Innovation + Entrepreneurship

Postsecondary students sitting at a table having discussions and problem solving

Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars possess a valuable combination of skills: you are talented, creative, analytical, solution-oriented and innovative. Yet many high-level scholars rarely rank themselves high in core business skills.

Having an entrepreneurial mindset goes far beyond launching a startup or selling a product. It’s about leveraging innovation and creativity to shape policy, develop new processes and build best practices — transferable skills that graduate and postdoctoral programs naturally foster.

Explore on- and off- campus opportunities that connect your high-value skills with the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem — an ecosystem that needs your expertise.

U of A Innovation Expo

Oct. 1 | 5:30 - 7 p.m. MDT | Lecture Hall 1-430 CCIS, North Campus

The University of Alberta is home to a wide range of innovation and entrepreneurship support supporting the earliest ideas to the most rapidly growing scaleups.The U of A Innovation & Entrepreneurship Expo is an evening where you can meet the people and programs behind campus's startup ecosystem.

Register to attend

Explore Entrepreneurship Beyond the Lab and Classroom

The Explorer Program is an introductory, workshop-based series hosted by the Engineering Incubator. Designed for students, researchers and faculty across all disciplines, this program demonstrates how technology-driven ideas transition from concept to viable products.

Upcoming workshops:

  • Location: Engineering Incubator
  • Building: Engineering Teaching & Learning Complex (ETLC)
  • Room: ETLC 02-040 (North Campus)

Explorer Session 2: Marketing for Early-Stage Startups (1.5 hours PD credit)

Sept. 29 | 5 - 6:30 p.m. MDT

Explorer Session 3: Sometimes Marketing works. Now what? (1.5 hours PD credit)

Oct. 6 | 5 - 6:30 p.m. MDT

Explorer Session 4: Your patent is not your business model (1.5 hours PD credit)

Oct. 20 | 5 - 6:30 p.m. MDT

Explorer Session 5: How to grow the team (1.5 hours PD credit)

Nov. 3 | 5 - 6:30 p.m. MDT

Register for workshops

Entrepreneurship Opportunities

On-Campus

Many campus organizations offer training and mentoring for aspiring entrepreneurs at various stages of development.

Off-Campus

Learn more about some of the local and national organizations that offer support for new entrepreneurs and innovators.

Other Resources

More resources to help take your ideas and research to the next level.