C-FER, originally the Centre for Frontier Engineering Research, incorporated on November 7, 1983 and opened its doors for business on April 1st, 1984 with a mandate to attack problems related to material, fabrication, design, regulations, transportation and construction of structures required for arctic and offshore development in Canada. Today, C-FER Technologies (1999) Inc. operates as a not-for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures, with income earned entirely by performing fee-for-service work, mostly for private industry. Over 60% of this income is now derived from sources outside Canada.
Alberta Innovates functions as a globally competitive research and innovation system. Within the system government, industry and academia interact to develop solutions to global challenges and use knowledge for the growth and diversification of Alberta's economy.