Collaborative Innovation

Overview of the Collaborative Innovation program:

This program allows companies to benefit from the cutting-edge expertise of one or more public research partners as part of a collaborative research technology project. The grant can cover up to 40% of the project costs and up to 80% with a matching of funds from our partners.

Benefits of the Collaborative Innovation program:

• The maximum aid is $500,000 per year, per project for a maximum duration of 3 years;
• The maximum financial assistance can represent up to 40% of the total cost of the project;
• The accumulation of government aid can total up to 80% of the total cost of the project;
• Private contributions must represent at least 20% of the total cost of the project.

Eligibility criteria of the Collaborative Innovation program:

• Quebec companies and research and innovation organizations (universities, CCTTs or public research centers) requesting applications must meet the following conditions:
• Not to be or not to use the services of subcontractors registered in the Register of companies not eligible for public contracts (RENA);
• Have fulfilled all their obligations relating to the allocation of previous financial assistance from the Government of Quebec or Investissement Quebec for at least two years;
• Not be a Crown corporation or a corporation controlled directly or indirectly by a government (municipal, provincial or federal), a municipal entity or a business that is majority owned by a Crown corporation;
• Not be in a situation of bankruptcy or insolvency;
• Not to commit ethical breaches or offer products or services likely to undermine the integrity or call into question the probity of the Government of Quebec, even by association;
• Not be in one of the following business areas:
  • The production or distribution of weapons;
  • Exploration, extraction, drilling, production and refining related to fossil fuels such as oil and thermal coal, except for activities aimed at a transition to a low-carbon economy;
  • Gambling, violent games, combat sports involving any living species, racing or other similar activities;
  • Sexual exploitation, for example an erotic bar, an escort agency, an erotic massage parlor or a swingers club;
  • The production, sale and services related to the consumption of tobacco or drugs, with the exception of interventions relating to industrial cannabis and hemp presented in section 4.1.2 of the regulatory framework;
  • Any activity whose main subject is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (religion, politics, defense of rights, etc.).
• Eligible projects:
• Two categories of projects are eligible depending on the size of the Quebec companies participating:
• SME projects, which involve at least one Quebec SME with fewer than 250 employees carrying out research & development (R&D) or production activities in Quebec as well as at least one university, a CCTT or a public research center;
• Large company projects, which involve at least one company with more than 249 employees carrying out R&D or innovation activities in Quebec as well as at least one university, a CCTT or a public research center.