Alberta government invests $27.3 million into universities for tech, innovation

The Alberta Legislature in Edmonton. File photo.

As the new school year gets underway in Alberta, the province announced an investment Tuesday in four universities to help the province become a bigger player in the technology sector in the future.

The University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge and Athabasca University are set to share a $27.3 million investment over four years through the Major Innovation Fund.

The investment will be made to help bolster the chosen university’s space and defense technologies, clean energy, and health technologies.

“Post-secondary institutions in Alberta have a great history and a track record of driving really exciting research,” said Nate Glubish, minister of Technology and Innovation, at a press conference.

Glubish said the timing of this investment is important.

“We have seen Alberta leading the country in terms of venture capital investment growth. At a time when investment in other provinces is on a downward trajectory, we continue to see growth,” he said.

“It is great news telling us that Alberta’s tech sector is booming, it is growing, the momentum is more exciting than we’ve ever seen it before, and I’m confident that investments like today’s $27.3 million will continue to drive that forward,” Glubish added.

Dr. Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Calgary, spoke at the conference on what this will do not only for the University of Calgary, but for Alberta as a whole.

“This is a great day for innovation in Alberta. Our Alberta research universities will expand our essential roles in growing Alberta as a technology and an innovation hub,” McCauley said.

Court Ellingson, an opposition critic for technology and innovation, made a statement in response to the government’s Sept. 5 announcement, saying that the investment isn’t enough to make a big change.

“Nate Glubish and the UCP have cut $1 billion to our post-secondary institutions and have also driven up tuition costs by up to 40%. Today’s announcement is a drop in the bucket compared to the investment that’s needed to attract and retain talent while supporting innovation and economic growth through our post-secondary schools,” Ellingson said.

Listen to the full audio with Minister Nate Glubish and Dr. Ed McCauley below: