Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
A co-funded R&D collaboration program connecting Alberta small and medium-sized businesses with researchers at Campus Alberta post-secondary institutions. CASBE leverages NSERC's Alliance Grant framework to provide up to $150,000 per year for up to two years, funding the adoption of emerging technologies through applied research partnerships. The program covers salaries, equipment, materials, and travel for the research team, with the industry partner contributing cash or in-kind matching. Current intake is between cycles; the prior registration window closed November 6, 2025.
Eligibility Requirements
- Alberta-based small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) as industry partners
- Projects must involve at least one academic researcher from a Campus Alberta post-secondary institution
- Technology must align with Alberta's Technology and Innovation Strategy priorities
- Industry partner must contribute matching cash or in-kind contributions
- Project must be focused on adopting emerging technologies with commercial application
- SME must not have an existing sponsored research agreement covering the same scope at the partnering institution
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $150,000 per year for a maximum of 2 years (total up to $300,000)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Deadline
- Between intakes — next intake TBD
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win CASBE
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 7-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipCASBE is structured to move through NSERC's Alliance proposal process — meaning the academic partner is doing most of the proposal writing.
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 5
Ineligible Expenses 5
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Applying for CASBE? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow CASBE Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campus Alberta Small Business Engagem... | Up to $150,000 | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Between intakes — next... |
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| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Minimum $10 million contribution | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Applications accepted... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CASBE