Alberta offers free cloud computing to researchers and entrepreneurs 

Cybera, a not-for-profit technology agency, is offering its Rapid Access Cloud in an effort to make cloud technology accessible to users who want to try it out. The pilot is linked to the Digital Accelerator for Innovation and Research, a national program with a similar goal. 

“Most if not all of the major technology companies are using the cloudbecause it offers huge competitive advantages,” says Robin Winsor, president and CEO, Cybera. “However, researchers and entrepreneurs – people trying out brand new ideas – might find the cost of this technology to be a barrier when they aren’t yet sure what the return on investment will be. This program can provide that environment for discovery and invention.”

The goal of the pilot is to get researchers experimenting in cloud computing, assist small and mid-sized enterprises in the development of new products, and provide a testing ground for businesses to learn about running services in the cloudenvironment before they move to a commercial platform.

The Rapid Access Cloud, funded by the government of Alberta, is available to any Albertans who wish to use it for purposes of research, experimenting, or testing.