Accelerating Innovation Program
Application Guidelines
Innovation is key to a more competitive and innovative agriculture, agri-food and agri-product sector.
The Growing Forward 2 Accelerating Innovation Program (AIP) will stimulate the demonstration,
commercialization and adoption of innovative products and processes that will support the early
adopters of new technologies, and practices. This program will support late-stage activities on the
continuum from start-up and scale-up demonstration work. There are two streams offered in this
program; Stream A: Collaborating Innovation and Stream B: Implementing Innovation.
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The Collaborating Innovation Stream is targeted at agricultural groups registered under the
Societies Act, Industry Organizations, Producer Groups, and other non-profit entities operating in
Alberta. Its purpose is to assist these non-profit entities with the capital and non-capital costs of
accelerating the Sector-Wide Impact of agriculture Innovation and collaboration through proof-ofconcept and commercialization of new products, new processes, or new business practices in
Alberta.
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The Implementing Innovation Stream is targeted at Primary Producers, Agri-Processors and other
for-profit legal entities operating in Alberta. Its purpose is to assist these for-profit entities with
the capital and non-capital costs of becoming Early Adopters of new technologies or practices that
have the potential for Sector-Wide Impact as well as supporting the demonstration or adaptation
of sector-impacting technical Innovations within their operations.
AIP is a merit based program. It has been designed to facilitate change. Successful applicants will be
specific about the results they plan to achieve and demonstrate the knowledge, analysis and planning
that leads to a successful project. Only the most impactful proposals will be funded. AIP criteria were
created that align with the Ministry’s core business statement.
The Ministry contributes to three of the government’s four key opportunities; Unleashing Innovation,
Competing in a Global Marketplace and Making Alberta the Best Place to Live, Work and Visit. The
primary focus of Alberta Agriculture and Forestry is on Government of Alberta Goal 1, Alberta will have a
diversified and prosperous economy under the key opportunity of Unleashing Innovation. The Ministry
achieves this by working with others to promote prosperity for Alberta through a strong, competitive,
sustainable agriculture and food industry.
Ministry Core Businesses

A market-driven, environmentally responsible industry

Food safety, plant health, and animal health and welfare

Rural development
Project proposals will be assessed according to the following Program Assessment Criteria:
a)
quantified economic, social and/or environmental benefits/impacts on Alberta agriculture, agri-food
or agri-product industry. Priority will be given to Projects with Transformational Change vs. Projects
based on continuous improvement; and
b)
the capacity (resources and infrastructure) of the Applicant to undertake and ensure the
implementation and success of the Project.
APPLICATION PROCESS
1)
Letter of Intent (LOI) Application
2)
Review of LOI
3)
Invitation for Full Proposal
LOI APPLICATION
1) Applicant information

Program Stream
 Stream A: Collaborating Innovation
 Stream B: Implementing Innovation

Business Contact Information
 Alberta Corporate Registration is up to date

2)
Eligibility

3)
If you are applying as an Agri-Processor in Stream B please complete the questions.
Applicant Background : (50 words or less)

5)
Provide a copy of the completed Feasibility Study or Business Case for the project.
Agriculture Sector Impacted: select all sectors of agriculture that the proposed project will impact.

4)
Project Location
Describe the applicant’s business and the products the applicant’s business produces and sells.
Project Description (300 words or less)

Summarize the proposed project.
 What is the issue, challenge or opportunity for the applicant’s business that is being
addressed through the project?
 Describe the impacts this project will have on the applicant’s business and on the sector
through its completion.
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6)
7)
8)
Project Team

Outline the resources and skills the applicant will use to successfully manage and complete this
project. These may include resources or skills within the applicant’s business, project
consultants, or other professionals retained for this project

Describe the Team Member’s expertise and their role on the project.

Describe the Team Member’s experience in implementing or undertaking projects of similar
scope and scale.
Project Work Plan

Separate your project work into goals in the chart provided.

List each activity necessary to achieve the project goal(s) in chronological order of estimated
completion date per goal in the chart provided.

Provide a description of the expected outcome(s) for the goal and match those outcomes with a
quantifiable performance measure.

List which team members will be responsible for the completion of each goal.
Budget

Complete the chart provided.

List only eligible costs in the quarter, in which goods or services are expected to be received,
regardless when payments are made.

Budget Summary - 150 words or less.
 Provide any additional detail that might be useful to the Review Committee to understand
the budget.
9) Percentage of total project funding

Please list any activities from the overall/total project that are being funded through other
programs or are ineligible for funding and being supported solely by the applicant.
10) Expected funding sources

Total expected sources of funding must add up to total eligible costs.
11) Statement of Certification

LOI application form is signed and dated.
Review of LOI Application
1)
2)
Once the Letter of Intent is submitted and the intake period closes, AF staff will assess all submitted
LOI’s. There are two assessment steps for all LOI’s:

General Assessment Criteria

Program Assessment Criteria
General Assessment Criteria

Applicant is Eligible
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
Business Information is complete

Alberta Corporate Registry is up to date
 Any applicants whose Corporate Registration is OUTSTANDING will be declined.

The project clearly aligns with the Program Purpose

All LOI fields are completed and sufficient detail has been provided to complete the Program
Assessment Criteria evaluation.

The completed feasibility study or business case has been submitted.

The Program Letter of Intent Application must be signed and dated.
3)
Program Assessment Criteria

A scoring matrix will be used to evaluate each letter of intent against the program assessment
criteria (as outlined in the Program Terms and Conditions) The following 5 categories will be
evaluated:
 Project Fit with Program Purpose
 Demonstration of Economic Impact, Social Impact and Environmental Impact
 Experience and Capacity of Project Team
 Project Work Plan
 Project Budget
Project fit and demonstration of impact comprise 60% of the weighting and experience, work plan and
budget comprise 40% of the weighting. Each category will be scored from 1 to 10. Those scores are
scaled into placements of High (8 to 10), Medium (4 to 7) and Low (1 to 3). The application must score
average a minimum score of 5 across all categories to be considered for funding.
Applicants must demonstrate excellent alignment with the program purpose, show clear and compelling
reasons why the project is significant to the sector at this time and support this with verifiable impact
data (economic, social and/or environmental). The project team, work plan and budget are
comprehensive and detailed with specific and realistic deliverables, timelines, and costs. Do you need
this paragraph?
Examples of economic, social and environmental impacts to agriculture in Alberta:

Job Creation
o
Total Jobs
o
Highly Qualified Personal
o
Peripheral Jobs
o
Rural Jobs

Job Retention

New Farm Income

Increased usage of an agriculture commodity in Alberta (kg or L)

Increased revenue ($)
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
Increased capacity (Kg or L and how that relates to increased revenue)

Increase in knowledge

Greenhouse gas reduction

Waste reduction

Energy Efficiency

Food Safety

Animal Welfare

Biosecurity

Community Development

Rural Development

Competitive advantage for new and emerging markets

Improved Productivity

Reduced Risks

Other impacts, as identified by the applicant
Invitation for Full Proposal
1) Applicants will be notified of their invitation for Full Proposal by October 19, 2016.
2)
A Guideline for Full Proposal document will be provided to successful applicants at that time.
3)
Applicants will be notified if any changes to these timelines occur.
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