Ingenuity launches bold new $100 million research program

October 10, 2007 — Ingenuity Accelerators focused on ensuring future prosperity of the province.

Alberta Ingenuity is setting out on a new path that will significantly change the research funding landscape in Canada. Similar to approaches taken at elite institutions around the world, such as the Carnegie Institute at Stanford University, the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, and the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, the Ingenuity Accelerators program is based on providing significant levels of financial support to attract outstanding researchers to work in areas important to Alberta’s economic future.

“The Accelerators program has been in the making for over two years, and I am confident we have a formula that is going to revolutionize research in Alberta, and Canada,” said Dr. Peter Hackett, President and CEO of Alberta Ingenuity. “The approach is simple – attract exceptional people, provide exceptional levels of support, allow those individuals to achieve exceptional results, and create the exceptional economic and social benefits that will position Alberta as a global innovation icon.”

Alberta Ingenuity’s vision is to create a system of Accelerators in areas of critical importance to the province. Each Ingenuity Accelerator will be embedded within Alberta's outstanding research institutions, led by three of the world's most innovative researchers in a globally-significant field with critical relevance to Alberta's future, and have a budget of $100 million over 10 years.

This targeted investment is a considerable change to how Alberta Ingenuity has provided research funding in the past and is expected to make a major impact on the province’s future prosperity. The new program will be rolled out in phases and each Accelerator will support and align with provincial priorities and economic diversification goals. The first Ingenuity Accelerator to be developed will be in an area that continues to be a growing strength for the province, nanotechnology.

“The Accelerators initiative will provide financial support on a scale never before seen in Canada and firmly establish Alberta as a magnet province for acclaimed researchers,” said Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. “In addition to nanotechnology, the initiative will speed up the pace of discoveries in other areas of prime importance to Alberta: energy and environment, health and medical technologies, agriculture and forestry, and information and communications technology.”

Alberta Ingenuity’s Science and Engineering Advisory Council (SEAC), a panel of international leaders in research, policy development and technology commercialization that provides strategic advice to Ingenuity, was instrumental in shaping the Accelerators concept.

“The Alberta Ingenuity Accelerators program marks an innovative step for the province's research landscape," said William Pulleyblank, vice president of the IBM Center for Business Optimization and Ingenuity SEAC member. “With the program's emphasis on commercialization and business development, it will face many challenges as it breaks new ground, but ultimately will give Alberta an opportunity to add a significant advanced technology sector to its economy.”

John Hepburn, Vice-President Research at the University of British Columbia and another SEAC member, was also part of the group providing strategic advice to Alberta Ingenuity on what an Accelerators program could look like. “I think other jurisdictions will be watching Alberta closely to see how this program rolls out and will be seriously considering a similar targeted approach to research funding,” said Hepburn.

Central to the process of developing the specific direction and key partnerships of each Accelerator is the recruitment of world-class scientific leadership. A panel of internationally-renowned scientists and industry experts is being established to assess strategic opportunities and assist in the recruitment process. This panel will play an important role as the first Accelerator in nanotechnology gets up and running.

For more information on Alberta Ingenuity and Ingenuity Accelerators, visit www.albertaingneuity.ca

Attached: Backgrounder: Ingenuity Accelerator Program

For more information, please contact:
Keri Scobie
Alberta Ingenuity
(780) 965-7907

Backgrounder: Ingenuity Accelerator Program

Definition

Ingenuity Accelerator: an autonomous research institute focused on creating social and economic benefits by developing and implementing innovative technologies. Accelerators will be led by some of the world’s top researchers, staffed with high-calibre people, and funded with significant budgets, all targeting a research field critically important to Alberta.

Strategic Direction

The Ingenuity Accelerators concept is the foundation of Ingenuity’s strategic plan, designed to create the conditions that enable the world’s best researchers to succeed in Alberta.

Accelerators will

Attract exceptional people
Provide exceptional support
Create exceptional results
Maximize social and economic benefits in Alberta

Ingenuity’s goal is to create a system of Ingenuity Accelerators that will position Alberta at the leading edge in science and innovation, in areas critically important regionally and internationally. Accelerators will support and align with the Alberta government’s innovation and economic diversification goals.

The First Ingenuity Accelerator: Nanotechnology
Over the next two decades, technologies that enable the analysis and manipulation of matter at the molecular level will be at the heart of global changes in industrial and regional competitive advantage. Alberta’s nanotechnology strategy targets leading the world in applying nanotechnology to fields of strategic priority for the province - Energy and Environment, Health and Medical Technologies, and Agriculture and Forestry.

The Model
Significant investment in a select few strategic areas will provide Alberta with first mover advantage.

ALBERTA'S PRIORITIES - GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

Each Ingenuity Accelerator will be embedded within one of Alberta's research institutions, led by three of the world's most innovative researchers in a globally-significant field with critical relevance to Alberta's future.

INVEST IN THE BEST

The three researcher leaders will be provided with outstanding levels of financial, technical and managerial support.

CONNECT WITH THE BEST

The freedom provided to the three research leaders to establish specific research programs will attract top talent to Alberta, foster collaboration with international centres of research excellence, and drive strong interactions with industrial partners.

ENGAGE ALL ALBERTANS

The Accelerators program will play an important role in building a science culture in the province and influencing the way science is perceived in contemporary culture. This program will help create awareness and understanding of the importance of investments in strategic research areas and will help Albertans realize the impact science and research plays on their daily lives.

ALBERTA INNOVATIONS FOR GLOBAL MARKETS

The Accelerator will be active in technology transfer and commercializing research results, driving the creation of stronger firms in emerging sectors and strengthening Alberta's competitive advantage through economic diversification.

The Outcomes

Brand Alberta as a research and innovation leader
Differentiate Alberta’s research institutions
Attract high calibre researchers to the province
Attract and create top personnel in key areas for Alberta
Create a stream of exceptional research results
Attract incoming research and innovation investments to Alberta
Create a stream of investment grade innovation opportunities
Create and support an economic sector based on innovation