Wedoany.com Report-Dec.8, Alberta Innovates officially opened Canada's first carbon fibre production research facility on 28 November 2025 at its InnoTech Alberta campus in Edmonton. The pre-commercial-scale plant received C$10 million in federal funding from Prairies Economic Development Canada and over C$1 million for infrastructure upgrades from the Government of Alberta.

The centre provides industry partners with pilot-scale production lines, comprehensive testing capabilities and specialised expertise in hydrocarbon processing and carbon fibre development. It focuses on producing carbon fibre from bitumen-derived feedstocks, a pathway that has potential to significantly lower production costs compared with conventional petroleum-based precursors.

Alberta Innovates CEO Mike Mahon said: "At Alberta Innovates, we don't just see carbon fiber as a material — we see it as a catalyst. A conduit for cleaner energy, smarter design and resilient systems. It's where science meets sustainability.

The facility's initial users will be finalists of the Alberta Innovates Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge (CFGC), a C$20 million competition launched to accelerate bitumen-to-carbon-fibre technology and its integration into manufactured products.

Yasmine Abdin, President and Chief Operating Officer of British Columbia-based Fibernx — one of the first companies relocating operations to Alberta to access the new plant — stated: "One of the main challenges innovation faces is the gap between laboratory research and commercialization, often due to the lack of pilot-scale infrastructure. This facility allows us to validate our current manufacturing processes on a larger scale and identify the adjustments needed for real-life production. It serves as the vital link between research and manufacturing, to enable faster commercialization of carbon fiber technologies."

By establishing domestic production capability from locally abundant bitumen, the initiative aims to expand market applications for carbon fibre in transportation, renewable energy components and advanced manufacturing while creating new high-value opportunities for Alberta's hydrocarbon resources. The Edmonton facility positions the province as a North American centre for next-generation carbon fibre research and development.