I.Q.C.4.0 - Section 2

I.Q.C.4.0 - Section 2

Support Quebec industries in their adoption of digital and intelligent technologies to increase their productivity, competitiveness and resilience.
At a glance
Overview
Eligibility
Selection criteria
How to apply

At a glance

Eligible Funding
  • From 100,000$ to 5,000,000$
  • 50% of project cost
Timeline
  • Open Date : April 11, 2024
  • Closing date : March 31, 2028
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
  • Construction
Grant Providers
  • Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation
Status
Open

Overview

To obtain this action plan, companies and contracting authorities will take part in a personalized digital diagnostic process in which their level of digital maturity will be assessed, and their specific challenges and needs identified. The action plan will present the essential elements of a successful digital transition, and key performance indicators for follow-up. Phase III of the Quebec Initiative for Construction 4.0 (IQC4.0), authorized in decree number 365-2021 of March 24, 2021 by the Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation (MEI), aims to support the Quebec construction industry in the digital shift, particularly in the deployment of Building Data Modeling (BDM or more commonly BIM) on a large scale. This phase is a continuation of the IQC4.0 program, which began in March 2018. To date, more than 250 companies have been diagnosed. It is also part of the Construction Action Plan (CAP) announced on March 21, 2021, as well as the Offensive en Transformation Numérique (OTN) announced on March 29, 2021. Quebec Ministry of the Economy and Innovation is investing $13.7 million in this new phase of the Quebec-wide initiative. The project is led by two organizations accustomed to supporting the digitization of businesses, the Groupe BIM du Québec and the Institut de gouvernance numérique, in partnership with professional associations in the construction industry.

Eligibility criteria

1. Be a company in the manufacturing or business services sector.

  • Manufacturing: This includes companies that transform raw materials into finished products.
  • Business services: This includes companies that provide services to other companies, such as IT, marketing or accounting services.

2. Have a head office in Quebec.

  • The company must be registered in Quebec and have its principal place of business there.

3. Have a project to implement digital and intelligent technologies.

  • The project must be aimed at adopting 4.0 technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, etc.
  • The project must have a significant impact on the company's productivity, competitiveness or resilience.


4. Submit a grant application before March 31, 2028.

  • The deadline for applications is March 31, 2028.
  • It is important to apply as early as possible, as grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition, the project must meet the following criteria:

  • Be realistic and feasible.
  • Respect the laws and regulations in force in Quebec.
  • Not have already received a grant from the Quebec government for the same project.

Who is eligible

1. Be an SME in the manufacturing or business services sector.

  • SME: A company with fewer than 250 employees and annual sales of less than $50 million.
  • Manufacturing sector: This includes companies that transform raw materials into finished products.
  • Business services: This includes companies that provide services to other companies, such as IT, marketing or accounting services.

2. Have a head office in Quebec.

  • The company must be registered in Quebec and have its principal place of business there.

3. Have a project to implement digital and intelligent technologies.

  • The project must be aimed at adopting 4.0 technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, etc.
  • The project must have a significant impact on the company's productivity, competitiveness or resilience.

4. Apply for a grant before March 31, 2028.

  • The deadline for applications is March 31, 2028.
  • It is important to apply as early as possible, as grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition, the project must meet the following criteria:

  • Be realistic and feasible.
  • Respect the laws and regulations in force in Quebec.
  • Not have already received a grant from the Quebec government for the same project.

Who is not eligible

The following companies are not eligible for Component 2 of the I.Q.C 4.0 grant:

  • Large companies: Companies with more than 250 employees or annual sales in excess of $50 million.
  • Public-sector companies: Companies owned by the Quebec government or a public administration.
  • Non-profit companies: Companies that do not operate for profit.
  • Companies in financial difficulty: Companies that are bankrupt or in default of payment.
  • Companies that have already received a subsidy from the Quebec government for the same project.

In addition, the following projects are not eligible:

  • Projects that do not involve the implementation of digital and intelligent technologies.
  • Projects that do not have a significant impact on the company's productivity, competitiveness or resilience.
  • Projects that are not realistic or feasible.
  • Projects that do not comply with Quebec laws and regulations.

