Innovation Services

Championing and delivering applied research & innovation services since 2000

AED’s lead innovation pilot project in rural Alberta.

Innovation services and growing competitive businesses are two fundamental strategies for successful Rural Economic Development, especially in Alberta’s Peace Country.

Innovation History

Industry Issues 1. Lack of time and manpower 2. Increasing costs of doing

business3. Customers wanting more for less

Potential Solutions – Managing Change

4. Being Innovative5. Get a good return on your

Investment6. Being part of networks

Key Themes

Issues

Solutions

73 new clients of which 41 were entrepreneurs and 32 were companies

35 on-going clients of which 2 were entrepreneurs and 33 were companies

20 were one-time visits and 15 clients received multiple visits

Assisted over 100 new and on-going clients over the last year, and 65% are companies.

External Clients

Initial Assessment

Stage 1Proof of Concept

IP

Stage 2Feasibility

Prototyping

Stage 3Development

Testing

Stage 4Marketplace

Investment Readiness

Intro into Company

Growth

New

Clients

32

18

9

5

8

4

7

4

Ongoing Clients

11

9

11

10

12

6

2

1

Clients – Industry Sector

Forest Oil/Gas Agric Techno Construct Fab Transp Util

Envir Consumer

New Clients

0

11

8

3

7

5

6

5

28

Ongoing Clients

1

8

2

6

1

3

8

1

5

Internal GPRC – commercialization

P2P NBDC

Regional Projects Horse Lake Business

Development Sensor & UVS Solutions Evergreen Centre – Low

Impact Solutions

Projects

CRI communicates into the region with AITF interests,

programs & services

Social Media audience reach of over 900 clients & stakeholders

Committee for Growing the North – bringing forward innovation, technology, trends

Champion ‘innovation’ in government forums (Alberta Agriculture’s Rural Development Plan)

Reaching into the Region – carrying an AITF RIN message

Evergreen Centre for Resource Excellence & Innovation

Research and demonstrations on Innovative Solutions on

Access Roads Pipeline Strategies Water Crossing Reclamation

Winter Planting of Trees in Wetlands

A Network Partner in Demonstration Projects – Testing

Piloting new technologies & equipment in resource development.

CRI Team