Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate Program 2024-2025

Eligibility

Applicants:

AICE-Validate is open to Alberta-based post-secondary institutions and government entities with a clear intent of creating a for-profit company to commercialize the technology.

Ideal applicants have:

• Strong proof-of-concept data involving their technology.
• A technology that outperforms its direct and indirect competitors.
• Ownership or exclusive rights to the technology.
• An experienced and well-rounded management team.
• Completed an accelerator or business coaching program.
• An emerging technology, preferably digital or data-enabled, with the potential to generate cost-effective, beneficial health outcomes.

Projects:

The following emerging technology areas are high priority areas (but not a requirement) for the program:

• Data-Enabled Innovation – technology that supports the creation, amalgamation and analysis of complex data sets to improve decision making related to health outcomes; or
• Digital Tech for Business Transformation – technology that collects, senses, measures, connects, and distributes information to improve health outcomes or realize health economic value.

Summary

The Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate Program is an opportunity for Alberta’s health-tech innovators to accelerate the commercialization of emerging health technologies through the early validation phase. The program specifically provides support for Alberta innovators that have proof of concept and are now ready to refine and validate their technology and business. The objective of the AICE-Validate Program is to support Alberta innovators to advance their Product-Market Fit, Business Readiness, Regulatory Compliance, and Product Development of their health innovations during the committing and early validation phases of their commercialization journey.

The AICE-Validate Program provides support for up to $300,000 over a maximum term of 24 months. A minimum of 25% of total eligible Project Costs must be provided by the Applicant as cash or in-kind contributions. Applicant cash contributions cannot be made using funds from other Government of Alberta funding sources.

Submission Process

There is a two-stage process consisting of an Intake Form/Expression of Interest (EOI) and Full Application, which is by invitation only. Both stages of this competition will be part of the Research Management System (RMS), and approvals will be obtained electronically. Research Funding Application Approvals (RFAA) forms are not required as approvals are collected electronically in RMS.

The AICE-Validate Program has multiple submission dates in a given year. Intake Forms must be submitted at least 4 weeks in advance to be considered and invited to submit a Full Application on the following submission dates:

• April 19, 2024, 4:00 p.m. (MT)
• August 16, 2024, 4:00 p.m. (MT)
• November 8, 2024, 4:00 p.m. (MT)

Intake Forms and Full Applications, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS), must be submitted to the RSO at least 3 business days (at 12:00 pm)  ahead of submission to Alberta Innovates.

1. Intake Form/Expression of Interest (EOI)

The Intake Form/EOI, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record, must be submitted to RSO at least 3 business days (at 12:00 pm) ahead of submission to the funding agency. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.

Do not submit to Alberta Innovates until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS. Once this institutional approval has been obtained, the Principal Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address. You can then proceed with submitting your application via the Alberta Innovates online portal by the deadline.

2. Full Application (by invitation)

The Full Proposal, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Application record,* must be submitted to RSO at least 3 business days (at 12:00 pm) ahead of submission to the funding agency. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.

*Creation of a new Pre-Award/Application record in RMS is not necessary. You can automatically generate an Application record from the existing LOI record by changing the status of the LOI record to 'Invited to full application' (under Save & Progress).

Do not submit to Alberta Innovates until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS. Once this institutional approval has been obtained, the Principal Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address. You can then proceed with submitting your application via the Alberta Innovates online portal by the deadline.

Program Resources

• AICE-Validate Program Guide
• Alberta Innovates Contact: Jose Raez, Senior Business Partner - Health Innovation, jose.raez@albertainnovates.ca

Overhead

Not applicable. Alberta Innovates does not allow overhead and/or indirect costs.

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.

RESOURCES

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available through the Knowledge Engagement Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KE team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca. For more information, please visit the KE team webpage.

Support for Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca OR research.data@ucalgary.libanswers.com.

Support for EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Support for Research Security:

The new Research Security Division is available to offer guidance and support on safeguarding research and ensuring that principles of research security are upheld while conducting leading edge research. Learn more on their webpage or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Letter of Intent