Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Stream II 2024-2025

Eligibility

Principal Investigators must:

• be researchers from Alberta Post-secondary institutions;
• meet eligibility criteria for NSERC research programs within the scope of CASBE;
• have a physical presence in Alberta; and
• demonstrate that the relationship with the industry partner does not create a conflict of interest.

If you have received an NSERC Alliance Advantage grant in the last 12 months, you are eligible to apply to the CASBE program.

If you have received an NSERC Alliance Quantum grant with at least 1 Alberta SME as a partner organization (in response to Call for proposals: Advancing the industrial readiness of quantum sensing technologies) and are within 12 months of NSERC’s decision of approval, you are eligible to apply to the CASBE program.

Industry Partners must:

• be a for-profit SME with at least 2 Full Time Employees (FTE);
• have demonstrated operations in Alberta and able to continue to adopt and develop in house the results of the academic research; 
• meet the following definition of an SME: a company with fewer than 500 Full Time employees and less than $50,000,000 annual gross revenue; 
• be a legal entity: incorporated in Alberta, or incorporated federally or in another jurisdiction AND extra-provincially registered in Alberta, or a General Partnership, Limited Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership AND registered in Alberta; and 
• be in good financial and final reporting standing with Alberta Innovates and its subsidiaries InnoTech Alberta and C-FER Technologies.

Projects must:

• align with the objectives of the CASBE program;
• meet NSERC’s eligibility criteria;
• align with any of Alberta’s research and commercialization priorities outlined in the Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy (ATIS);
• align with any of the emerging technologies priorities outlined in Alberta-Innovates-CASBE-NSERC-program-Priority-Emerging-Technology;
• include at least one Alberta SME as an Industry Partner (multiple partners including MNEs are encouraged);
• be completed within the one or two-year term; 
• have technology being developed that is within Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 2 to 6. 

Summary

The Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) program leverages the research industry partnerships programs offered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Stream II is for applicants from Alberta Universities who are applying to, or have already been awarded, NSERC Alliance Advantage or NSERC Alliance Quantum: Advancing the industrial readiness of quantum sensing technologies grants. CASBE aims to facilitate Alberta small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to adopt emerging technologies in Alberta’s research and commercialization priorities to diversify their technological services and/or products with the support of post-secondary institutions.

Funding Considerations

• Individual proposals can request at least $20,000 and up to $150,000 per year from Alberta Innovates and at least $20,000 from NSERC.
• NSERC will match contributions to the project from the SME according to the cost-sharing ratios and within the funding brackets and durations of the Alliance program.
• The CASBE program leverages NSERC’s contribution up to $150,000 per year for 1 year or a maximum of 2 years depending on the project duration funded by NSERC.
• The maximum length of the CASBE funds will be 2 years regardless of the original length of the project supported by NSERC, which could be 1-5 years for NSERC Alliance or Alliance Quantum grants. 
• The industry partner(s) is expected to provide cash and in-kind contributions in the NSERC application.
• If there are additional partners such as large companies providing cash in the proposed NSERC application, the Alberta SME could provide only in-kind contributions in the AI CASBE application. 
• All partner cash contributions will follow NSERC Alliance matching guidelines.

Program Resources

• AI CASBE program information
• AI CASBE Program Guide
• NSERC Alliance and CASBE Stream II program information
• NSERC Alliance Quantum: Advancing the industrial readiness of quantum sensing technologies & CASBE
• RSO CASBE application resources (submission process flowcharts, required attachments, sample budget)
• Alberta Innovates Contact: Shabbir Mustafiz (shabbir.mustafiz@albertainnovates.ca)
• NSERC Contact: Irene R. Mikawoz (Irene.Mikawoz@nserc-crsng.gc.ca)

Submission Process

There is a two-stage process consisting of an Intake Form and Full Proposal, 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.

This is a continuous intake competition. 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 the funding agency.

Please be sure to carefully review the application process information found on both the AI CASBE website and the NSERC Alliance and CASBE Stream II website. You must contact the CASBE program manager, Shabbir Mustafiz (shabbir.mustafiz@albertainnovates.ca) to discuss your project.

The Alberta Innovates-NSERC application process consists of three stages: the Post-Secondary Investments & Emerging Technologies (PSIET) Intake Form, submission of the Full Application to Alberta Innovates (by invitation), and submission of the Full Application to NSERC (upon approval from Alberta Innovates). Alternatively, PIs can apply to Alberta Innovates with an Alliance or Alliance Quantium grant already in place (subject to restrictions).

The NSERC Alliance program falls within the scope of the Government of Canada's Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern. Please refer to the Tri-agency guidance on the STRAC Policy to understand how this policy may impact your grant application.

1. PSIET Intake Form

The PSIET Intake 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 (at 12:00 pm) ahead of submission to Alberta Innovates. 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.

2. Full Application Submission to Alberta Innovates (by invitation)

Note: This stage of the application process requires that you complete the NSERC Alliance or Alliance Quantum Form 101 in the NSERC Online System and download the draft PDF version for inclusion with the AI CASBE application form. Do not submit the NSERC application at this stage. If you have one or more partners from the private sector, you will also be required to complete the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships' Risk Assessment Form. Please reach out directly to researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca for additional information and help. 

If invited by Alberta Innovates, the full AI CASBE 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 ahead of the date you intend to submit the application package to Alberta Innovates. 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.

• Required uploads in RMS:
  • PDF version of application form (including the attachments)

 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.

3. Full Application Submission to NSERC (if approved by Alberta Innovates)

Note: No additional RMS approvals are needed at this stage. We will utilize the same RMS record created for the submission to Alberta Innovates

If approved by Alberta Innovates in the previous stage, you may proceed with submission of the full Alliance or Alliance Quantum application to NSERC, where Alberta Innovates has been added as a joint call funding partner. Once you submit the application in the NSERC Online System, please notify Katie Cupello (katie.cupello@ucalgary.ca) in the Research Services Office (RSO) at least 3 business days ahead of the date you intend for NSERC to receive the application. The RSO will then conduct a final review of the application and perform the final submission to NSERC.

Principal Investigators with an approved Alliance/Alliance Quantum Grant:

It is possible to apply to the CASBE program if you already hold an NSERC Alliance or Alliance Quantum grant (subject to restrictions). Please contact the CASBE program manager (Shabbir Mustafiz, shabbir.mustafiz@albertainnovates.ca) to discuss alignment of your project with the CASBE program. If approved to apply, you will complete steps 1 and 2 of the application process described above.

We recommend securing the NSERC Alliance Advantage or Alliance Quantum grant first and then applying to the CASBE program.

Overhead

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

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, community partnerships, and responsible research assessment (DORA) 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 Jaya.Dixit@ucalgary.ca for more information. 

Support for Research Security: 

The Research Security Division is available to assist researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the new policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC). Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.  

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with RSO units, the more help we can be! 

RMS: 

Creating a Pre-Award LOI

Creating a Pre-Award Application (do not create a new Application record if you have an existing LOI record for the same competition)