Expand the impact of your health research
Learn how to communicate your research to different audiences, understand stakeholder needs, and explore pathways for creating impact beyond the university setting.
Delivered in partnership with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Evolve to Innovate (e2i) Health helps University of Calgary researchers develop practical innovation skills through funding, mentorship, and experiential learning. Earn up to $4,500 in funding and three digital micro-credentials.
Open to UCalgary graduate students, research associates, and postdoctoral scholars.
Applications for the fall 2026 semester close July 26, 2026.
Virtual Info Session
Interested in learning more before applying?
Join our virtual information session to learn about the program, application process, awards, and participant experience.
June 29, 2026 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Designed to support your growth
Build practical innovation skills
Develop practical innovation, communication, and problem-solving skills that complement your academic training.
Explore pathways beyond academia
Explore different pathways and opportunities including commercialization, not-for-profit ventures, expanding impact, and more.
Learn from industry experts
Gain insights from mentors and experts working across the health innovation ecosystem.
Get rewarded for your growth
Earn up to $4,500 in awards and three digital micro-credentials as you progress through the program.
Open to UCalgary graduate students, research associates, and postdoctoral scholars.
Where could this program take you?
Creating impact takes many forms and each participate can expect to take different paths depending on their personal goals. Evolve to Innovate Health helps researchers develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence to take that next step in their innovation journey.
- Strengthen and enhance your academic career
- Collaborate more effectively with partners beyond academia
- Explore commercialization opportunities
- Launch a startup or non-for-profit venture
- Expand the reach and impact of your research
Fall 2026 semester timeline
The upcoming fall semester will run from August 26 until December 16, 2026. Through a combination of online learning and in-person workshops, participants can expect to commit four hours of their time each week to this program. In-person workshops will take place at the Foothills campus on Wednesdays from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Aug. 3, 2026
Notifications of acceptance
Aug. 10, 2026
Acceptance deadline
Aug. 26, 2026
Unit 1 Begins: Communicating Beyond Academia
Oct. 7, 2026
Unit 2 Begins: Problem-Driven Innovations
Nov. 18, 2026
Unit 3 Begins: Innovation Beyond Academia
Dec. 16, 2026
Program concludes with a finale
Earn micro-credentials and up to $4,500 in awards
Participants progress through three learning units, each focused on a key aspect of advancing health innovation beyond academia. Successful completion of each unit earns participants a digital micro-credential and a $1,500 cash award, with a maximum of $4,500 for all three units.
Micro-credentials recognize non-credit learning through digital badges that showcase specific skills and achievements. These badges provide a shareable record supporting personalized professional development.
Learn how to adapt your communication to engage and inspire non-academic audiences to help maximize the impact of your work.
Topics include:
- Navigating innovation in the healthcare system
- Audience identification
- Crafting impactful stories
- Public speaking
- Written communications
- Grant writing
Award: $1,500 + Digital Micro-Credential
Dive into design thinking and develop a deeper understanding of people, systems, and challenges your research aims to address.
Topics include:
- Design thinking for research innovation
- Health regulations and social determinants of health
- User interviews
- Journey mapping
- Problem validation
- Milestone-based roadmaps
Award: $1,500 + Digital Micro-Credential
Explore tools, frameworks, and considerations involved in moving innovations beyond the university environment.
Topics include:
- Intellectual property
- Go-to-market strategies
- Technology roadmaps
- Market assessment
- Early-stage funding
- Legal and regulatory basics
Award: $1,500 + Digital Micro-Credential
What you'll leave the program with
Application process
Applications include an online form and a short video submission. Applications will be reviewed by a diverse panel using a structured evaluation process designed to support equitable participation and representation.
Applicants will provide:
- Personal and academic information
- A brief description of the problem they are working to address
- Their motivations for joining the program
On the from applicants will submit a 3–5 minute video introducing themselves and discussing:
- Their motivations and goals for joining the program
- The problem they are seeking to solve
- Their proposed solution
- The potential impact of their work
Applications close July 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Submit the application form
FAQs
Evolve to Innovate (e2i) Health is an experiential learning program designed to help researchers navigate the innovation process and the many pathways available for creating impact beyond academia.
Through a combination of self-paced learning, interactive workshops, mentorship, and practical application, participants build skills in communication, stakeholder engagement, problem validation, and innovation planning.
The program emphasizes the development of the researcher as much as the research itself, helping participants build capabilities that can support a variety of future career and innovation pathways.
Evolve to Innovate (e2i) Health is designed for University of Calgary researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students interested in exploring how their work could create impact beyond academia.
This program is intended for researchers whose work has the potential to improve health outcomes, healthcare systems, patient experiences, or related ares of health innovation.
If your research falls outside of health-related fields, we encourage you to explore the broader Evolve to Innovate (e2i) program.
We encourage applicants to enter the program with a research idea in mind. If your research is part of a team project, we ask that you inform your fellow researchers and your PI that you intend to participate in this program with this research idea as your focus.
Principal Investigators will not receive a cash award or research allowance unless they enroll as participants.
No. E2i Health is designed for researchers interested in exploring pathways beyond academia. Participants join the program with a wide range of goals, and creating a venture is just one of many outcomes.
The upcoming fall semester will run from August 26 until December 16.
Through a combination of online learning and in-person workshops, participants can expect to commit four hours of their time each week to this program.
In-person workshops will take place at the Foothills campus on Wednesdays from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
While you may use AI tools to enhance your video (e.g., for visuals or editing), we strongly encourage you to appear on camera and speak in your own voice. The purpose of the video is to showcase your personal passion, vision, and connection to your innovation. Videos that rely heavily on AI-generated voiceovers, avatars, or text-to-video tools may lack the authenticity and engagement we’re looking for and could be viewed less favourably during evaluation.
Please submit a video with your application no longer than 3 minutes addressing the points below:
- Problem Description: Describe, in simple terms, the specific problem your innovation addresses. Who stands to benefit most from this solution, and what positive impact could solving this problem have?
- Solution and Unique Value: Explain the practical applications of your work and highlight what makes your solution particularly exciting or unique. What sets it apart from existing solutions?
- Your Goals for the e2i Health Program - Share why you are interested in joining the e2i Health program. How do you envision the program contributing to your professional growth, including any specific skills or challenges you’re eager to tackle?
