Action 4
Action 4: Introduce Technology Development Advisors
What is the Technology Development Advisors Program?
The Technology Development Advisors (TDAs) will work directly with individual companies to provide technology development and commercialization expertise, and to connect with the available support and resources in the province. Target clients include innovators, early stage SMEs and more established SMEs seeking to develop innovative products and services.
Who will deliver the program?
Advanced Education and Technology (AET) will deliver the program in partnership with host organizations. AET will administer funding, establish administration and operation guidelines, promote best practices and monitor overall performance of the program. Host organizations will receive funding from AET to support engagement of TDA’s within their organization. The role of the TDA, operational guidelines and overall accountabilities will be defined under terms of the grant.
How will funds be awarded?
The need and opportunity for placement of TDA has to support provincial priorities (such as industry sector support and regional innovation) and will be determined through consultations with potential host organizations, industry and other innovation stakeholders.
How is this program similar to and how it is different from National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)?
The Alberta Technology Development Advisors Program is complementary to NRC-IRAP and has similarities. The Alberta TDAs Program and NRCIRAP will have an effective and aligned working relationship. The Alberta initiative will add further sector focus and regional support, in areas not fully served by NRC-IRAP.
Alberta TDAs will focus on connecting to the resources and support provided by other provincial programs and organizations. They will not administer project funding (as NRC-IRAP does), rather they will help to put together projects and direct them to sources of funding such as Innovation Vouchers program, seed funds, IVAC Capacity Builder, and others.
When will the program start?
The implementation of the program will start immediately by engaging various stakeholders and host organizations in consultations, with first advisors to be in place in the fall of 2008.
Current as of: Friday, October 24, 2008
Maintained by: Communications branch, AET
