Innovation Catalyst Grant Entrepreneurial Fellowship

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The Innovation Catalyst Grant (ICG) is an entrepreneurial fellowship funded by the Government of Alberta. Learn about the Government of Alberta Guidelines HERE.

Managed locally by the University of Alberta, University of Calgary and University of Lethbridge, this program provides recent Master’s or PhD graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines a 2-year runway to develop and commercialize innovative science-based products and services that contain a hardware component.

Successful candidates will receive up to $250K in funding which includes:

  • an annual stipend
  • seed funding to support company expenses
  • facilitation of lab and office access
  • technical mentorship and support
  • business development and networking opportunities

Deadlines

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.

Entry Requirements

  • Have graduated from an MSc or PhD program within the past 5 years
  • Be a resident of Alberta, with the legal right to work in Canada throughout the program
  • Be the primary technology innovator(s) of a science-based business or product concept, with a clear hardware component
  • Have secured (or be in the process of securing) IP rights by the expression of interest stage
  • Are willing and capable to commit to the fellowship as their full-time job
  • Are prepared to incorporate their business in Alberta and operate in Alberta for at least 3-years following program completion

University of Alberta Success Stories

Learn how researchers are building their start-ups, commercializing their innovations and becoming entrepreneurs with the critical help of an Innovation Catalyst Grant, and support from the University of Alberta.

View all Innovation Catalyst Grant recipient bios

Cohort 2 (2024-2026)

Atmose Ltd

Tyler Johnson, co-founder, has translated his PhD research on air quality into an affordable and deployable sensor that could become as common and accessible as a smoke detector.

CliniSonix Inc

Mohammad Sobhani, CTO, has developed a probe that promises to shift the way ultrasound imaging is done.

Elementiam

Remy Samson, co-founder, has developed adaptive software and a turnkey robotic system that enables flexibility in industrial robotics used in advanced manufacturing.

Sensilmage Technologies Ltd

Ghulam Ali, founder, has developed an AI-powered signaling system to improve construction jobsite safety.

Aqua-Cell Energy

Keith Cleland, co-founder, is scaling up a saltwater battery to power the grid with stored low cost solar and wind power during peak hours.

Cohort 1 (2023-2025)

Ultracoustics

Kyle Scheuer and his start-up developed sensors that listen for quieter noises over a broader range of frequencies.

Jones Microwave Inc.

Tom Jones and his start-up developed high-frequency and high-power solid-state switching technology for telecommunications, satellite, and defense industries.

Synapsis MedicalTechnologies

Preetam Anbukarasu and his start-up developed sensors and algorithms to determine cardiovascular health.

Have questions?

Reach out to the program manager:
Claire Kay
claire.kay@ualberta.ca