ERIN community initiatives funding streams
Community Initiatives are entrepreneur-focused activities that reflect and support the goals and values of the innovation community by addressing key needs such as networking, visibility, and learning. These initiatives can include events, workshops, and other collaborative opportunities, ranging from single-day events to multi-day programs.
The work of the Community Initiatives Sub-Committee is guided by ERIN’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
Mission - To connect and strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the Greater Edmonton area, driving collaboration and equitable growth across the region.
Vision - A thriving Greater Edmonton innovation ecosystem where entrepreneurs, businesses, and communities succeed together, give back, and inspire future generations.
Our Values:
Inclusive Access – We recognize that barriers to participation are not always visible. ERIN is committed to understanding and removing obstacles so people from diverse communities across the Greater Edmonton Region can participate fully and equitably in the innovation ecosystem.
Collaborative Growth – ERIN builds trusted partnerships and embraces adaptive approaches that strengthen the innovation ecosystem for the long term. Through reciprocity and shared effort, we create conditions where today’s successful companies give back to support the next generation of innovators.
Trust and Stewardship – ERIN leads with transparency and accountability. We take responsibility for the resources we manage and work to maintain trust as a reliable connector within the innovation ecosystem.
-
The ERIN Community Initiatives Sub-Committee uses Community Initiatives funding as a strategic investment to strengthen the long-term capacity, connectivity, and competitiveness of the Greater Edmonton innovation ecosystem.
Community Initiatives are activities rooted in the innovation community that align with its goals and values, and are entrepreneur-focused by addressing needs such as networking, visibility, and learning. Initiatives may consist of one or more projects aligned to a common goal and can include, but are not limited to, events, workshops, networking, and learning opportunities.
The purpose of this funding is to help new or emerging initiatives gain momentum and establish themselves within the ecosystem. It is generally intended to support initiatives in their early stages rather than sustain well-established programs with stable funding sources. However, previously supported initiatives are not excluded and may continue to be eligible where they provide ongoing value and alternative funding is limited or unavailable.
-
Community Initiatives funding is intended to support the following ecosystem outcomes:
Increased connectivity between entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and service providers
Greater participation of underrepresented founders in innovation activities
Improved access to mentorship, capital, and expertise
Increased collaboration across institutions and sectors
Acceleration of early-stage innovation activity in the Greater Edmonton region
-
Eligibility will be assessed on a case by case basis by the Community Initiatives Sub-Committee. However, it is generally understood that all funded initiatives should be hosted in full or in part in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region* and applicants must be members of the Edmonton Regional Innovation Network.
The ERIN welcomes applications from both for-profit and not-for-profit entities, encouraging initiatives that create meaningful, measurable impacts in the community. The ERIN does not fund business development or startup activities. Therefore, applicants operating a for-profit enterprise must demonstrate that the community benefits of their initiative outweigh the advantages to their business.
To support ERIN’s overarching goal of building a collaborative and cohesive innovation ecosystem, applicants are expected to establish meaningful partnerships with organizations or institutions engaged in similar or complementary work. Collaborative efforts strengthen alignment among ecosystem stakeholders and enhance the overall impact and reach of funded initiatives.
For initiatives led by for-profit entities, collaboration with at least one post-secondary institution or recognized service provider is mandatory. Failure to include such a partnership may render the initiative ineligible for funding.
* Beaumont, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, St. Albert, Spruce Grove, Strathcona County, Leduc County, Sturgeon County, Bon Accord, Bruderheim, Calmar, Devon, Gibbons, Legal, Morinville, Redwater, Thorsby, Stony Plain,Spring Lake, Wabamun, Warburg, Betula Beach, Golden Days, Itaska Beach, Kapasiwin, Lakeviewcase-by-case, Point Alison, Seba Beach, and Sundance Beach, Alexander 134 of the Alexander First Nation, Enoch Cree Nation 135 of the Enoch Cree Nation, and Wabamun 133A and 133B of the Paul First Nation.
-
Eligible Expense guidelines are intended to ensure that ERIN funding supports initiatives that align with our objectives and deliver meaningful, measurable benefits to Edmonton’s innovation ecosystem.
Applicants are encouraged to review the criteria carefully to understand which expenses may be considered eligible.
Please note that eligible expenses vary by funding stream. Refer to the specific stream details below for complete information.
-
Initiatives that have previously secured funding from Alberta Innovates or its affiliated entities are not eligible for ERIN grant funding.
-
To support transparency and accountability, ERIN will ensure that all funded Community Initiatives are publicly reported and accessible to the broader ecosystem. All funded initiatives will be shared on the ERIN website and included in the ERIN Annual Report, providing a comprehensive overview of funding activities and outcomes. In addition, a summary of Community Initiatives will be presented during the Annual General Meeting, offering stakeholders an opportunity to review progress, understand impact, and engage in ongoing dialogue about the initiatives’s effectiveness and impact.