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ECONOMY: Alberta’s boost for entrepreneurs to commercialize technology
        (AlbertaIndex, May 14, Wednesday) --- Alberta has launched a new initiative to help high-tech entrepreneurs commercialize their technology by enabling them to field-test new computer-based technologies in a customer or client setting.
        The initiative will be led by the new Precarn Incorporated office in a partnership agreement involving the provincial and federal governments.

Precarn is a not-for-profit company representing a national network of corporations, universities, colleges, research institutes and government partners engaged in the research and development of enabling technologies.

The goal is to help companies focus their research and development projects to quickly bring better products to market, leading to many more successful companies.

“Precarn’s focus is on commercializing technologies with high market potential.  This focus will help Alberta’s entrepreneurs to ramp up global sales by developing advanced technology solutions that are well-matched to customer needs,” said Doug Horner, Minister of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology.

“This partnership will enable Precarn to build on its solid track record of assisting early-stage businesses to commercialize cutting-edge technologies and maintain a competitive edge,” said Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.

The initiative will fund Alberta-based industry projects involved in commercializing intelligent information and communications systems technologies. These technologies have potential to improve decision-making, increase cost-savings and do tasks faster, safer or better in all sectors of Alberta’s economy.

The Precarn-Alberta initiative is a $3.6 million partnership agreement over three years supported by $1.2 million each from Precarn Inc, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Alberta Advanced Education and Technology. Start-up costs will be covered separately by Precarn and WD.

Paul Johnston, President and CEO of Precarn, said: “We are very pleased to be a partner with the Alberta government and Western Economic Diversification Canada in this collaborative program to support the research, development and application of advanced technologies as a means to build a solid economic foundation for Alberta and Canada.

“This partnership demonstrates Precarn’s commitment to expand its network through collaborative partnerships, and has allowed Precarn to open its first satellite office in Edmonton. We invite industry to participate in this call for proposals and look forward to working with leading-edge Alberta companies to contribute to Alberta’s economy.”

Concept documents for project proposals may be submitted until May 23 with final proposals due on July 11.  Up to $600,000 is available per project.

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