Strategic Intent

The objective of the Alberta Ingenuity Scholars program is to attract the world’s top researchers to Alberta in areas of importance to Alberta Ingenuity and the province. Ingenuity Scholars will add key expertise to existing Ingenuity Centres or Institutes. In areas where Ingenuity Centres or Institutes do not yet exist, Ingenuity Scholars will be considered in conjunction with a Centre or Institute proposal.

Ingenuity Scholars are expected to be transformational in their contributions to the Ingenuity Centre or Institute. They must significantly enhance the Centre or Institute’s production of highly qualified personnel and knowledge / technology transfer activities, as well as further the research outcomes of the Centre or Institute.

Scholar Candidates

Ingenuity Scholars must be recruited from outside the province of Alberta. In cases where the potential Scholar is formerly from Alberta, it is expected that the applicant has been working outside Alberta a minimum of 5 years.

Ingenuity Scholars are expected to have a minimum of 5 years post-PhD research experience.

Term

Scholar Awards are 5 year non-renewable awards.

Review Procedure

Scholar proposals are evaluated by up to 6 expert reviewers from the applicant’s field of research as well as by Alberta Ingenuity’s Science and Engineering Advisory Council.  The review process may take up to five months. 

Selection Criteria

Recommendations to approve funding for an Ingenuity Scholar are based on the alignment of the proposal with:

• the strategic importance and potential impact of the research area to Alberta
• an existing Alberta Ingenuity Centre or a concurrent Ingenuity Centre proposal
• the ability to reach critical mass through strategic recruitment
• the strength of the institutional commitment

Budget

Scholar awards have an annual budget of up to $500,000. The budget submitted must clearly justify the need for funds and identify the opportunities for leverage funding from other sources.

Allowable budget items can be split into 4 categories:

• Scholar salary and benefit contributions
• Operating funds
• Equipment funds
• Institutional expenses such as recruitment and relocation costs
   

Applications

Universities interested in recruiting a researcher through this program should contact:

Candice Berezan
Director, Talent Programs
email: candice.berezan@albertainnovates.ca
phone: 780-450-5503