Assisted Living Innovation Grant Program

Eligibility

Eligible applicants may include:

• continuing care home operators
• home and community care providers
• community and non-profit organizations
• Indigenous communities and organizations
• municipalities
• post-secondary and research institutions
• private-sector organizations
• partnerships involving eligible organizations

For-profit organizations may be eligible where the proposed project demonstrates innovation, evaluation, system improvement or evidence generation beyond routine business activities.

Eligible projects must demonstrate a clearly defined innovation or new application of an existing approach and identify measurable outcomes. Projects may involve developing, adapting, implementing, evaluating or scaling a new or improved service, program, technology, partnership or practice.

Technology may be eligible where it is directly related to the proposed innovation. The program is not intended to fund routine software costs, normal technology replacement or major province-wide system integration projects.

Summary

The University of Calgary's Strategic Initiatives and Research Intelligence (SIRI) team is able to advise researchers and provide application development support for this opportunity. Interested researchers should contact Alexandra Wall (alexandra.wall@ucalgary.ca).

The Assisted Living Innovation Grant Program supports organizations to develop, test, implement and evaluate practical innovations that improve services and outcomes across Alberta¿s assisted living system. Projects may introduce a new approach or adapt an existing approach for a new setting, population or purpose, such as:

• new or improved service delivery models
• new approaches that help Albertans remain independent in their homes and communities
• technology and technology-enabled care
• workforce innovations
• community-based partnerships and services
• rural, remote or Indigenous service-delivery approaches
• improved transitions between hospital, home and community
• research, evaluation and knowledge mobilization

Applications will be accepted under 4 streams.

1. Home and community care ¿ supports new and improved ways to help Albertans stay safe, healthy and independent at home and in their communities, such as caregiver supports, virtual care, remote monitoring and new ways of delivering care.
2. Continuing care homes ¿ supports new and improved approaches that enhance care and quality of life in continuing care homes, such as technology, new workforce approaches, quality improvement and initiatives that improve resident and family experience.
3. Community living and social support ¿ supports community-based approaches that help Albertans access services, stay independent and remain connected, such as service navigation, early intervention, social connection, and caregiver and peer supports.
4. Research, Evaluation and Knowledge Mobilization ¿ Supports research and evaluation that builds and shares evidence to improve Alberta's assisted living system, such as evaluating innovative projects, applied research and sharing successful approaches so they can be used more widely.

Submission Process

Step 1. Review the guidelines

Review the Assisted Living Innovation Grant Program Guidelines before applying.

The guidelines include detailed information about eligibility, funding streams, eligible expenses, applicant contributions, assessment criteria and reporting requirements.

Step 2. Complete the application

Complete the Assisted Living Innovation Grant Program Application Form.

Applications should clearly describe the proposed innovation, who will benefit, planned activities, expected outcomes, project budget and how results will be measured.

Step 3. Submit your application

Applications must be received by 4 pm (Alberta Time) on November 6, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

Email: aligrantprogram@gov.ab.ca

Questions about the application process must be submitted by 4 pm (Alberta time) on November 4, 2026.

Overhead

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

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management 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.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

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

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 edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application