2026 Nomination Process – ASTech Awards

We are pleased to announce that the 37th Annual ASTech Awards (Alberta Science and Technology Leadership Awards) are now open for recommendations.

View 2026 ASTech Awards Categories here.

To identify worthy candidates in Alberta, there are 2 pathways available:

1) (Optional) Recommendation Form – Open until April 10, 2026

This Process takes only 15 minutes
Anyone can recommend a worthy Candidate
ASTech Awards Staff Members review the Recommendations weekly, and contact eligible Nominees to fill out the full Nomination Form.

2) Full Nomination Form – Opens January 2026

Required for any candidate to be considered for an ASTech Award
Full Nomination Deadline May 4, 2026

SUBMIT A RECOMMENDATION – OPEN

All completed recommendations are reviewed weekly by ASTech team members, who then follow-up with eligible candidates on the process to progress to a full nomination application in 2026.

Anyone can recommend a worthy Alberta candidate to be nominated for an ASTech Award – it only takes 5 minutes.

This nomination pathway still requires the recommended applicant to fill out the full nomination form.

Recommendation Deadline: April 10, 2026

Submit a Recommendation

Full Nomination – OPENS January 2026

Nominations can come from various sources, such as principals, colleagues, institutions, companies, employers, community members, and applications (self-nominations).

The full nomination form is approximately:

– 3 pages in length
– Requests supporting documentation
– This nomination pathway is required for all nominations.

Nomination Deadline: May 4, 2026

Nominations Opens January 2026

Note on all Submitted Nominations: Any remaining Letters of Support, Verification, or other supplemental nomination documents will be accepted until May 18, 2026.

If not already uploaded through the ASTech Awards Nomination Form, Letters of Support, verification, or other supplemental documents can still be submitted using the upload link provided (Available May 2026). Both nominators and self-nominated applicants have until May 18, 2026, to upload these letters

Are you curious about the nomination form, our streamlined process, or the information needed to complete it? Check out our PDF example nomination form and see just how easy it is to nominate a deserving candidate for a 2026 ASTech Award. The PDF Form is strictly for viewing purposes; an online submission must be made to be considered for a 2026 ASTech Award.

View PDF Example Nomination Form

Online Information Session (BI-WEEKLY)

The ASTech Awards information session is geared towards: academic administrators, innovative companies, and champions of entrepreneurs. Additionally, this interactive session will provide an opportunity to ask questions to maximize the chances of a successful submission in 2026.

What will be discussed?

– Nominee Next-Steps
– Sponsorship Opportunities
– Volunteering with ASTech
– Event Details and More

2026 Awards Process

Who is a qualified nominee?

The ASTech Awards recognize Alberta’s innovation ecosystem’s key contributors, from companies to entrepreneurs and researchers. They provide inspiration and motivation, acknowledging various industry champions’ hard work and success. Nominees can be Companies, Entrepreneurs, Industry Champions, Researchers, and many more.

Recommendation Stage (Pre-Nomination – Now Open until April 10, 2026):

This is a chance for community members to support people, companies, and organizations making impacts locally, Alberta-wide, and beyond. This short open-to-the-community recommendation form is now available for the 2026 edition of the ASTech Awards. All submissions are kept anonymous and reviewed weekly. Eligible candidates will be notified of their community support and encouraged to submit a complete submission. This process ensures widespread recognition and encourages diverse participation in celebrating Alberta’s innovators.

Nomination Stage (Opens January 2026 until May 4, 2026):

The nomination stage is open for community nominations or self-nominations for all ASTech Award Categories. The ASTech Awards nomination process remains similar to previous years. Nominees, whether companies, teams, or individuals, need just one nomination form for multiple categories. The form, about three pages of information and attachments, allows for selecting various award categories in a single submission.

Judging Stage (Summer 2026)

The Judges review all completed nominations, and finalists are selected. Finalists in each category are notified and are invited to attend the 2026 ASTech Awards Opening Ceremonies and Awards Gala.

37th Annual ASTech Awards Opening Ceremonies (Friday, September 18, 2026)

ASTech Finalists, Alumni, and Innovation Community Champions are invited to attend the 2026 ASTech Awards Opening Ceremonies – which will be held in the Calgary Region this year.

37th Annual ASTech Awards Gala (Friday, November 6, 2026)

Finalists will be recognized before, during, and after the event. Award winners will be announced at the 37th Annual ASTech Awards Gala – which will be held in the Calgary Region this year.

Need more Information? Join us at one of our upcoming Information Sessions (Wednesdays at 1:30 PM MDT):

What will be discussed? How to Nominate and Who are Good Nominees (Researchers, Entrepreneurs, Community Builders). This interactive session will allow you to ask questions to maximize your chances of a successful submission in 2026.

To see the upcoming info session schedule and to register, CLICK HERE.