Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative

Overview of the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative program:

Administered by Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative is a funding program aimed at addressing the growing housing shortage in Quebec’s regional areas. The initiative supports organisations and businesses that are developing innovative, affordable, and scalable housing solutions—particularly those that can be applied or replicated across multiple communities facing similar housing challenges. The initiative promotes the development and adoption of new residential construction methods, materials, processes, and technologies that improve housing affordability, energy efficiency, construction speed, and supply chain resilience. It also encourages collaboration among developers, technology providers, manufacturers, and housing organisations to foster innovative and systemic approaches to homebuilding. The program targets a broad range of stakeholders including businesses, non-profit organisations, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and social economy actors involved in the housing sector. Funded projects may include pilot builds, demonstration projects, housing prototypes, development of modular or prefabricated construction systems, and digital innovation (e.g., digital planning tools or automated construction processes). CED places priority on projects that not only increase the quantity of housing but also enhance its quality, sustainability, and accessibility. The initiative aligns with federal housing priorities, including the National Housing Strategy, by contributing to more inclusive and resilient communities across Quebec.

Benefits of the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative program:

• Supports affordable, efficient, and innovative housing construction in Quebecs regions
• Encourages modular, prefabricated, and energy-efficient housing solutions
• Funds pilot projects and scalable demonstrations that can be replicated in multiple communities
• Strengthens regional construction supply chains and labour capacity
• Promotes cross-sector collaboration and technological advancement in homebuilding
• Aligns with broader federal housing goals including sustainability, inclusivity, and regional development
• Helps reduce housing construction costs and timelines through innovation
• Improves housing access in underserved and rural communities

Eligibility criteria of the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative program:

• Supports affordable, efficient, and innovative housing construction in Quebecs regions
• Encourages modular, prefabricated, and energy-efficient housing solutions
• Funds pilot projects and scalable demonstrations that can be replicated in multiple communities
• Strengthens regional construction supply chains and labour capacity
• Promotes cross-sector collaboration and technological advancement in homebuilding
• Aligns with broader federal housing goals including sustainability, inclusivity, and regional development
• Helps reduce housing construction costs and timelines through innovation
• Improves housing access in underserved and rural communities