Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Health System (PRIHS) Program

Improving patient care while easing pressure on Alberta’s health system often requires more than incremental change—it calls for well-tested innovation that can be implemented at scale. The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Health System (PRIHS) Program is designed to support that kind of transformation by backing promising digital health and care delivery solutions that respond to real system challenges across the province. Led by Alberta Innovates in collaboration with Alberta Health Services, the program focuses on projects that can measurably improve quality of care and long-term system sustainability.

PRIHS is geared toward Alberta-based nonprofit and academic health organizations working closely with Strategic Clinical Networks and integrated provincial programs. Rather than early-stage research, the emphasis is on implementing and validating innovative models of care, often using digital health technologies, within real clinical settings. Successful projects typically involve strong partnerships between researchers, clinicians, and health system leaders, with funding support that can reach into the millions over multi-year project timelines. This level of support helps teams move beyond pilots and into meaningful system-wide impact.

Because PRIHS operates through invitation-based calls and a multi-phase review process, it’s especially important for interested organizations to understand how their ideas align with current health system priorities. Exploring the full program details can help determine whether PRIHS is the right pathway to advance your health innovation in Alberta.