Alberta & Canadian tech resources

The province’s main innovation agency. Runs research funding, voucher programs and commercialization support for Alberta companies across energy, health, agriculture and emerging technology.

The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, one of Canada’s three national AI institutes. Works with companies on machine learning adoption and connects them to research talent at the University of Alberta.

The University of Calgary’s technology transfer and company-creation arm. Relevant if your product depends on university research, IP licensing or spin-off formation.

A provincial fund-of-funds that invests in venture capital funds active in Alberta, rather than directly in companies. Useful as a map of which VCs actually deploy capital in the province.

Calgary’s central startup organisation, running the Platform Innovation Centre, founder programming and an ecosystem impact report that is the best single source on local funding activity.

Edmonton’s innovation agency, offering programs, workspace and advisory support for founders and scaling technology companies in the capital region.

An investment community that runs pitch competitions culminating in angel summits across Alberta and the Prairies. One of the more accessible routes to a first cheque in the region.

Free small-business advisory service for Alberta entrepreneurs, including market research support and dedicated Indigenous entrepreneur services.

Advisory services and cost-shared funding for R&D in Canadian SMEs, delivered through regional industrial technology advisors. Often the first federal program a technical startup engages with.

The federal scientific research and experimental development program: refundable and non-refundable tax credits for qualifying R&D. Frequently the largest single source of non-dilutive funding for Canadian software and hardware companies.

Cost-shared research internships placing graduate students and postdocs inside companies. A practical way to run an R&D project and evaluate technical hires at the same time.

The Business Development Bank of Canada: term loans, working capital, venture capital and advisory services for Canadian businesses, including technology-specific financing.

The federal regional development agency for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Delivers business scale-up and ecosystem funding specific to the Prairie provinces.

The federal department behind most innovation, industry and trade programming, including the Trade Commissioner Service and CanExport. The right entry point when you do not yet know which program fits.

Export credit insurance, buyer financing and working capital guarantees that let Canadian companies safely take on foreign receivables.

The federal government’s tender portal. Registration and monitoring here is the prerequisite for selling to any federal department.

The province’s central posting site for Alberta public-sector tenders, covering ministries, municipalities, health and post-secondary institutions.

The federal authority on cyber security. Publishes baseline controls for small and medium organisations, threat assessments and post-quantum cryptography guidance.