The Calgary Research and Development Authority's Technology Enterprise Centre operates two small business incubators for technology-intensive emerging enterprises. The Incubator program provides affordable space with office services, on-site business counselling and access to a network of professional, financial and technological assistance. Shared services keep the costs down. Growth of the enterprise is readily accommodated by the lease of additional space. The Technology Enterprise Centre Incubator Program is available to all enterprises who are tenants resident in the Centre or who are enrolled as clients of the Corporate Identity Program.
Social sciences are as acceptable as the hard sciences.
Program clients must have an acceptable business plan or be prepared to enrol in the Business Plan preparation course offered twice annually by the Centre in cooperation with the Federal Business Development Bank. Clients that occupy offices are required to sign one year leases for the space occupied and provide proof of the ability to meet the lease payments. As the enterprise grows and requires additional space, the Centre normally has additional space available, often contiguously. The old lease is terminated and a new lease prepared for the overall space occupied. The initial and last month rent is payable in advance, thereafter monthly in advance.