SPARK Alberta

SPARK Alberta, powered by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, and a chapter of the SPARK Global network, supports the advancement of digital health innovations at Alberta’s post-secondary institutions into clinical and patient impact. Through our hybrid program, we work with faculty, researchers, and trainees to move early-stage innovations toward real-world healthcare solutions through industry and academic expertise, structured accountability, and connections to the people, tools, and resources that increase success.  

Clinical impact is the key driver of SPARK. Through candid feedback from experienced digital health industry advisors and iterative evidence-gathering, we help teams validate true clinical need and de-risk the path to impact, build the translational skills required to move beyond an academic project, and maintain forward momentum. Along the way, we connect teams to the capabilities, resources, and hand-off organizations needed to continue advancing promising innovations toward commercialization, implementation, and ultimately, patient impact.

SPARK is a one-year, cohort-based program designed to expose the innovators to the realities of developing a healthcare innovation. Rather than providing step-by-step instruction, we create an environment where you learn by engaging directly with experts, testing assumptions, and making real decisions. 

How we support innovators: 

By the end of the program, you will have: 

• A clearer understanding and communication of your clinical impact 
• Validation of feasibility, viability, and desirability of your innovation 
• A defined path forward -or a confident, informed decision not to proceed 

Each project’s journey will differ, but all participants leave with greater clarity, direction, and readiness for the next step. 

Academic and clinical innovation is resource-intensive. SPARK is designed to help you continue your time and effort on innovations with real potential. 

The program requires approximately 5 hours per month over one year, including: 

• Hybrid project update presentations on Wednesday evenings 
• Virtual monthly check-ins 
• Preparation and follow-up work 
• Attendance at educational seminars curated from the digital health ecosystem and SPARK Global 

While the time commitment for SPARK is moderate, you will have a much larger number of hours devoted to working on your innovation. 

We are looking for innovators who are in the prototyping phase of their journey and are already engaged with end-users. In addition to an openness to critical feedback, willingness to pivot, and commitment to advancing towards real-world implementation, we seek: 

• Novel approach to an unmet clinical need using a digital health solution. Digital Health refers to any tool or service utilizing software, applications, and other digital means to solve a health or healthcare related problem. 
• Based at an Alberta post-secondary institution. This means that at least one project lead must be faculty, a researcher, or a trainee (post-doc to undergraduate) at an Alberta post-secondary institution. 
• Evidence-backed early–stage innovation. Early-stage as in you are in the process of designing, developing, or already testing your Minimum Viable Product (the earliest version of your technology). Evidence-backed meaning there is literature and/or studies to back your innovation and at least some validation from stakeholder interviews.