The document summarizes the services of an innovation center called the Commercialization and Research Initiative (CRI) located in northwest Alberta. CRI provides applied research, innovation services, and commercialization assistance to over 100 new and ongoing clients each year, primarily companies in sectors like consumer products, oil and gas, and agriculture. Services include prototyping, market testing, and connecting clients with funding sources. CRI also works on regional projects partnering with other organizations and demonstrating low-impact solutions. The goal is to support innovative ideas and growing businesses in rural Alberta.

1.  Championing and delivering
applied research & innovation
services in the region since 2000
 IAE’s lead innovation service
provider in rural Alberta.
 Innovation services and
growing competitive
businesses are fundamental
strategies for successful Rural
Economic Development.
History
Innovation + Growing
Business = Regional
Economic Development

2.  We lead, engage, partner and
deliver applied research and
innovation services in the
region.
 Store-front office in Grande
Prairie at Centre 2000 with
satellite services to Fairview,
Peace River & Yellowhead
(Edson, Hinton, Jasper &
Grande Cache).
GPRC’s CRI is
AITF’s RIN in
northwest
Alberta

3. Industry Issues
1. Lack of time and manpower
2. Increasing costs of doing
business
3. Customers wanting more for less
Potential Solutions with a goal to
better managing Change
1. Being Innovative
2. Get a good return on your
Investment
3. Being part of networks
Key Operational
Themes
Issues
Solutions

4.  73 new clients of which 41 were
entrepreneurs and 32 were companies
 35 on-going clients of which 2 were
entrepreneurs and 33 were companies, and
half had multiple visits
 Of the new clients, the top three service
area requests were for Proof of Concept
(IP), Innovation Disclosure and Initial
Assessment, and the top three industry
sectors were 28 requests on consumer
based products, 11 for oil & gas, and 8 for
agriculture (equipment).
 Of on-going clients, the top 3 service areas
were for Market Potential, Proto-typing and
Development Testing and the top three
industry sectors were 8 requests on
Transportation/Utilities, 8 on Oil & Gas, and
6 on Technology.
Offer a full range of
commercialization services
(Goldsmith Model).
Assisted over 100 new and
on-going clients over the
last year of which 65% are
companies

5. GPRC – Commercialization
 P2P
 NBDC
Regional Projects
 Sensor & UVS Solutions
 Angel Capital Network for
northwest Alberta
 Evergreen Centre – Low Impact
Solutions
Projects
 Internal
(GPRC)
 External
(Regional Clients)

6. Provide services and resources for innovating, testing and
demonstrating leading-edge ideas for improved economics and
environmental sustainability in resource industry development.
Proposal is about a $10.0 initiative with support requested
from WED, NSERC, Industry, Provincial Government and
communities. The focus is on:
 open-innovation network on problems & solutions
 on-site assistance with innovation, testing and project
management
 move promising innovations to commercialization
 demonstrate innovations locally
 review by third-party evaluation, testing and audit of
innovations
 assist access to financial support to offset Low Impact
innovation development costs
 experience and provide industry feedback on the new
product demonstrations
 connect with companies interested in sponsoring and field-
testing innovations
 showcase Low Impact innovations leading to new product
partnerships and globally competitive companies
Low Impact Solutions
For the last 5 years we have
been a partner and
participant in the Evergreen
Centre for Resource
Excellence & Innovation
 Currently under-
resourced and informal
management
 Demand for larger
demonstration projects
with more completed
services

7. CRI communicates into the
region with AITF interests,
programs & services
 Social Media audience reach
of over 900 clients &
stakeholders (NMLead)
 Growing the North – bringing
forward innovation,
technology, trends (Mgr – IS)
 Champion ‘innovation’ in
government forums (Alberta
Agriculture’s Rural Dev. Plan;
SHAPE /SHIFT) (CRI)
Reaching into
the Region –
carrying an AITF
RIN message

8. College and the Community