Our province's clean energy industry recently received a major boost, thanks to the newly launched Lab Services Incentive Program (LSIP), a collaborative partnership between Emissions Reductions Alberta (ERA) and the University of Calgary. Through subsidies and dedicated support, LSIP provides innovators with access to expertise to fast-track their technology towards commercialization.
From left: Ian Gates, associate vice-president (research and innovation), with Justin Riemer of ERA and William Ghali, vice-president (research). Riley Brandt, University of Calgary
Representatives from ERA, UCalgary researchers, and industry partners working in the emissions reductions space were invited to an open house and lab tour on campus on Feb. 28 to connect and explore how LSIP could be a game-changer for their businesses' emissions targets and technology goals.
How the lab program works
"This important program was designed to help move clean technology projects toward commercialization, while fostering collaborations between post-secondary research institutions and SMEs (small-to-medium enterprises) and growing a roster of technology solutions that could be eligible for ERA's primary programming in the future," said Justin Riemer, CEO of ERA.
The program is facilitated between ERA and three participating post-secondary institutions in the province: the University of Calgary, University of Alberta and University of Lethbridge. By subsidizing the cost of lab services, such as testing, validation, and research support up to 50 per cent, LSIP helps Alberta-based innovators overcome financial and logistical barriers, enabling faster progress toward commercialization.
To be eligible for the LSIP, companies must be Alberta-based, for-profit SMEs with no more than 499 employees, and should also be developing a technology solution aligned with the program's objectives.
Open access to critical UCalgary infrastructure
As a leader in energy and environmental research, the University of Calgary plays an important role in Alberta's technology systems and supporting innovation in the province.
"The LSIP is a powerful catalyst that enables companies to access the labs and researchers they need to advance their innovations. Through this funding, the program helps to accelerate and strengthen these vital partnerships," said Dr. William Ghali, vice-president (research).
The Institutional Infrastructure for Innovation (III), formerly known as the CERC Lab, houses some of UCalgary's lab services that can be utilized by companies in the energy, environment and emissions reduction space. The experienced engineers and scientists at III, in combination with advanced analytical capabilities and research-grade laboratory and bench-scale equipment, have produced a significant body of high-impact knowledge and results. Almost 20 ventures have accelerated their lab-to-market journey at the III over the last three years.
Additional lab services are available from the Research and Instrumentation and Technical Support Lab (RITS) and the Advancing Canadian Water Assets (ACWA) facility, as well as in multiple research labs across campus.
Managed by the Industry Engagement (Research) team, the LSIP at UCalgary aims to spark new collaborations, create diverse economic opportunities, and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
For more information on LSIP and how to access UCalgary's lab services, visit the LSIP webpage.
