Campus Alberta Neuroscience

What Campus Alberta Neuroscience does

Campus Alberta Neuroscience (ABNeuro) is a province-wide neuroscience network organization established in 2012 with the support of the Government of Alberta to connect the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge — and more recently polytechnics, colleges, and partner institutes such as the Hotchkiss Brain Institute — under a shared mandate to advance neuroscience and mental health research, education, and commercialization. It operates a free membership directory of more than 1,000 researchers, trainees, founders, consultants, and investors, and delivers a portfolio of funding programs, training workshops, and entrepreneurship cohorts rather than a proprietary technology product. Its core "assets" are the network itself, the programs it administers (NeuroSpark Innovation Grants of $1,000–$50,000 CAD; EntrepreNeuro 7-week cohort with $5,000 CAD in prizes; NeuroConnect travel support up to $750; the Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars Program; the Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition; the Backlund Fellowship), and the convening power of its three founding universities.

The organization's business model is grant administration rather than commercial revenue generation: it charges no membership fees, takes no equity, and earns no royalties. Operating funding flows from a small set of institutional sources — the Government of Alberta, PrairiesCan (via the Brain Innovations Program), the Hilary & Galan Weston Foundation, and the CIHR Institute of Aging — and is deployed as non-dilutive grants, fellowships, travel honoraria, and program delivery budgets. Cumulative funding secured for brain health research and translation exceeds $22 million CAD, with $33 million CAD in follow-on investment catalyzed through its 2019–2021 Entrepreneurship Seed Grant Program, which supported 11 Alberta-based companies and created 70+ jobs. Distribution is purely institutional and community-led, through university partner channels, partner institute channels (HBI, CCBN, CSMOpto), and ecosystem partners (Innovate Calgary, Platform Calgary, Thin Air Labs, Amii, Alberta Health Services via HIPP), with no traditional sales or marketing motion.

Name

Campus Alberta Neuroscience

Legal name

Campus Alberta Neuroscience

Website

https://albertaneuro.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Campus Alberta Neuroscience is a province-wide network organization, established in 2012, that connects Alberta's universities and partner institutes to advance neuroscience and mental health research, training, and commercialization through funding programs, workshops, and a 1,000+ member directory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Network Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN)

