About IDEA Lab
As Canada’s only open and online-by-design university, Athabasca University is transforming future of digital-first research through IDEA Lab.
What is IDEA Lab?
IDEA Lab is a cloud-based virtual research domain, developed through a highly collaborative partnership between AU’s Research Office, the Cloud Research Architecture team in Information Technology (IT) Services, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and RONIN.
IDEA Lab accelerates innovation, discovery, and creation by providing streamlined access to digital tools and collaborative consultation throughout ideation, development, and mobilization of research.
Why IDEA Lab
By leveraging emerging cloud technologies, IDEA Lab offers AU researchers a highly scalable and secure virtual research environment.
IDEA Lab participants benefit from specialized funding and support for the experimentation and deployment of cloud-based tools for research and innovation. They also benefit from collaborative research program planning with the support of AU’s Research Development Office.
In keeping with AU’s digital-first identity and status as a post-secondary institution with a research mandate, IDEA Lab enables AU researchers and students to innovate, discover, explore, and accelerate their work using existing and emerging tools, processes, and data in the cloud for maximum impact.
Through IDEA Lab, AU researchers are well-positioned to advance and further lead in digital-by-design and technology-enabled research.
Leadership and Support
The IDEA Lab Steering Committee, as an advisory group, supported the development and implementation of IDEA Lab. To learn more about the committee and the responsibilities of its members, please submit a query at the bottom of this page.
IDEA Lab opens a call for applications through which we intake new projects. Inquiries about support available outside of the new project intake process should be submitted below.
To learn more about the call for applications structure and requirements, click ‘Learn more’ below.”
Discover grants and other funding options
There are many opportunities to secure funding and support for your research.
Connect with us
IDEA Lab is transforming the future of digital-first university research. Want to learn more?
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Updated March 25, 2025 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)