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Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1
Funding for collaborative projects in AI
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 150,000
Timeline
- Open Date : January 1, 2023
- Closing date : October 15, 2023
Location
Quebec, Canada
Overview
Get a grant of up to $150,000 to cover up to 50% of eligible costs for carrying out research and an innovation project to develop and grow products and services for which the start-up was created.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : January 1, 2023
- Closing date : October 15, 2023
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Non-financial cooperative
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Startups
Next steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Development of innovative solutions (products, services, or processes) utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) or quantum technologies, from planning to real-world demonstration (pre-commercialization).
- Creation of new solutions or significant improvements to existing solutions using responsible AI or quantum technologies.
- Projects that demonstrate a required level of innovation, offering advantages over current market solutions at the national or international level.
- Initiatives in AI focused on ethical and responsible use, sustainable development, or data governance.
- Sector-wide projects fostering the adoption of AI and quantum technologies, with particular focus on primary and secondary sectors such as agriculture, forestry, energy, manufacturing, aerospace, and frontline health.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Consortiums of Quebec-based companies and cooperatives, including at least one SME or high-growth potential startup
- Startups legally incorporated and operating in Quebec with less than 250 employees
- Quebec SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) with less than 250 employees
- Large Quebec companies for structuring and large-scale projects
- Sectors eligible through designated sectoral industrial research clusters (e.g., advanced materials, aerospace, energy, aluminum, industrial bioprocesses, medical technologies, ICT and digital, biopharmaceutical research, metal transformation)
Who is not eligible
- Companies that are not legally constituted under federal or Quebec law and not registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec.
- Businesses that do not have their head office, operational establishment, and principal employees or subcontractors in Quebec.
- Companies with more than 250 employees in Quebec (for PME/startup categories).
- Companies owned 50% or more by other existing businesses or organizations (except for management companies owned by founders of the startup).
- Companies without a French-language website.
Eligible expenses
- Expenses incurred by an eligible public research center when they represent at least 20% of total eligible project expenses.
- Costs for access to quantum computing resources provided by PINQ2, Calcul Québec, and DistriQ.
Eligible geographic areas
- Quebec
Additional information
- The most recent update to the grant information was made on March 27, 2025.
- For certain project streams (such as those under Confiance IA), applications must be sent directly to a specific government email address.
- Managing the consortium for funded projects is entrusted to a sectoral industrial research group (RSRI), except for projects from the Confiance IA initiative.
- The grant is overseen by the Government of Quebec and involves multiple sectoral industrial research organizations (RSRIs) as partners.
Documents and links
Frequently Asked Questions about the Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1 Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1?
Get a grant of up to $150,000 to cover up to 50% of eligible costs for carrying out research and an innovation project to develop and grow products and services for which the start-up was created.
How much funding can be received?
Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1 Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $150,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was October 15, 2023.
Who is eligible for the Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1 program?
To be eligible for the Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1 program, you must:
Consortium of Quebec companies including at least one SME or high-growth startup
Legally incorporated and registered in Quebec
Head office and principal employees/subcontractors based in Quebec
What expenses are eligible under Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1?
Development of innovative solutions (products, services, or processes) utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) or quantum technologies, from planning to real-world demonstration (pre-commercialization).
Creation of new solutions or significant improvements to existing solutions using responsible AI or quantum technologies.
Projects that demonstrate a required level of innovation, offering advantages over current market solutions at the national or international level.
Initiatives in AI focused on ethical and responsible use, sustainable development, or data governance.
Sector-wide projects fostering the adoption of AI and quantum technologies, with particular focus on primary and secondary sectors such as agriculture, forestry, energy, manufacturing, aerospace, and frontline health.
Who can I contact for more information about the Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1?
You can contact Ministère de l'économie, de l'innovation et de l'énergie du Québec (MEIE).
Where is the Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1 available?
The Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1 program is available the province of Quebec.
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