CQRDA — PSO-v2b
Chicoutimi, QC
Promotes collaborative research in Quebec's aluminum industry
grant_single|update March 16, 2025
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Partnering and Collaboration
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Manufacturing
grant_single|grantors
- Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l’aluminium (CQRDA)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The CQRDA — PSO-v2b grant provides non-repayable funding of up to $1.5 million for projects fostering collaboration between industry and research entities, focusing on innovation in the aluminum sector. Eligible activities include research and development projects involving partnerships with SMEs or large enterprises in Quebec.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
- Non-repayable grants provided under two funding streams based on company size: one for projects involving SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and another for those involving large enterprises (without SME involvement).
- Maximum financial assistance per project is $1.5 million, with an annual cap of $500,000.
- For the SME stream: financial aid may cover up to 40% of eligible expenses, with total government aid reaching up to 80% of total eligible expenses. Private contributions must be at least 20% of the total eligible expenses.
- For the large enterprise stream: financial aid may cover up to 20% of eligible expenses, with total government aid accounting for up to 60% of total eligible expenses. Private contributions must be at least 40%, with half potentially in-kind.
- The duration of funding is capped at 36 months for both streams.
grant_single_labels|projects
- Development of equipment and technology related to aluminum and implementation of new technology at the level of SMEs.
- Training and development of industry personnel in the aluminum sector.
- Promotion of aluminum and development of new usage possibilities.
- Assessment of the impact of the aluminum industry on regional environments.
- Enhancement of productivity and ergonomics in the aluminum sector.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 80,000
Develop a local organic farming initiative
$ 85,000
Expand an artisanal craft business
$ 100,000
Provide technology skills training for youth
$ 130,000
Launch a support network for Indigenous entrepreneurs
$ 95,000
Implement a community bike sharing program
$ 110,000
Create eco-friendly packaging for local businesses
grant_single_labels|admissibility
- Applicant must be a university, college, Centre collégial de transfert technologique (CCTT), or Centre de recherche public (CRP) in Quebec.
- At least one partnering company must be established and active in Quebec.
- Projects must involve collaboration with at least one SME and/or a large enterprise.
- SMEs must have fewer than 250 employees globally and be active in R&D or production in Quebec.
- Large enterprises must be active in R&D or production in Quebec.
- Applicant must be legally constituted under federal or Quebec laws and be registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec.
- Applicant must not be controlled by a government, municipality, or significantly by a state enterprise.
- Applicant must not have defaulted on previous government financial aid within the past two years.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
- Universities located in Quebec
- Colleges in Quebec
- Public research centers in Quebec
- Collegial centers for technology transfer (CCTT) in Quebec
- Small and Medium Enterprises (PME) with a presence in Quebec
- Large Enterprises with a presence in Quebec
- Foreign and Canadian companies as secondary partners
- Not-for-Profit Organizations as secondary industrial partners
- Start-ups with R&D and production capacities in Quebec
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
- Companies directly or indirectly controlled by a government (provincial or federal), a municipal entity, or majority-owned by a state corporation.
- Businesses under the protection of the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
- Enterprises listed in the registry of ineligible businesses for public contracts.
- Companies that have failed to meet obligations linked to a prior grant from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, and Energy within two years before the application.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
- Salaries, treatments, and social benefits.
- Scholarships to students.
- Materials, consumables, and supplies.
- Purchase or rental of equipment (with specification limits).
- Management fees of CQRDA.
- Intellectual property management fees.
- Professional fees.
- Travel and accommodation expenses related to project execution, compliant with government standards.
- Monetary compensation for project participation.
- Knowledge dissemination fees.
- Subcontracting costs.
- Indirect operating costs required for project execution, applied at a fixed rate of 27% on certain direct cost categories.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
- Companies with a presence in Quebec, Canada.
grant_single_labels|criteria
- Pertinence technique et innovation.
- Clarté et cohérence des objectifs.
- Défi technologique.
- Adéquation entre les objectifs du projet et les expertises (CRP et industrie).
- Validité de l’approche méthodologique.
- Contribution à la formation de personnel hautement qualifié (étudiants gradués, postdoc, techniciens, etc.).
- Réalisme du budget présent é.
- Potentiel de développement économique et de commercialisation.
- Potentiel de transfert des extrants du projet (connaissances, technologies, résultats) vers la ou les entreprises.
- Avantages compétitifs attendus suite à la réalisation du projet.
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Contact CQRDAReach out to the CQRDA team at projetsRD@cqrda.ca for financial arrangement documents.
- Step 2: Document PreparationPrepare a detailed project proposal including objectives, technical relevance, and innovation.
- Compile supporting documents such as subcontractor offers (if applicable), a detailed schedule (Gantt chart), financial plan using the model provided by CQRDA, a detailed expense justification, signed support letters from partners clarifying their financial contributions, CVs of participating experts, and a copy of the francization certificate for companies with 50 employees or more (or 25 employees from June 2025).
- Optional: Include a market study, intellectual property documents, any results from prior research, and a French-language website for enterprises located in Quebec.
- Step 3: Budget SectionContact the RD team by phone at 418 545-5520 or via email at projetsRD@cqrda.ca for the budget document required for submission.
- Step 4: Application SubmissionEnsure all documents are completed and compiled as per the requirements.
- Submit the complete application including all necessary documents to the CQRDA before the deadlines of April 25, 2025, or August 22, 2025.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
- The program offers non-repayable grants, which include specific funding conditions based on the size of the participating business (PME or Grande Entreprise).
- For projects involving a PME, private contributions must represent at least 20% of the total eligible expenses, while for a Grande Entreprise, at least 40% of the contributions must be private, with the possibility of 50% being in-kind.
- Projects should aim to enhance knowledge diffusion and yield competitive advantages for Quebec businesses amid strong international competition.
- Specific axes of research include equipment development related to aluminum and training for industry personnel.
- Guidelines specify the need for financial statements and justification of expenses, along with letters of support from financial contributors.
- All partners, industrial and institutional, must be legally constituted under Canadian or Quebec laws and must register with the Quebec business registry.
- Indigenous companies and start-ups are eligible, possibly requiring further verification from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE).
- Projects must be concluded within 36 months, beginning no later than nine months after financing approval from the MEIE.
grant_single_labels|contact
projetsRD@cqrda.ca
418-545-5520