Value
Varies.Description
GreenSTEM is an entrepreneurial pilot program for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Masters and Ph.D. graduates. The pilot program enables entrepreneurship and provides a two-year commercialization runway for “deep technology” companies involved in science-based innovation that:
- is expensive
- has a lengthy development process
- is more challenging to commercialize than conventional goods or software
The program supports a cohort of entrepreneurially-inclined, technically-skilled participants across the province who are working on technologies with emissions reduction potential. GreenSTEM participants, or fellows, are hosted by one of Alberta’s research universities:
- University of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- University of Lethbridge
Eligible Applicants
GreenSTEM applicants can be individuals or teams of 2 founders, both of whom must meet the GreenSTEM eligibility requirements.
To participate in GreenSTEM, applicants must be:
- a graduate of an advanced technical STEM degree program (Masters/Ph.D.) within the last 5 years
- the primary technology innovator(s) of a science-based business/product concept with an emission reduction potential
- a resident of Alberta with the legal right to work in Canada throughout the term of the program
- able to demonstrate access or reasonable pathway toward the legal right to commercialize the underlying intellectual property
- willing to commit to the GreenSTEM 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
- prepared to relocate to Edmonton, Calgary or Lethbridge for the duration of the program and willing to travel within Alberta for quarterly events and meetings
- prepared and able to incorporate their venture in Alberta or Canada once accepted into the cohort
- committed to maintaining business operations in Alberta for 3 years following conclusion of the program
Eligible Expenses
The pilot program is supporting 25 eligible innovators that have founded 19 new technology companies through access to:
- annual fellowship stipends ($60,000 including benefits for an individual or $90,000 for teams of 2)
- up to $71,000 in annual seed funding to cover technology and business development expenses
- technical facilities
- technology-focused entrepreneurship programming
- technical and business mentorship, including quarterly advisory sessions
- networking opportunities with investors, venture capital organizations, service providers, and potential industry partners
Additional information on funding is outlined in the program guide
Deadline Date
March 23, 2020 (Expression of Interest)Contact
Contact Name: Shoma Sinha, Senior Advisor (Advanced Technologies) or Martin Truksa, Manager (Advanced Industries)
E-mail Address: shoma.sinha@gov.ab.ca; martin.truksa@gov.ab.ca
