CQRDA — PSO-v2A
QC, Canada
Financial support for collaborative research and innovation projects
grant_single|update March 27, 2025
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|fromMinToMax
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|grantStatusClosed
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
grant_single|grantors
- Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l’aluminium (CQRDA)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
The CQRDA — PSO-v2A grant offers a maximum funding of $350,000 to support collaborative research-innovation projects aimed at enhancing strategic problem-solving in Quebec's sectors of excellence. Eligible activities include the creation of partnerships, research network development, and valorization of expertise from public research.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
- The financial assistance provided is a non-refundable and non-recurrent contribution.
- The maximum funding for a project is capped at CAD 350,000 over the project's duration.
- The maximum funding rate is 80% of eligible expenses.
- A minimum cash contribution of 20% of the eligible project expenses must come from participating enterprises. Contributions from the applicant are not considered part of this required minimum from the recipient environment.
- The financial aid cannot be combined with another financial assistance from any other project funding program under the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy. However, it can be combined with other government aid.
- Projects must have a minimum total cost of CAD 100,000.
- The total budget allocated for this call is CAD 2 million.
- Eligible expenses include both direct and indirect project costs, as specified in the funding guidelines.
grant_single_labels|projects
- Research and innovation projects aimed at solving strategic problems for sectors covered by the areas and centres of excellence.
- Projects designed to foster the creation, development, or strengthening of partnerships or research and innovation networks that bring together academic, collegiate, institutional, and industrial sectors.
- Projects facilitating the valorization of expertise and results derived from public research.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 50,000
Expanding outreach programs for mental health support
$ 60,000
Implementing renewable energy system for a local farm
$ 70,000
Developing a mobile app to connect local artisans
$ 55,000
Launching a food rescue initiative to reduce waste
$ 45,000
Creating wildlife-friendly habitats in community parks
$ 70,000
Establishing a coworking space for technology startups
grant_single_labels|admissibility
- The applicant must be a Quebec-based non-profit organization (OBNL) involved in research, development, and innovation.
- The applicant can be a public research institution in Quebec, including universities and technology transfer centers (CCTT).
- The project must be submitted through a Regional Sectoral Research Industrial Grouping (RSRI) in the primary targeted sector.
- The project must be supported by a member of the ACCORD process, such as a niche or pole of excellence.
- The project must be conducted in collaboration with at least three enterprises and a university, public research center, or college technology transfer center.
- The project must be carried out in Quebec and address specific strategic issues for sectors covered by niches and poles of excellence.
- The project must demonstrate the required level of innovation, providing a significant advantage over existing market solutions on a national or international level.
- The project must be completed by March 31, 2027.
- Letters of commitment from all partners involved, detailing their financial contributions and expected outcomes, are necessary.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
- Quebec non-profit organizations (OBNL) operating in research, development, and innovation sectors
- Establishments from Quebec's health and social services, education, and higher education networks involved in research and innovation (including universities, public research centres, and college technology transfer centres)
- Quebec public research institutions
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
- Entities listed in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts (RENA), including subcontractors registered in RENA supposed to carry out work for the project.
- Entities listed on the List of non-compliant enterprises regarding the francization process, published by the Office québécois de la langue française.
- Entities that have failed to fulfill obligations related to previously granted financial aid from the Quebec government after being duly notified within the past two years.
- State-owned enterprises or corporations controlled directly or indirectly by a government or companies majority-owned by a state entity.
- Entities under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
- Entities primarily involved in the production or distribution of arms.
- Entities engaged in fossil fuel-related activities like exploration, extraction, drilling, production, and refining, except those transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
- Entities involved in gambling activities, such as casinos, bingo halls, and lottery terminals.
- Entities associated with violent games, combat sports involving any living species, races, or similar activities.
- Entities involved in sexual exploitation, including erotic bars, escort agencies, erotic massage parlors, swinger clubs, or production of pornographic material.
