To qualify as an ICG Fellow, applicants must:

  • have completed a Master’s or PhD in a STEM discipline within the last 5 years
  • be the lead innovator(s) of a science-based technology with a hardware component
  • commit to the Fellowship full-time (no other employment or academic enrollment)
  • be a resident of Alberta with the legal right to work in Canada throughout the program
  • be prepared and able to incorporate the venture in Alberta or Canada once accepted and operate in Alberta for at least 3 years after the conclusion of the ICG Fellowship

Applicants will not be able to attend full or part-time educational training or maintain monetary-based affiliations with established companies during participation.

Eligible projects must:

  • be an innovative STEM-based technology with a hardware component
  • have secure (or be in the process of securing) intellectual property rights by the expression of interest stage
    • Full access must be confirmed at the full proposal stage

Successful applicants (Fellows) will be awarded up to $250,000 over 2 years in stipend and seed funding.

How to apply

Applications are evaluated through a competitive, merit-based process as outlined in the ICG Program Guidelines. Reviewers include internal and external experts under non-disclosure agreements. Final decisions are made by host universities by the Ministry of Technology and Innovation.

Application steps:

  1. Submit an expression of interest through the Innovation Catalyst Grant Application Form.
    • Applicants are encouraged to submit early to receive feedback from program managers.
  2. Submit a full proposal including a budget (by invitation only).
    • Includes budget details.
    • Template will be provided.
  3. Interview and business pitch.
  4. Evaluation by Expert Committee.
  5. Final selection by universities.

Successful applicants

  • Cohort 1: January 2023

    • Coagtech Ltd., Tyler Bennett
      Uses machine learning and customized hardware to optimize water treatment processes.
    • Jones Microwave, Thomas Jones
      Development of light-activated, high-speed microwave communication hardware for 5G applications.
    • NanoWaterTech, Afif Hethnawi
      Implementing ground-breaking, easy-to-deploy, and cost-effective technology for industrial water treatment to improve process efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
    • O-Two Carbon, Shariful Kibria Nabil (formerly C-Zero Inc.)
      O-Two utilizes ground-breaking electrochemical technology to separate and transform trace CO2 emissions from industries into valuable products like ethylene. This in turn bypasses energy-intensive capture and transportation steps of purification, while mitigating environmental impact.
    • Paramoria Agri-Science, Brent Puchalski
      Fungi detection using spore traps and DNA-based analysis infrastructure.
    • Quantized Technologies Inc., Jordan Smith
      Building an AI-resistant and quantum-secure cybersecurity solution to keep customer data safe from being decrypted in a world of growing cyber risks.
    • Sensyn, Mohsen Janmaleki
      Innovative leak detection system that uses state-of-the-art conductive materials, ensuring real-time environmental protection and operational safety and reliability.
    • Synapsis Medical, Preetam Anbukarasu
      Development of thin film nanosensors and algorithms for cardiovascular disease screening and preventive healthcare.
    • Ultracoustics Technologies, Kyle Scheuer
      Ultrasound sensor arrays with an optical readout for non-destructive testing and acoustic emission detection.

  • Cohort 2: January 2024

    • Aqua-Cell Energy, Keith Cleland
      Aqua-Cell Energy is building saltwater flow batteries to provide infrastructure for the clean energy transition.
    • Atmose Ltd, Tyler Johnson
      Atmose produces affordable, deployable products for reliable air quality monitoring, empowering simple actions for cleaner air.
    • Brain Care Technologies, Greg McGillis
      Early detection and monitoring of cognitive health, including mild cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease.
    • CliniSonix Inc., Mohammad Rahim Sobhani
      Novel handheld/wearable ultrasound systems for 2D/3D ultrasound imaging and bedside monitoring with quantum leap improvements in resolution, sensitivity, speed, and intelligence.
    • Elementiam Materials & Manufacturing, Rémy Samson
      Cost-effective metal additive manufacturing and repair systems using 3D scanned data for noncritical mass customization manufacturing.
    • Ethox Energy, Maryam Omidvar
      Utilizing novel catalysts to convert captured CO2 into Dimethyl Ether.
    • Possibilities Neurotechnologies, Dion Kelly
      An innovative brain-computer interface (BCI) technology that enables individuals with physical disabilities to control various devices using their thoughts.
    • PrintedSUN, Akpeko Gasonoo
      PrintedSUN specializes in developing LED printing solutions that utilize air-printing technology and environmentally friendly printing methods, allowing for the creation of LEDs that can be printed on any surface, from traditional substrates like paper and plastics to unconventional surfaces such as fabrics and metals.
    • MLCAN, Mohammad Abbaspour
      Innovative leak detection system that uses state-of-the-art conductive materials, ensuring real-time environmental protection and operational safety and reliability.
    • SensiImage Technologies Ltd., Ghulam Muhammad Ali
      Development of an AI-powered communication tool to maximize safety and productivity of mobile crane operations.
    • Synaptag Technology Inc., Mojtaba Nazari
      Development of online tracking system for rodents and cattle.
    • TREX-Ai, Peter Atrazhev
      Development of an AI-driven energy management product for distributed energy resources at the grid edge.

Resources

To support applicants in evaluating and describing the maturity of their technology, the following resource is provided:

  • Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) – A standardized scale used to assess the development stage of a technology, from concept to commercialization. Applicants should refer to the TRL framework when describing the current stage of their innovation and its expected progression during the fellowship.

Protection of Privacy Act (POPA)

The personal information collected through the ICG is for assessing applications made to the ICG; administration, assessment, and evaluation of the program; and for the promotion of the program and its long- and short-term impacts. This collection is authorized by section 4(c) of the Protection of Privacy Act. For questions about the collection of personal information, contact the ICG Program Manager, Alberta Technology and Innovation by email at [email protected], or mail to 24th Floor, Commerce Place, 10155 102 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4G8

Contact

Connect with the ICG Program:
Email: [email protected]

Institutional contacts:

University of Alberta
Email: [email protected]

University of Calgary/Innovate Calgary
Email: [email protected]

University of Lethbridge/Agility
Email:  [email protected]

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