Keywords

• Neuroscience research network
• Academic collaboration funding
• Brain health programs
• Research training workshops
• Innovation grants administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Funding Programs Administration: ABNeuro administers various funding programs for neuroscience and mental health research and entrepreneurship in Alberta. Funding is sourced from government bodies (PrairiesCan) and foundations (The Hilary & Galan Weston Foundation). ABNeuro acts as a grant administrator rather than a revenue-generating entity. It does not charge membership fees; membership is free.
2. NeuroSpark Innovation Grants: Grant program providing $1,000 to $50,000 CAD to small/medium neuroscience companies and innovators for eligible activities including business development, market penetration, IP protection, prototype iteration, and technology validation. Funding originates from PrairiesCan via the Brain Innovations Program.
3. EntrepreNeuro Program: A 7-week cohort-based entrepreneurship program offering $5,000 in cash prizes to early-stage neuroscience innovators. Participants receive workshop-based commercialization training. No equity or fees are charged. The program supports navigation into the entrepreneurship ecosystem and connects participants with ABNeuro's network of over 1,000 members.
4. Membership Directory & Network Access: ABNeuro operates a free membership directory connecting neuroscience and mental health researchers across Alberta and Canada. The network provides members with access to collaboration opportunities, funding programs, and the broader innovation ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Campus Alberta Neuroscience (ABNeuro) is a province-wide network organization that connects neuroscience and mental health researchers, trainees, and community partners across the Universities of Alberta, Calgary, and Lethbridge. It administers funding programs (NeuroSpark Innovation Grants, NeuroConnect, Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars Program, Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition, Backlund Fellowship), delivers training workshops in computational neuroscience and miniature microscopy, runs a 7-week EntrepreNeuro entrepreneurship cohort program, and maintains a free membership directory of over 1,000 members across the Alberta neuroscience and mental health ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NeuroSpark Innovation Grants Rolling grant program providing $1,000 to $50,000 CAD to small and medium neuroscience companies and innovators in Alberta for eligible activities including business development, market penetration, IP protection, prototype iteration, and technology validation. Funding originates from PrairiesCan via the Brain Innovations Program. Applications are reviewed by the CAN Review Committee.
• EntrepreNeuro Entrepreneurship Program A 7-week cohort-based entrepreneurship program for early-stage neuroscience innovators. Participants attend 2-hour weekly workshops covering customer discovery, value proposition design, financing pathways, regulatory approval, IP considerations, and pitch development. The program awards $5,000 in cash prizes ($3,000 grand prize and $2,000 runner-up) in a pitch competition and connects participants with ABNeuro's network of over 1,000 members. No equity or fees are charged.
• NeuroConnect Program Cross-institutional exchange program fostering clinical and research collaborations across Alberta. Funds research exchange visits between Alberta institutions, including smaller polytechnics and colleges, with travel support of up to $300 (0-200 km), $500 (201-500 km), or $750 (501+ km) per exchange. Approved funds may be subject to 15% withholding tax and are paid as honoraria. Applications must be submitted at least 15 business days before planned visits.
• Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars Program Scholars program strengthening Canada's leadership in advanced data analytics and utilization of open neuroscience datasets. A joint initiative of ABNeuro, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Ontario Brain Institute, and Tannenbaum Open Science Initiative at the Montreal Neurological Institute. Funded by The Hilary & Galan Weston Foundation.
• Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition Research competition focused on research impacting the quality of life of patients, families, and caregivers affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Co-sponsored with the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories.
• Achievements for Ann – The Backlund Fellowship Competition Postdoctoral scholarship supporting exceptional scholars researching ALS and neuromuscular diseases in Alberta. A joint initiative of Campus Alberta Neuroscience and the ALS Society of Alberta.
• Alberta Neuroscience Membership Directory Free online membership directory connecting neuroscience and mental health researchers, trainees, entrepreneurs, and community partners across Alberta and Canada. The directory serves as a discovery mechanism for collaboration, networking, and accessing ABNeuro's funding programs and training events. Membership includes founders, industries, consultants, partners, and investors.
• Computational Methods in Neuroscience Workshop 12-day online workshop in computational neuroscience methods delivered through the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) at the University of Lethbridge. Open to graduate and undergraduate students with preference for Alberta-based students; Western Deans' Agreement school students pay a reduced rate of $400 for the entire workshop.
• CSMOpto Miniature Microscopy Workshop Hands-on workshop offering training in miniature microscopy techniques, delivered in partnership with the Cumming School of Medicine Optogenetics Core Facility at the University of Calgary. Expands access to advanced neuroscience techniques across Alberta.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $22 million in funding secured for brain health research and translation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• University of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012The University of Alberta is one of ABNeuro's three founding university partners. ABNeuro is an initiative connecting the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge to increase the impact of neuroscience and mental health research, education and translation in Alberta.
• University of CalgarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012The University of Calgary is one of ABNeuro's three founding university partners. The university hosts the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Cumming School of Medicine Optogenetics Core Facility, both key collaborators in ABNeuro programming.
• University of LethbridgecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012The University of Lethbridge is one of ABNeuro's three founding university partners. The university hosts the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) and delivers ABNeuro's Computational Neuroscience workshop program.
• Hotchkiss Brain InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) at the University of Calgary is a key strategic partner for ABNeuro, co-leading the Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars Program and hosting ABNeuro's headquarters contact address. HBI is a major neuroscience research institute in Alberta.
• Ontario Brain InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) partners with ABNeuro on the Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars Program, contributing infrastructure, resources, and expertise alongside the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Tannenbaum Open Science Initiative.
• Tannenbaum Open Science Initiative at the Montreal Neurological InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tannenbaum Open Science Initiative at the Montreal Neurological Institute (The Neuro) partners with ABNeuro on the Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars Program, contributing open neuroscience datasets and analytical expertise.
• Alberta Health ServicessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberta Health Services participates in ABNeuro's EntrepreNeuro workshop series, providing senior innovation consultants who deliver Customer Discovery & Positioning workshops as part of the AHS Health Innovation Platform Partnership (HIPP).
• ALS Society of AlbertasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus Alberta Neuroscience and the ALS Society of Alberta partnered to launch the Achievements for Ann – The Backlund Fellowship Competition, a postdoctoral scholarship supporting exceptional scholars researching ALS and neuromuscular diseases in Alberta.
• Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest TerritoriessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories partners with ABNeuro on the Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition, focused on research impacting the quality of life of patients, families, and caregivers affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
• Tecconnect / Economic Development LethbridgesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerTecconnect (Economic Development Lethbridge) provides an Entrepreneur Program Manager who facilitates the Value Proposition Canvas workshop as part of the EntrepreNeuro program.
• Thin Air LabssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThin Air Labs provides funding catalysts who lead the 'Financing Your Startup' workshop for EntrepreNeuro participants, helping early-stage neuroscience innovators understand funding pathways and connect with investment resources.
• Innovate CalgarysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovate Calgary provides senior business development expertise for EntrepreNeuro workshops covering the regulatory approval process and intellectual property considerations for neuroscience commercialization.
• Platform CalgarysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform Calgary provides advisors for the EntrepreNeuro pitch clinic and pitch competition judge panel, connecting neuroscience entrepreneurs with Calgary's innovation ecosystem.
• Health CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Cities contributes a co-lead to the EntrepreNeuro pitch competition judge panel, representing health innovation perspectives in the Alberta neuroscience entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Women Entrepreneurship-in-STEM (WEST)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen Entrepreneurship-in-STEM (WESTEM) provides a project team lead as a pitch competition judge for EntrepreNeuro, supporting equity and diversity in the neuroscience innovation ecosystem.
• Cumming School of Medicine Optogenetics Core Facility (CSMOpto)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerABNeuro supports the Cumming School of Medicine Optogenetics Core Facility at the University of Calgary in offering Miniature Microscopy workshops to expand access to advanced neuroscience techniques across Alberta.
• Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) at the University of Lethbridge delivers the Computational Methods in Neuroscience workshop for ABNeuro, providing expert instruction in computational neuroscience analysis methods.
• Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) led and sponsored an interactive workshop at the Canadian Symposium for Computational Neuroscience, providing attendees with understanding of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in neuroscience.
• Western Deans' Agreement SchoolssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchools participating in the Western Deans' Agreement enable graduate students from member institutions to access ABNeuro's Computational Methods in Neuroscience workshop at a reduced rate ($400 for the entire 12-day workshop).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brain Canada Foundation: National Canadian funder that supports multi-institutional brain research through platform and team grants. Comparable to ABNeuro as a Canada-wide connector and financier of neuroscience research collaborations.
• Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI): Major neuroscience research institute at the University of Calgary that co-leads programs with ABNeuro, including the Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars Program. Operates as an Alberta-based neuroscience hub and translational research engine.
• Montreal Neurological Institute (The Neuro): McGill-affiliated neuroscience research center and home of the Tanenbaum Open Science Initiative, which is an existing partner of ABNeuro. Comparable as a province/region-anchored brain research institute with national and global reach.
• Ontario Brain Institute: Provincial brain research network that funds, connects, and translates neuroscience research across Ontario institutions. Direct functional peer to ABNeuro, and an existing co-lead of the Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars Program.

Others

• International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF): International body coordinating neuroinformatics standards, training, and infrastructure. Comparable as an enabler of collaborative neuroscience research infrastructure, especially relevant given ABNeuro's involvement in open neuroscience datasets through the CNS Program.

Regional players

• Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii): Alberta-based AI/ML research institute with strong connections to the University of Alberta and Alberta's innovation ecosystem. Comparable as a regional Alberta-based research/training network with overlapping institutional partners and joint programming with ABNeuro.

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Trust: Large UK-based research foundation funding neuroscience, mental health, and biomedical science globally. Comparable as a major philanthropic funder in brain health with grantmaking, training, and convening functions analogous to ABNeuro's.
• Allen Institute: U.S.-based, large-scale neuroscience research organization operating open science programs, training, and large datasets. Comparable as a broader, well-funded incumbent in brain research with stronger scale and global brand.
• Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR): Pan-Canadian research organization that builds and funds research networks across disciplines including brain science. Comparable as a national network-builder and program convener, though operating at a broader mandate.

Emerging players

• Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI): Foundation-funded initiative that supports autism and brain-disorder research through grants, datasets, and research networks. Comparable as a philanthropic funder and network builder in brain-related translational research.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ABneurosci
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/campus-alberta-neuroscience

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Campus Alberta Neuroscience