Eligible expenses

The following expenses are eligible for Section 2 of the I.Q.C 4.0 grant:

Acquisition and implementation of digital and intelligent technologies:

  • Cost of purchasing software and hardware.
  • Technology development and integration costs.
  • Costs of training staff in the use of new technologies.
  • Expenses for professional services related to technology implementation.

Staff training:

  • Cost of training related to digital and intelligent technologies.
  • Travel and accommodation expenses for training courses.
  • Salaries of employees during training sessions.

Hiring of specialized personnel:

  • Salaries of new employees hired to support the project.
  • Recruitment and integration costs for new employees.

Project-related R&D expenses:

  • Cost of studies and research.
  • Prototype development costs.
  • Salaries of researchers and developers.

Professional advice:

  • Consulting fees for digital and intelligent technologies.
  • Cost of feasibility studies.
  • Expenses for legal and accounting services related to the project.

Please note that the following expenses are not eligible:

  • Current business expenses.
  • Purchase of basic software.
  • Projects already underway.
  • Projects that do not comply with current laws and regulations.

Eligible projects & activities

Here are a few examples of projects eligible for I.Q.C 4.0 grant Stream 2:

Manufacturing sector:

  • Implementation of a computerized production management system (ERP ) to improve production planning, scheduling and monitoring.
  • Acquisition of a robot to automate a repetitive task and improve productivity.
  • Implementation of an automated quality control system to guarantee product quality.
  • Deployment of a predictive maintenance solution to prevent breakdowns and reduce maintenance costs.
  • Development of a digital twin to simulate and optimize production processes.

Business services sector:

  • Creation of a web platform to offer new services to customers.
  • Development of a mobile application to improve inventory management.
  • Implementation of a CRM system to better manage customer relations.
  • Implementation of a cybersecurity solution to protect company data.
  • Adoption of cloud computing technology to improve the company's flexibility and agility.

It is important to note that these examples are not exhaustive. All projects aimed at implementing digital and intelligent technologies that have a significant impact on the company's productivity, competitiveness or resilience are potentially eligible.

Eligible geographic areas


The geographical area eligible for I.Q.C 4.0 grant component 2 is the whole of Quebec.

Evaluation & selection criteria

The selection criteria for Component 2 of the I.Q.C 4.0 grant are as follows:

1. Company eligibility:

  • The company must be an SME in the manufacturing or business services sector.
  • The company must have its head office in Quebec.
  • The company must have a project to implement digital and intelligent technologies.

2. Project quality:

  • The project must be realistic and feasible.
  • The project must have a significant impact on the company's productivity, competitiveness or resilience.
  • The project must comply with Quebec laws and regulations.

3. Financial contribution from the company:

  • The company must make a financial contribution to the project.
  • The amount of the company's financial contribution will be taken into account in evaluating the application.

4. Economic impact of the project:

  • The project must have a positive economic impact on Quebec.
  • The number of jobs created or maintained by the project will be taken into account in evaluating the application.

5. Quality of application:

  • The grant application must be complete and well documented.
  • The quality of the application will be taken into account in the assessment of the application.

In addition to these criteria, applications will also be evaluated according to the priorities of the Quebec government.

How to apply

Here are the steps for applying for the I.Q.C 4.0 grant, component 2:

1. Read the I.Q.C 4.0 program guide:

  • The program guide contains all the information you need to understand eligibility criteria, eligible expenses and selection criteria.
  • You can download the program guide from the Investissement Québec website: [Invalid URL removed].

2. Check the eligibility of your company and your project:

  • Make sure your company meets all eligibility criteria.
  • Make sure your project meets all selection criteria.

3. Prepare a grant application:

  • The grant application must be complete and well documented.
  • You can download the grant application form from the Investissement Québec website.

4. Submit your grant application:

  • You can submit your grant application online or by post.
  • The deadline for applications is March 31, 2028.

5. Follow-up on your application:

  • You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your grant application.
  • An Investissement Québec analyst will review your application and contact you if necessary.
  • You will be informed of Investissement Québec's decision within 12 weeks of the application deadline.
Apply to this program