In a significant step towards a greener economy, the Government of Alberta has announced a $40 million investment from the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund to support Emissions Reduction Alberta’s (ERA) Advanced Materials Challenge.
This new funding initiative aims to drive technological advancements in circular economy practices and the development of low-emission products across sectors such as plastics, concrete, food, wood, carbon materials, and chemicals.
The Advanced Materials Challenge will focus on a range of innovations, including creating non-combustion products from bitumen, enhancing plastic circularity, improving waste management, and advancing critical mineral processing. The goal is to reduce emissions, improve the competitiveness of Alberta’s manufacturing and resource sectors, and foster industries with export potential.
The announcement was made by Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Rebecca Schulz, alongside ERA’s CEO, Justin Riemer, during the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. The partnership with Alberta Innovates will allow for a broad scope of support across early- and late-stage technologies. “This funding competition will help develop new and exciting technologies that will help reduce emissions, create jobs, re-use waste, and keep growing our economy,” stated Schulz.
Projects eligible for the $40 million fund include scale-up, pilot, and first-of-kind commercial initiatives focusing on the lifecycle of material production. The competition invites applications from a variety of stakeholders, including technology developers, municipalities, Indigenous communities, SMEs, research organizations, and not-for-profits. Applications are open globally but require projects to be deployed in Alberta, with funding up to $5 million per project, covering up to 50% of eligible costs.
Applications are due by January 22, 2025, and an informational webinar will be held on November 27, 2024, to guide potential applicants.