Alberta’s current prosperity is based on significant previous industry-government partnerships, and investments in R&D and pilot projects. These led to many new and advanced recovery and processing technologies that presently contribute to the development of complex resources like the oil sands. This resource would not be what it is today if it weren’t for the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA). AERI assumed responsibility for AOSTRA in 2001, and its expanded mandate today includes all energy resources of importance to Alberta.
Through our oil sands experience, we are familiar with the challenges one faces when moving new technology platforms through he basic R&D stages and into new commercial ventures. The risk of inaction is to get caught in the innovation gap and never see the benefits of our R&D efforts. To move R&D all the way through to commercial applications, AERI partners with industry, governments, universities and research institutes to leverage funding on demonstration and pilot projects, and on the cross-cutting integrated research that is co-beneficial to multiple technology platforms.