Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund

Overview of the Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund program:

The Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund (SAIF), is a research and development (R&D) funding program designed to accelerate commercialization of game-changing technological innovations in the province’s core sectors. Through SAIF, Innovation Saskatchewan (IS) provides non-repayable grants to projects that address a specific industry challenge. Please note: IS will provide feedback to any applicants that submit a draft of their proposal before the submission deadline. All applicants submitting a full proposal are strongly advised to take advantage of this opportunity

Benefits of the Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund program:

• Target Sectors
• SAIF will accept applications for R&D projects related to the following areas:
• Mining
• Energy
• Manufacturing and Processing
• Healthcare
• Program Objectives
• Support industry-driven R&D projects that advance innovation in the identified core
• Economic sectors.
• Accelerate commercialization and adoption of innovative technologies that will benefit
• The identified economic sector(s).
• Address industry challenges and create broad economic benefits through the
• Development of technological innovations.

Eligibility criteria of the Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund program:

• All applications must meet the following criteria to be considered for funding:
• Proposed by a group of active private sector partners that represent the projects value chain (researchers, those involved in the production/supply process, and customer/end users).
• Active partner: participating in the project either through cash and/or in-kind contribution, equity investment, and/or letter of intent to purchase.
• Project must be led by a Saskatchewan-based organization*. Preference will be given to lead proponents with headquarters in Saskatchewan. The project group can consist of non-Saskatchewan organizations, providing the majority of the group have headquarters presence in Saskatchewan.
• Priority is given to proposals that have an academic partner from a Saskatchewan post-secondary or research institute.
• Demonstrate how the technological innovation will solve a specific industry challenge and benefit the sector as a whole, not just individual companies.
• Technological solutions must be novel and innovative.
• Demonstrate a feasible path to commercialization and how the benefits of the project will be sustained over the long-term.
• Industry partners must provide 50% or more of the projects budget. The amount requested from IS is no more than 30% of the proposed budget.