Ecosystem Development Partnership (EDP) Program

Eligibility

Applicants

The program is open to post-secondary institutions.

Qualified applicants are those focused on:

• Providing communities, services and supports for inventors and entrepreneurs traversing the client journey.
• Building capacity, platforms and/or networks.

Projects

This program is not meant to help individual applicants directly. Instead, its purpose is to support innovators in Alberta and promote collaboration and opportunities within the ecosystem. The program does not provide support for research projects, sponsorships, or product development projects at companies or post-secondary institutions.

Alberta-wide initiatives are preferred. Regional initiatives and gaps should be addressed with your local regional innovation network.

Summary

The Ecosystem Development Partnership (EDP) Program aims to enhance the research and innovation ecosystem in Alberta. By working together to converge services and initiatives, we will foster provincial strengths, new industries and enhance value throughout the entire system and its operations.

The EDP Program is focused on the following priority areas:

• Health Innovation;
• Entrepreneur Ecosystems;
• Agri-food Innovation;
• Technology Innovation Hubs; and
• Clean Energy.

Funding Considerations

Funding will be provided for up to 3 years. The funding amount for individual projects is based on the outcomes and quality of the proposed project. Applicant contributions are not required for the program. However, additional consideration will be given to applicants where it is demonstrated that the applicant contributes cash or in-kind funding or leverages funding from other sources.

Depending on volume, applications received after December 1, 2023, may be held until April 1, 2024.

Submission Process

This is a continuous intake program with a two-stage process: an 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.

Note: Successful EOIs will have up to 4 weeks to submit a full application.

1. Expression of Interest (EOI)

Access to the EOI Form is via the Alberta Innovates SmartSimple portal. The EOI Form, 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 (by 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.

Once you have received RSO approval, you must submit the EOI using the Alberta Innovates SmartSimple portal. Do not submit to the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS

2. Full Application (by invitation)

If invited, the Full Application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) via a Pre-Award/Application record,* must be submitted to the RSO at least 3 business days (by 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 the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS. Once the institutional signature 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 SmartSimple portal according to the deadline set by Alberta Innovates.

Resources

• Ecosystem Development Partnership Program Guide
• EDP Contact: Dayna Misener, Business Partner, Entrepreneurial Investments, edpinquiries@albertainnovates.ca

Overhead

N/A

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.