March 2, 2010
Innovation adds to Alberta's competitive edge
Seven Medicine Hat area projects receive funding
Medicine Hat... High-tech innovations in the greater Medicine Hat area have moved one step
closer to market with support from the Alberta government. Getting inventive projects such as
these into the marketplace not only create opportunities for Albertans, but also make the province
an attractive place to invest.
Innovation vouchers totaling up to $190,000 were awarded to seven companies based in Redcliff
and Medicine Hat to assist them in getting the specialized expertise and services they need to
move their ideas to the marketplace.
“The foundation of our province’s next generation economy lies in new ideas, new companies and
new industries,” said Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. “It is in the
early days that many promising small businesses struggle to get the resources they need to take
them to the next level, which is where the Innovation Voucher Pilot Program can make a real
difference.”
The Alberta Innovation Voucher Pilot Program assists small businesses and entrepreneurs at the
pre-commercial stage, where the majority of new businesses fail. Vouchers can be put towards
up to 75 per cent of the cost of specialized services from an approved, non-profit service provider
such as labs, fabrication centres or intellectual property managers. Businesses can receive only
one $10,000 voucher and one $50,000 voucher over the life of their business.
“The Medicine Hat region is emerging as a dynamic centre of innovation within the province,”
added Horner. “The innovations under development span most of Alberta’s advanced technology
sectors and showcase the region’s broad capabilities for high-tech product development.”
Across the province, 204 vouchers worth almost $6 million were awarded to companies in 33
communities. In April 2009, 179 vouchers totaling more than $5 million were awarded in the first
round of the program to companies from 24 communities across Alberta.
Launched in November 2008, the program, which is the first of its kind in Canada, was
developed as part of Alberta’s Action Plan: Bringing Technology to Market. For more information
about the innovation voucher pilot program and a list of all voucher recipients, visit
www.technology.gov.ab.ca.
-30Editor’s Note: Interviews with regional voucher recipients available upon request.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Marie Cusack, Public Affairs Officer,
Advanced Education and Technology
780-427-0038
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
March 2, 2010
Voucher recipients in the Medicine Hat region
Energy
CTD Energy Corp.’s CAPS unit is a containment and well protection system for oil wells,
water injection and gas wells that helps protect the environment and enhances the safety of
workers, landowners and animals. The unit helps prevent contaminates from getting into
the ground. ($10,000 voucher)
Wagners Gas Contracting Ltd. The Easy Pumper is a device that is easily installed to
remove fluids from a gas well. &nbspWhen a well ceases to produce and the jack has to be
removed there won't be any environmental footprints. There is no ground disturbance at all.
($10,000 voucher)
Environment/Clean Technology
1376748 Alberta Inc.’s candam is an environmentally friendly portable dam system that
can replace sandbags or earthen berms in controlling floodwaters, or in water diversion
projects such as bridge repairs and shore reclamation.Traditional water diversion can be
environmentally unfriendly causing damage to the surrounding vegetation, marine life and
fisheries. ($50,000 voucher)
Health/Bio Technology
Nutraceutical Research Group Inc. has developed a management system for chronic liver
disease and other Inflammatory based diseases like Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome. Their products are not a cure for chronic inflammatory illness, however studies
indicate they may be a very effective management system for those affected. ($50,000
voucher)
Information and Communications Technology
Accessible Accessories Ltd.’s 3D, web-based Vehicle Accessory Visualizer permits a
vehicle owner to see what an accessory would look like on their vehicle, matching colour,
make and model with near photo realistic picture quality. ($50,000 voucher)
Gold Star Media Corp. has created interactive projection software for advertisers. The
software creates interactive advertisements that are particularly attractive to young people.
($10,000 voucher)
-30Media inquiries may be directed to:
Marie Cusack, Public Affairs Officer,
Advanced Education and Technology
780-427-0038
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
March 2, 2010
Questions and answers about the Innovation Voucher
Pilot Program
What is the purpose of the Innovation Voucher Pilot Program?
The pilot program assists businesses and entrepreneurs in the pre-commercial to early start-up
stages of development. During these early stages, many promising businesses have difficulty
securing funding as proof of concept may not exist and investors are not yet willing to commit
resources. The program creates the opportunity for young businesses to make connections with
the various supporting agencies and to access professional expertise and services, which they
may not be aware of otherwise. This assistance will allow small businesses to lower the risk of
commercialization. Businesses must be willing and able to cover a minimum of 25 per cent of the
total cost of service.
Why is the program not available for larger businesses?
Larger businesses tend to have more established networks, better access to investor funding,
and other resources they can tap into when developing new products and services. Smaller
businesses generally do not have access to the same level of support so the Innovation Voucher
Pilot Program is responding to that need. This program arises from recommendations of the
Value-Added and Technology Commercialization Task Force to government in 2007.
What type of services can a voucher be used for?
The voucher can be used for moving concepts to commercialization with assistance from an
approved service provider for specialized services such as the following:
Business and professional services required to commercialize a product or service such
intellectual property advice, development of business plans, and market studies for
innovative products and services.
Services required to obtain pre-commercial seed and venture capital financing for new and
innovative high-tech products and services.
Services required to access unique human resource expertise.
Product testing, certification and demonstration necessary to move product and/or service to
market.
What is an Approved Service Provider and where do I find more information about them?
An Approved Service Provider is a publicly funded or not-for-profit organization that provides
innovation support services (such as business services, prototyping and testing services,
intellectual property management, etc.). Approved Service Providers include universities,
colleges, research institutions, and other organizations that have an agreement with the province.
More information on Approved Service Providers can be found online at
www.technology.gov.ab.ca under the Innovation Vouchers link.
Will the program continue after the pilot is over?
On April 1the newly incorporated Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures will take over
responsibility for the voucher program. The corporation will assess this program against
government priorities and available budgets to determine if this program should continue as a
pilot or become permanently established.
Who could apply for a voucher?
When the call for applications was announced in fall 2009, any small Alberta-based business
could apply providing that it required the assistance of an Approved Service Provider to bring a
new product or service to market. The business applicant also needed to meet the program’s
eligibility criteria as follows:
The applicant’s business was a technology or knowledge driven business developing new
products or services for growing markets.
The applicant’s business had gross revenue of $5 million or less in its immediately
preceding fiscal year and had fewer than 51 employees.
The applicant’s business was registered in Alberta or Canada and undertook more than 50
per cent of its business activity in Alberta and would continue to do so for the next 18
months.
The applicant had not previously been awarded a voucher in the amount applied for. This
included vouchers that had been received by the applicant but never used.
Businesses must have also committed to at least 25 per cent of the overall project cost.
How many businesses applied during this round of the program?
Applications were received from 374 businesses, an increase of 25 per cent over the first round.
What was the selection process?
Applications were assessed for eligibility, fit with the voucher program and quality of the project’s
business case.
What is the break-down of the voucher recipients by geographic area and industry sector?
Vouchers were awarded to 204 businesses in 33 communities across Alberta in the following
sectors: energy (20), health/bio technology (44), industrial technology (16), environment/clean
technology (37), information and communications technology (70) and other (17). A list of all
companies across Alberta receiving vouchers is available at www.technology.gov.ab.ca.
How much has the Government of Alberta invested in this program?
To date, the Government of Alberta has invested more than $10 million in the program.
-30Media inquiries may be directed to:
Marie Cusack, Public Affairs Officer,
Advanced Education and Technology
780-427-0038
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
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