Local biz network gets grant to boost tech innovation

By COLLIN GALLANT on May 12, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

A local business development network will benefit from more than $1 million in grant funding to bolster technological innovation, the province’s Alberta Innovates agency announced Wednesday.

APEX was among eight economic development and educational institutions to share in $18.7 million awarded Wednesday by Alberta Innovates.

Their mission is to conduct analysis of the unmanned vehicles development sector in the province and recommend actions to bolster the emerging industry.

“We’re very excited because it is a high-growth industry,” said Tracy Stroud, manager of the regional innovation network for APEX.

The funding, totalling $1.17 million, secures the core funding of the program which has been operating since 2011 for another three years. It works with companies and individuals to commercialize their ideas.

As well, new funds will go toward conducting a survey of drone development in the province.

The group is already familiar in the space, working with companies that use the Canadian Unmanned Vehicle Centre’s well-established base and testing facility in Foremost.

Stroud said the study will engage with companies throughout Alberta, but could lead back to more activity in the southeast, specifically for testing.

“I describe it as finding gaps of opportunity,” said Stroud.

One position related to the grant has already been hired to identify the state of the current industry.

Another will look at skills training available across the Alberta post-secondary system and make recommendations for augmenting programs. That will be based at Medicine Hat College.

Alberta Innovates is an agency of the provincial government and is used to promote innovation and research.

“Through the Regional Innovation Networks, Alberta Innovates has brought together the power of a network of strong regional supports across the province to create opportunities for small to medium enterprises, entrepreneurs and innovators to be successful,” said Laura Kilcrease, CEO of Alberta Innovates.

Other grants announced Wednesday were awarded to Calgary Technologies ($6.95 million), Innovate Edmonton ($4.9 million), Lethbridge Economic Development ($1.79 million) and Olds College ($1.17 million), along with projects in Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie and Lloydminster (between $735,00 and $788,000 each).

16
-15