If you are developing a health or medical product, getting real feedback from clinicians and end-users can be challenging. Cold calls to hospitals rarely work, and privacy rules can delay testing for months. The CAMS Innovation Platform (Alberta) helps solve this by connecting innovators with clinicians, simulation labs, and end-users—without needing to run a full clinical trial.
The CAMS Innovation Platform — Health Innovation Services is operated by the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) through its Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation (CAMS). This is not a cash grant. Instead, it offers in-kind innovation services that help health-tech companies validate their products more quickly.
With the CAMS Innovation Platform, eligible companies can:
Work directly with clinicians and subject-matter experts
This includes nurses, physicians, paramedics, and other healthcare professionals who are relevant to your product.
Test with real end-users in simulated clinical environments
You can use labs that are set up like real hospitals or clinics.
Run structured usability and workflow testing
CAMS supports formative testing to find safety issues, design gaps, and workflow friction before your product goes to market.
Collect evidence for market and regulatory readiness
Feedback and usability data can help you improve your design and prepare for regulatory or procurement discussions.
This makes CAMS especially helpful if you need clinician validation but are not yet ready for a full clinical trial.
The CAMS Innovation Platform is designed for health-tech innovators, including:
CAMS is based in Alberta, but eligibility can include companies from outside Alberta if their project fits the platform’s testing needs. For more details, see NAIT’s CAMS Innovation Platform eligibility page. There is no published minimum revenue or incorporation age requirement.
Use GrantHub’s eligibility matcher to filter health innovation programs by province, industry, and testing stage.
Accessing the CAMS Innovation Platform is more about building relationships than filling out a standard grant application.
Before reaching out to CAMS, decide:
Projects with a clear scope move faster.
Most companies start by contacting NAIT’s Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation to discuss:
CAMS works with innovators to set up:
Since CAMS is a service, each project has its own timeline and scope.
You run testing sessions, gather feedback, and improve your product. Many teams use CAMS results to:
CAMS does not offer direct funding. The value is in access, expertise, and testing infrastructure.
CAMS is not for general brainstorming. Vague requests slow down approvals and scheduling.
CAMS is best used before final regulatory or procurement steps, when changes can still be made.
CAMS supports simulation-based and formative testing. It does not replace formal clinical trials or ethics-approved studies.
Q: Is the CAMS Innovation Platform only for Alberta companies?
No. CAMS is based in Alberta, but companies outside the province may be eligible if their project matches CAMS testing needs. For more information, see NAIT’s CAMS Innovation Platform eligibility page.
Q: Does CAMS provide funding or reimburse costs?
No. CAMS offers in-kind services such as clinician access, simulation facilities, and usability testing support.
Q: What types of products can be tested through CAMS?
Medical devices, digital health tools, and other healthcare innovations that need clinician or end-user usability validation are a strong fit.
Q: Can CAMS testing support regulatory approval?
CAMS testing can generate usability and formative evidence that helps improve design and supports regulatory processes, but it does not replace clinical trials.
Q: How long does it take to get access to clinicians?
Timelines depend on your project scope and clinician availability. Starting early and having a clear plan helps speed things up.
If access to clinicians and real-world testing is slowing down your product development, the CAMS Innovation Platform (Alberta) can help you connect with the right experts and environments—without the complexity of a full clinical trial. GrantHub tracks health innovation services and grant programs across Canada, making it easier to find supports that match your testing stage, location, and product type.
For more information on health innovation programs, visit GrantHub and explore options that fit your needs.
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