NORTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
New pilot program aims to fast-track medical device innovation

As part of Life Sciences Week, a new pilot program is launching to help medical device start-ups overcome barriers and bring innovative healthcare solutions to market faster. 

The Medtech Innovation Highway Pilot Program brings together five partner organizations to provide a comprehensive support system for innovators. Participants will gain coordinated access to: 

• Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API)
• Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation (CAMS) at NAIT
• CR Consulting (CRC)
• Parlee McLaws LLP
• Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP)

The initial pilot phase will run for six months, through March 2026, engaging a cohort of early-stage medtech innovators. A sign-up fee of $250 and intake form is required to access the program. At the end of the pilot, the collaborators will provide innovators with a comprehensive report that prioritizes next steps across business, regulatory, intellectual property, product-market fit and technical development considerations. 

"Regulatory pathways can be complex, time-consuming and costly. In the rapidly evolving life sciences industry, compliance with regulatory standards is critical for successful commercialization," said John Huang, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, API. "API serves as a bridge for academic and early-stage innovators enabling to access the support to move through technical development. This program serves as another major stepping stone in accelerating opportunities for innovators, helping them navigate these pathways successfully and advance their solutions with confidence."  

"Product-market fit is a key step for any medical device innovation to succeed," said John Sutherland, Director for the Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation (CAMS) at NAIT. "Our role is to ensure the early-stage medtech innovators are aligning with significant challenges or problems and involving end users early in the development process. This helps guide both technical and business aspects, leading to a more successful and cost-effective product launch." 

"Health innovation often comes from healthcare professionals or researchers with deep expertise in their subject, not in commercialization," said Christine Reimer, Principal for CR Consulting. "This program aims to provide a clear, collaborative roadmap for early-stage technologies and CR Consulting is pleased to provide business insights unique to the challenges of health innovators." 

"This program fills a critical early-stage gap by giving companies a solid foundation in five areas that are essential to growth. It's a game-changer, uniting business, regulatory, technical, and IP expertise into one clear roadmap," said Rhiannon Adams, Parlee McLaws LLP Partner. "The Parlee McLaws team is proud to contribute the IP strategy necessary for innovators to move confidently from concept to commercialization." 

"At Red Deer Polytechnic, we're committed to empowering innovators with hands-on technical expertise and applied research support," said Dr. Tonya Wolfe, Associate Vice President, Applied Research, Red Deer Polytechnic. "This collaborative pilot program is a powerful example of how RDP's Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing-Technology Access Centre partners to accelerate health innovation. By connecting entrepreneurs with the right technology, mentorship and infrastructure, we're helping turn bold ideas into real-world solutions that improve lives across the province."