How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 30% of admissible expenses, capped at $100000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the CQRDA — PSIAL?

CQRDA — PSIAL is funded by Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l’aluminium (CQRDA)

What are CQRDA — PSIAL's eligibility criterias?

Eligible applicants must be SMEs legally constituted according to Canadian or Quebec laws and registered with the Quebec enterprise registrar. The company's head office and principal work activities must be based in Quebec. The company must employ 250 or fewer employees in Quebec and not be more than 50% owned by large companies or existing entities.

CQRDA — PSIAL

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QC, Canada

Supports aluminum innovation in Quebec businesses

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Grant and Funding

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Manufacturing

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Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l’aluminium (CQRDA)

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The CQRDA — PSIAL grant offers up to $100,000 to support the development and significant improvement of aluminum products or processes, aiming to enhance productivity and competitiveness of Québec SMEs. Eligible activities include product development, process improvement, and collaboration with public research centers.

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The maximum financial assistance per project is $100,000, applicable whether a public research centre is involved or not.
For projects without a public research centre, the financial assistance can cover up to 30% of the total eligible costs.
The cumulative government aid for projects without a public research centre can reach up to 50% of the total eligible costs.
For projects involving a public research centre, the financial assistance can cover up to 50% of the total eligible costs.
The cumulative government aid for projects involving a public research centre can reach up to 75% of the total eligible costs, provided the activities by the research centre account for at least 20% of total eligible project expenses or a minimum of $40,000 for projects exceeding $200,000.
The maximum duration for project completion is 18 months, with a deadline not extending beyond December 15, 2026.
The participation of the public research centre in the project must be clearly defined and documented in the financial layout.
Expenses are only eligible if incurred after the submission of a complete project application and if no contractual commitments were made prior to the approval date.

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Development of a new product utilizing aluminium.
Significant improvement of an existing product using aluminium.
Development of a new aluminium processing procedure.
Significant improvement of an existing aluminium processing procedure, applicable to primary, secondary, or tertiary transformation.

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$ 100,000

Improving aluminum can manufacturing efficiency

$ 100,000

Developing a more efficient aluminum automotive part

$ 100,000

Creating advanced aluminum furniture design

$ 100,000

Enhancing aluminum recycling process efficiency

$ 100,000

Innovating an aerospace grade aluminum alloy

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The applicant must be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) legally constituted according to federal or Quebec laws and registered with the Quebec Enterprise Registrar.
The applicant must have its head office in Quebec and employees or subcontractors primarily working in Quebec.
The SME must have 250 employees or less in Quebec.
The project must involve the use of aluminum to add value and focus on the development of a new product or process, or a significant improvement of an existing one.
The project must present a technological or business risk or uncertainty.
The project should require or will require research and development efforts.
In collaborative projects, each participating SME must contribute at least 20% of the project's budget.
The SME must hold intellectual property rights for their product, process, or service.
Non-SME partners in collaborative projects must also be legally constituted in Quebec and have an operational establishment in Quebec for the production of goods or internal R&D activities.
The applicant and partners must not be registered in the Quebec Register of companies ineligible for public contracts (RENA) or non-compliant with the Office québécois de la langue française.
The project must not involve the primary business in the production or distribution of weapons, fossil fuels, gambling, violent or exploitative industries, substances like tobacco or non-compliant drugs.

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Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) legally constituted under federal or Quebec laws and registered with the Quebec Enterprise Registrar (REQ). They should have their head office in Quebec and employees or subcontractors working primarily in Quebec.
Collaborative projects involving a minimum of two companies, including at least one SME.

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Companies registered in the Register of Ineligible Enterprises for Government Contracts (RENA), including subcontractors on this list.
Companies listed as non-compliant with the francisation process by the Office québécois de la langue française.
Companies that have failed to meet obligations with previous financial aid from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE) or Investissement Québec.
State-owned enterprises or those controlled by municipal, provincial, or federal governments, or entities with majority ownership by a state-owned enterprise.
Companies under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act protection.
Holding companies.
Enterprises with unethical conduct that could tarnish the Quebec government's image.
Companies considered ineligible under the responsible financing policy of the Ministry.
Businesses primarily involved in producing or distributing weapons as defined in controlled goods list sections 2-1 to 2-19.
Organizations focused on fossil fuel exploration, extraction, and refining, except those transitioning to low-carbon activities.
Companies in gambling, violent games, or combat sports involving live entities.
Businesses related to sexual exploitation, such as erotic bars or escort agencies.
Enterprises dealing with tobacco or drug consumption, except those related to cannabis and industrial hemp.
Any activity primarily related to topics protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms such as religion or politics.

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Professional fees for specialized services, including those detailed in the public research center's service offer.
Subcontracting services.
Direct costs of labor assigned to the project, including social benefits and contributions to mandatory regimes, as well as project management fees.
Travel and accommodation expenses related to the project, in accordance with Quebec government's management policy guidelines.
Direct costs of materials and inventory.
Direct costs of equipment, calculated based on the project's duration, the equipment's useful life, and its use within the project.
Equipment rental costs.
Costs for acquiring studies or other documentation.
Costs for preparing an intellectual property protection strategy, obtaining intellectual property protection, and acquiring intellectual property rights or licenses, including patent application fees.
Fees of an external auditor validating all incurred eligible expenses and received funding sources for the project.
Expenses incurred by the Quebec business outside Quebec, if deemed necessary for the project and if no equivalent option is available within Quebec, provided they do not exceed 15% of the project's budget.

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Companies with their headquarters in Quebec.
Businesses employing or subcontracting primarily in Quebec.

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Mise en évidence de l’utilisation de l’aluminium en tant que valeur ajoutée.
Le caractère innovant du projet, c’est-à-dire la présence d’un avantage déterminant du produit ou du procédé par rapport aux solutions existantes sur le marché et par rapport au secteur d’activité au niveau national ou international.
Le marché potentiel du produit ou du procédé.
La pertinence du projet par rapport au modèle d’affaires de l’entreprise.
La capacité de l’entreprise à réaliser le projet avec succès en matière de ressources financières et humaines.
La qualité des partenaires engagés dans le projet, le cas échéant.
La qualité et le réalisme du plan de mise en œuvre du projet.
Le niveau de risque et l’incertitude liés au projet.
Les retombées pour l’entreprise ou pour son secteur d’activité, incluant l’accroissement de la productivité, des parts de marché, des ventes ainsi que l’embauche de gradués.
Le potentiel de retombées socioéconomiques.
La qualité de l’offre de service du consultant privé ou du centre de recherche public, le cas échéant.
L’adéquation avec l’expertise et la mission du centre de recherche public, le cas échéant, ainsi qu’avec la stratégie d’affaires de l’entreprise et les priorités ministérielles et sectorielles établies par Investissement Québec.
Les éléments de développement durable pris en compte dans le plan du projet.

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The maximum duration for project completion is 18 months, ending no later than December 15, 2026.
A maximum participation cumulative of 1.5 million CAD can be received for all projects authorized up to March 31, 2027, through the Innovation Program.
The cumulative governmental assistance, including non-repayable contributions and indirect assistance, cannot be combined with other financing from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, and Energy or Investissement Québec.
All financial aid from CQRDA is non-repayable.
Financial management costs from CQRDA are capped at 7,000 CAD, representing 5% of the total eligible cost.
Financial assistance provided under the PSIAL program cannot be awarded to projects that started before the funding application was submitted. Expenses incurred prior to project application submission are not eligible for funding.
Contact Information: For any inquiries regarding the grant, applicants can contact CQRDA at 418-545-5520 or via email at projetsRD@cqrda.ca.