GreenSTEM
$90,000.00
Entrepreneurship Program, Grant
Description:
The Government of Alberta, in collaboration with the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge, developed GreenSTEM to offer a new funding model for high- quality technical talent to pursue entrepreneurship, develop the required business skills and move a deep technology concept towards commercialization.
The program supports a pan-Alberta cohort of technically-skilled GreenSTEM Fellows to transform their technical know-how into a business application and prioritize entrepreneurship over other conventional career paths.
Comments on Funding:
The pilot will support up to 20 eligible technology innovators over two years, through access to:
-Annual Fellowship stipend ($60,000, including benefits or $90,000 to be split between two fellows when applying as a team).
-Up to $71,000 annual seed budget for technical and business activities (e.g. customer analysis and outreach, IP-related expenditures, access to technical infrastructure/expertise, prototype development, additional training, required travel, etc.).
Funding for technology development activities is to be spent at publicly-supported research institutes or Alberta facilities. Exceptions will be granted if required services cannot be delivered by an Alberta facility.
Applications are closed. Stay tuned for future intake announcements.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be:
1. A graduate of an advanced technical STEM degree program (Masters, Ph.D.) within the last five years.
2. The primary technology innovator(s) of a science-based business/product concept, providing direct or indirect emission reduction benefits.
3. Able to demonstrate access or reasonable steps toward the legal right to commercialize the underlying intellectual property.
4. Willing to commit to the Fellowship as their full-time job. Applicants will not be able to attend full or part-time educational training or maintain monetary-based affiliations with established companies during participation.
5. Prepared to relocate to Edmonton, Calgary or Lethbridge for the duration of the program and willing to travel within Alberta for events and meetings.
6. A resident of Alberta with the legal right to work in Canada throughout the program.
7. Prepared and able to incorporate the venture in Alberta or Canada once accepted, and operate in Alberta for at least three years after the conclusion of the GreenSTEM Fellowship.
Application Steps:
Applicants must visit the GreenSTEM program page on the Alberta.ca website. If there is an open call for Expressions of Interest, applicants will be prompted to create a MyAlberta Digital Identity (MADI) user account to access the portal. As part of the process, applicants are required sign an acknowledgement confirming compliance with the GreenSTEM Program.
Documentation Needed:
No specific documentation has been identified.
Other Things to Note:
GreenSTEM applicants can be individuals or teams of two, with both applicants meeting the eligibility requirements. Teams are expected to form one jointly-affiliated company.
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Maurice