Medtech Innovation Highway Pilot Program

(1) Our primary mandate at API is to advance basic research and innovation to commercialization by providing access to world-class industry expertise, services, and infrastructure. Our activities focuses on engaging and supporting drug discovery and development initiatives, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and driving innovation and commercialization through collaborative research and clinical studies.

(2) The Medtech Innovation Highway is a collaborative initiative between the Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation (CAMS) at NAIT, Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API), Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), Parlee McLaws LLP, and CR Consulting (business consultant) to provide custom, streamlined, and comprehensive support for early-stage medtech innovators. Using a single intake process, the program delivers an innovation roadmap report that integrates product-market fit, business, IP, regulatory, and technical development/manufacturing guidance. The goal is to enable innovators to understand how to reach TRL4 readiness, positioning them for Alberta Innovates’ AICE Validate program and other funding opportunities. With five distinct collaborators involved, effective collaboration, coordination, and communication are critical. The program requires organizational innovation to develop standard operating procedures, streamline workflows, and ensure innovators receive a consistent experience while navigating multiple service providers. Building this operational backbone is essential to positioning the Medtech Innovation Highway as a scalable, sustainable model for medtech commercialization support in Alberta. A Mitacs intern will work at the core of the collaboration, and supervised by CAMS at NAIT, to design and test these organizational innovations. The intern will map workflows, refine the intake process, establish business development pathways, and build a sustainability and funding strategy. This work will culminate in a business plan and job description for a permanent coordinator role, ensuring the Medtech Innovation Highway transitions from a pilot initiative to a long-term, sustainable program.

(3) The Medtech Innovation Highway Pilot Program accelerates commercialization with early-stage medtech innovation through coordinated support to strengthen Alberta’s medtech sector. The Mitacs intern ensures a seamless, scalable, and sustainable program.

Faculty Supervisor:

Efrem Violato

Student:

Partner:

Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services; Retail trade

University:

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

Program: