CALGARY, Alberta, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alberta Innovates has received $10 million from the Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program administered by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan). The funding will allow Alberta Innovates to establish a specialized production and testing facility to commercialize technologies that convert Alberta-sourced bitumen into carbon fibre. Alberta Innovates will work with Harper International who will engineer and build the equipment for the new carbon fibre testing facility. InnoTech Alberta will house the facility at the Edmonton Research Park location and operate it day-to-day. Participants in Phase III of the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge (CFGC) will be among the first to use this new equipment as they test and validate their own processes and begin to scale-up the amounts of carbon fibre required for commercial applications. The new carbon fibre testing facility will have open-access and it is expected to be operational by early 2025. "As part of our Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, our government is working collaboratively with businesses, industry, Indigenous communities, and all levels of government to build on Alberta's proven strengths in clean energy innovation. This investment in Alberta Innovates will enable the commercialization of new technologies that support Canada's commitment to a net-zero economy and sustainable jobs for Albertans." The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan "We congratulate Alberta Innovates on the success in the Regional Innovation Ecosystems program competition. The award will create markets and opportunities for Alberta that haven't previously existed. ...