- Entities related to the production, sale, and services associated with tobacco or drugs, except for cannabis and industrial hemp-related activities.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
- Salaries, treatments and benefits.
- Scholarships to students.
- Materials, consumable products and supplies.
- Purchase or rental of equipment.
- Management fees.
- Intellectual property management operation fees.
- Professional fees.
- Travel and accommodation expenses related to the project, compliant with government standards.
- Monetary compensation for project participation.
- Knowledge dissemination expenses.
- Animal and platform-related fees.
- Costs related to subcontracting contracts.
- Non-reimbursable portion of taxes.
- Additional operating costs necessary for project realization (for universities, affiliated hospital centers, colleges and CCTTs).
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
- Quebec, Canada
grant_single_labels|criteria
- Pertinence of the proposed project.
- Originality of the project.
- Clear planning of project phases (Schedule).
- Relevance of the project to the recognized mission and business model of the organization.
- Relevance to the identified needs of the sector's businesses.
- Financial framework.
- Communication plan.
- Financial and human commitment of companies or organizations in the project and their organizational capacity.
- Diversity of funding sources.
- Level of innovation.
- Participation of the excellence cluster.
- Economic, social or technological benefits.
- Impact on partner companies as well as on the sector.
- Financial viability of the project.
- Demonstration of added value for entrepreneurs.
- Project efficiency.
- Realism of proposed indicators.
- Lasting effects on the niche sectors.
- Ability of the project to generate buy-in, synergy, and participation from the taking environment (as shown in commitment letters).
- Potential economic impact on a local, regional, and national level.
- Demonstration of profitable and lasting relationships with different partners.
- Networking and connections with ecosystem stakeholders.
- Quality of the submitted project.
- Innovative, promising or emerging aspect of the project.
- Clear and realistic description of the work plan, methodology, expected results, benefits for the taking environment, and schedule.
- Demonstration of the necessary human resources for project realization, including their expertise.
- Funding structure.
- Complementarity of skills and expertise of stakeholders involved in the project.
- Consideration of sustainable development principles.
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Download the application form
- Access the funding application form on the program's website.
- Download the PDF of the application form.
- Step 2: Fill out the application form
- Open the form with Adobe Acrobat to complete it.
- Carefully fill out all required sections of the form.
- Sign the form once completed.
- Step 3: Prepare the required documents
- Gather all required documents listed in the project call.
- Include budget tables, letters of support, a short curriculum vitae, a project timeline, and commitment letters from participating environments.
- Step 4: Contact the CQRDA
- Email the RD team at projetsrd@cqrda.ca to express your intention to submit a project.
- Make sure to get assistance by contacting the CQRDA as early as possible.
- Step 5: Submit the project to the RSRI
- Send your application to the RSRI corresponding to the targeted sector.
- Ensure that the RSRI collaborates with the excellence cluster before submitting your application to the MEIE.
- Step 6: Verification by the RSRI
- The RSRI carries out verifications in collaboration with the excellence cluster.
- Step 7: Final submission to the MEIE
- Make sure that your application is submitted by the RSRI to the MEIE before the deadline of November 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM.
- Step 8: Receive confirmation of receipt
- Wait to receive an electronic acknowledgment of receipt within two business days following the submission.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
- The grant provides a non-refundable, non-recurring financial contribution.
- The total project cost must be at least $100,000.
- Financial aid cannot be combined with any other financial aid from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, but it can be combined with other government aids.
- All projects must be completed by March 31, 2027.
- A minimum cash contribution of 20% from the participating companies is required.
- Expenditures must be incurred after the application submission and eligibility confirmation to be considered.
- An informative session will be held on October 16, 2024.
- A project must include collaboration with at least one public research center and a minimum of three companies.
- Letters of engagement from stakeholders confirming their interest and contribution to the project are required.
- All application documents must be in French.
- The application is evaluated based not only on the project's content but also on its strategic significance for Quebec.
- The maximum funding per project is $350,000.
grant_single_labels|contact
projetsRD@cqrda.ca
418 545-5520
