SPARK Alberta

SPARK Alberta supports the advancement of digital health innovations at Alberta’s post-secondary institutions. Clinical and social impact are the key drivers of SPARK, where we aim to bridge science and clinical practice and ensure that important ideas and discoveries make it into practice to benefit patients.

SPARK Alberta is located at the W21C Research & Innovation Centre, supported by Innovate Calgary, and funded by Alberta Innovates. The program is directed by Dr. Scott Kraft, MD, and managed by Nicola Quiggin. SPARK is conducted in a hybrid format to accommodate the pan-provincial reach of the program, currently with opportunities to gather in-person at W21C in Calgary and the ability to join our sessions through Zoom.

Learn more about SPARK Alberta funding:

• Alberta Innovates’ Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program encourages growth in the province’s research and innovation ecosystem. | Press Release.
• SPARK program receives grant from Alberta Innovates, supporting post-secondary innovators across Alberta in transforming ideas into clinical practice| Read the Story.

We support our teams in three ways:

Time commitment: up to 5 hours/month, and includes a combination of project update presentations, monthly meetings, and educational opportunities. We take a break for the winter and summer holidays.

Project update presentations typically take place on Wednesday evenings, and monthly meetings are scheduled during normal business hours. The program format is currently hybrid, with options for in-person attendance at W21C or remote attendance over Zoom.

In order to protect the confidentiality of our projects, all attendees to the project update presentations must sign a confidential disclosure agreement (CDA).

• Novel approach to an unmet medical need using a digital health solution
• Based at an Alberta post-secondary institution, ideally led by a faculty member or a post-doc
• Evidence-backed innovation; supported by existing research, customer discovery, technology validation
• You have a clear development plan and end-goal in mind
• You have a history of demonstrated commitment to your project. See the selection criteria for a list of some recommended pre-SPARK programs
• Priority is given to innovations that specifically seek to benefit equity-deserving populations

The goal of SPARK is to advance evidence-based digital health innovations to increase their chance of impact for patients in clinical and community settings. We respect that each participant’s pathway and the barriers they face in the innovation ecosystem are unique. Therefore, each innovator’s journey and program outcomes will look different. As part of your application, you will map out your desired pathway and we will work with you to achieve those goals.

Applications for the Spring 2024 cohort are now CLOSED.
Applications for the Fall 2024 cohort will open this summer.

Please direct any application inquiries to spark@ucalgary.ca.

As a successful applicant, you are developing a novel digital health solution to an unmet medical or clinical need. Your solution is well matched to your problem and is unique or has unique components to it. You have some evidence to support your venture (e.g., research, customer discovery data, technology validation), and a history of demonstrated commitment to the project. You may have taken a recommended pre-SPARK program e.g., e2i, R2SI, Alberta Catalyzer, etc. You have a clear end goal and route to impact mapped out. You are aware of your knowledge gaps and eager to learn more, say yes, and graciously accept feedback. SPARK values resonate with you.

Clinical and social impact are the key drivers of SPARK. We aim to help you improve the lives of patients and communities. We acknowledge that the health system does not serve everyone equally, and thus we will give priority to innovations that specifically seek to benefit under-represented and equity-deserving populations.

The W21C Research and Innovation Centre at the University of Calgary is home to SPARK Alberta. SPARK falls within the W21C’s digital health strategy and aligns with its overall mandate to make care better for our communities.

SPARK is also supported by our close collaborators, Innovate Calgary, the SPARK Global network, and our provincial advisory committee.

Funders

Collaborators

We would like to thank our partners in helping make SPARK Alberta a reality. A special thanks to our SPARK Alberta Advisors and to the directors of SPARK Stanford, Dr. Daria Mochly-Rosen, PhD, and Dr. Kevin Grimes, MD, for all their additional support.