If your business or research team needs clinical expertise, lab space, or real-world testing in oncology, Saskatchewan offers a clear entry point. The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) works with businesses and researchers to provide access to specialized facilities, data, and experts through structured research partnerships. This is not a traditional cash grant — it’s a way to work inside the province’s cancer care and research system to develop, test, or validate health innovations.
The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency helps outside innovators by forming partnerships with universities, colleges, and health institutions in the province. These partnerships let eligible businesses use cancer-focused research spaces and access expertise that would otherwise be hard or expensive to find.
The SCA partnership model provides:
Access to specialized facilities
This includes cancer research labs, clinical environments, and testing spaces for oncology and health technology projects.
Expertise from clinicians and researchers
Businesses can work alongside oncologists, clinicians, and health researchers to solve problems or test new ideas.
Support for applied R&D projects, such as:
Guidance on intellectual property (IP) and commercialization
Intellectual property developed through these partnerships may be licensed or commercialized, but the details depend on the partnership agreement. It is important to discuss IP terms early with all partners and the SCA to understand who will own or have rights to any inventions or discoveries).
The program is open in Saskatchewan and focuses on collaboration, not direct funding.
Access is usually set up through a formal partnership, not by simply renting a lab or space.
You may qualify if you are:
Projects must support cancer care, health outcomes, or system improvements. These goals are set by the Agency and its partners.
If you are not sure whether your project fits, tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter programs by province and industry.
Each partnership is unique, but the process usually follows these steps:
Define your project need
Be clear about what you need — lab testing, clinical validation, data access, or expert input related to cancer care.
Find the right institutional partner
The SCA works with universities, colleges, and health institutions. You will usually need at least one academic or clinical partner.
Create a partnership proposal
Your proposal should include:
Discuss IP and commercialization terms early
IP ownership and licensing are talked about at the start so everyone knows how results can be used or sold later).
Start your research project
Once the partnership is approved, you can use the agreed-upon facilities and work with SCA experts.
Timelines depend on your project, partner availability, and any required approvals.
Thinking this is a cash grant
The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency provides access to facilities, expertise, and IP support — not direct funding.
Not having an institutional partner
Most projects must involve a university, college, or health institution. Trying to apply alone can delay your project.
Being unclear about your project scope
Vague ideas are rarely approved. You need a clear problem, method, and outcome tied to cancer or health research.
Delaying IP discussions
Waiting to talk about IP can slow down approvals or limit your ability to commercialize results.
Q: Does the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency provide direct funding to businesses?
No. Support is mainly through access to research facilities, clinical expertise, and intellectual property development, not cash funding.
Q: What types of projects are best suited for this program?
Projects focused on proof-of-concept, validation, process improvement, or developing new health technologies related to cancer care are a good fit.
Q: Can my business commercialize the results of the research?
Yes, commercialization is possible. IP ownership and licensing terms are set in the partnership agreement. Discuss these details with your partners and the SCA before the project begins).
Q: How long does it take to set up a partnership?
Timelines vary. It depends on your project’s complexity, partner schedules, ethics approvals, and IP negotiations.
Q: Do we need to be based in Saskatchewan?
Projects must operate within Saskatchewan’s health and research system, but partners from outside the province may be included if the project fits Agency goals.
Accessing cancer agency and health research facilities in Saskatchewan starts with the right partnership and a clearly defined project. If you want to compare health research programs across Canada, try GrantHub’s program search to find matching grant and partnership opportunities and focus on the best options for your business.
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