Industrial Transformation Challenge

Eligibility

• Applicants:

• Open to all categories of lead applicant, including universities, innovators, technology developers, Indigenous communities, industrial facility owners/operators, industrial associations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research and development (R&D) organizations, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, government research labs, and individuals.
• Applicants are not required to be located in Alberta, but all applicants must demonstrate a clear value proposition for the province.
• Collaboration between multiple organizations is eligible and encouraged.

Projects:

• All projects supported through this Call must demonstrate a clear and justified value proposition for reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in Alberta. Technology solutions can originate from anywhere globally but must be demonstrated or implemented in Alberta during the project.
• Projects that involve demonstration or implementation of a technology at multiple Alberta sites are eligible.
• Opportunities that are out of scope for this funding call include:
  • Green House Gas (GHG) detection, quantification, measuring, and monitoring;
  • Incremental efficiency or fuel-switching improvements (i.e., reducing energy/emissions with a clear path to net zero); and
  • Digital solutions (improved controls, automation, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, logistics, etc.).
• EOIs are invited for projects that will advance technology to the stages of field pilot, demonstration, or first-of-kind commercial implementation by project completion.

Summary

The Industrial Transformation Challenge (ITC) is intended to support and accelerate the efforts of Alberta’s industrial sector to achieve net-zero green house gas (GHG) emissions. The ITC is focused on technology opportunities that will be key solutions for achieving net-zero emissions and are currently not in widespread commercial use and will need significant investment, testing, and scale-up. By moving such solutions from bench-scale demonstrations and prototypes through scale-up to field pilots and commercial demonstrations, the ITC aims to unlock the potential for step-change emissions benefits across Alberta’s industrial sector to secure the competitiveness of existing and new industries in an increasingly emissions-constrained future. Funding is open to applicants from across Alberta’s industrial sectors, including petrochemical, agriculture, forest products, manufacturing, energy, and more.

Overhead rate: 15%

Submission Process:

This competition will occur in two stages: an Expression of Interest stage and a Full Project Proposal stage (by invitation only).

Expression of Interest (EOI) Stage:

1. Complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) according to the agency's guidelines.
2. To initiate internal approvals, complete the Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record in RMS, attach your completed EOI, and submit for approvals from your Department Head and faculty Associate Dean (Research). Please ensure that you allow time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services review deadline of January 16 at 12:00 pm. Note that approvers do not routinely receive notifications that an EOI is awaiting their approval. We suggest that you reach out to your approvers to let them know you have submitted an EOI for their review.
3. Once these approvals are obtained, RMS will automatically forward the EOI record to Research Services for institutional review and approval.
4. Research Services will review, provide feedback (by email) if necessary, and secure the institutional approval. If digital or wet-ink signatures are required, we will provide the capping institutional signature and will advise when ready.
5. The applicant must submit the EOI to the agency by January 19, 2023 at 5:00 pm using the ERA's Emissions Reduction Information Management System (ERIMS).

Full Project Proposal (FPP) Stage - BY INVITATION ONLY:

Information specific to the Full Project Proposal (FPP) stage, including details regarding preparation and evaluation of FPPs, will be made available to shortlisted EOI applicants at the time of invitation to the FPP stage. According to the competition guide, the FPP submission deadline is expected to be in late April 2023 (TBA).

1. Complete the Full Project Proposal (FPP) according to the agency's guidelines.
2. To initiate internal approvals, complete the Pre-Award/Application record in RMS, attach your completed application, and submit for approvals from your Department Head and faculty Associate Dean (Research). Please ensure that you allow time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services review deadline of 3 business days before application deadline at 12:00 pm. Note that approvers do not routinely receive notifications that an application is awaiting their approval. We suggest that you reach out to your approvers to let them know you have submitted an application for their review.
3. Once these approvals are obtained, RMS will automatically forward the application record to Research Services for institutional review and approval.
4. Research Services will review, provide feedback (by email) if necessary, and secure the institutional approval. If digital or wet-ink signatures are required, we will provide the capping institutional signature and will advise when ready.
5. The applicant must submit the application on or before the deadline set by Emissions Reduction Alberta using the ERA's Emissions Reduction Information Management System (ERIMS).

Please note: Following the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage, Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) may ask the University of Calgary to internally rank proposed projects if multiple submissions are invited to the full application stage. If necessary, the internal ranking process would be conducted as an internal Letter of Intent (LOI) stage by the Office of the Vice-President (Research) in spring 2023. Applicants are therefore encouraged to collaborate within the university to form team projects to present the strongest proposals possible.

Resources:

• ERA held an informational webinar on Friday, December 2, 2022. Watch the recording here.
• ERA point of contact: applications@eralberta.ca
• Relevant Documents:
  • ERA Industrial Transformation Challenge - Call for EOI Guidelines
  • ERA Industrial Transformation Challenge Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • ERA Eligible Expense and Cost Instructions
  • ERA Industrial Transformation Challenge - Webinar slides

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

For additional support with this funding opportunity: Michael Blough, Manger, Strategic Opportunities, Office of the Vice President (Research)