How much funding can be received?

Get a grant of up to $500,000 per year for a three-year project to cover up to 50% of eligible expenses when you collaborate with at least one academic institution or public research centre on an R&D project aimed at reducing GHG emissions in the field of

grant_single_labels|projects

Eligible projects must show high potential for reducing GHG emissions in Quebec, involving collaborative research with at least one public research institute in Quebec and must include innovative and technological uncertainties.

Collaboration with a public research institute in Quebec
Involvement of at least one Quebec-based company or non-profit
Substantial potential to reduce GHG emissions in Quebec
Submission via designated RSRI for the relevant sector
Calculation and validation of GHG emission reductions

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$1,200,000

Montreal

Innovative solar panel recycling with École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) to reduce electronic waste

$1,100,000

Quebec City

Research on sustainable urban agriculture methods in collaboration with Université Laval

$1,500,000

Sherbrooke

Development of a CO2 capture technology for industrial plants in collaboration with Université de Sherbrooke

$1,950,000

Montreal

Developing a zero-emission public transportation system in partnership with Polytechnique Montréal

$900,000

Montreal

Developing biodegradable packaging solutions for the food industry with Concordia University

$2,250,000

Montreal

Implementation of a smart energy grid in residential areas in collaboration with McGill University

grant_single_labels|admissibility

Projects eligible for the INNOV-R program must show a high potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Quebec.

At least 50,000 tonnes of CO2 eq. reduced or avoided in the first ten years after commercialization.
The MEIE/MELCC contribution to the project must be less than $20 per tonne of CO2 avoided.
The principal applicant must be a Quebec public research institution (IRPQ).
Projects must involve at least one business or NPO established in Quebec and engaged in internal production or R&D activities.
Projects must include at least one IRPQ partner.
Contributions in nature must be auditable, indispensable, specific to the project, and would otherwise require payment.
Costs must be directly associated with research and development, excluding those benefiting from other FECC or MEIE financial aid, recurrent expenses, and transactions between affiliated entities.
At least one business must participate and projects must be innovative with technological uncertainties and R&D steps to be completed.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Yes, there are eligible types of companies for this grant. Eligible companies must be based in Quebec and engage in internal production or research and development activities.

Institute of Research Public of Quebec (IRPQ)
Companies established in Quebec
Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) based in Quebec
Additional partners like other NPOs, state-owned enterprises, public organizations, municipalities, and companies outside Quebec are also eligible to participate.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply

Some companies are not eligible for this grant. Specifically, companies listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA) and those who have defaulted on their obligations to the Government of Quebec are not eligible.

Companies listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA).
Companies that have defaulted on their obligations to the Government of Quebec.

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

Yes, there are eligible expenses for this grant. Eligible expenses include direct research costs and in-kind contributions related to the project.

Salaries, treatment, and social benefits
Student scholarships
Materials, consumables, and supplies
Purchase or rental of equipment (up to 25% of total eligible expenses)
Intellectual property exploitation costs
Professional fees
Travel and accommodation expenses
Monetary compensation for project participation
Knowledge dissemination expenses
Platform fees
Subcontracting costs
Project tracking and reporting expenses (management fees)

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

The eligible geographic zone for this grant is Quebec, Canada. Projects must involve at least one public research institute in Quebec (IRPQ) and at least one enterprise or non-profit organization (NPO) with activities in Quebec.

Quebec, Canada

grant_single_labels|criteria

Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The evaluation is based on two main aspects: the quality of the project, which includes scientific merit and team expertise, and the potential for reducing GHG emissions in Quebec.

Quality scientific
Quality of the research team
Degree of innovation
Ability to complete the project
Benefits to industrial partners
Quality of public-private partnership
Scientific and technological benefits
Benefits for the training of highly qualified personnel (PHQ)
Social, economic, or other benefits for Quebec
Capability of the solution to reduce GHG emissions in Quebec during the first ten years of commercialization
Amount of GHG emissions that can be reduced or avoided in Quebec (in tons of CO2/year)
Cost per ton of CO2 reduced or avoided in Quebec
Quality of the methodology used according to ISO 14064-2 standards to demonstrate GHG reduction potential
Risks associated with the deployment of the solution

grant_single_labels|register

Step 1: Identify the relevant RSRI for your project.
Based on your project's sector, choose the appropriate RSRI from the list provided in Annex A.
Step 2: Contact the RSRI.
Reach out to the RSRI to obtain the necessary forms and additional guidance.
Step 3: Fill out the required forms.
Complete the General Funding Application Form.
Complete the GHG Information Form for the potential reduction of emissions.
Step 4: Receive assistance for GHG calculation.
Request free support, such as from CIRAIG, to help with the GHG reduction potential section.
Step 5: Submit the application.
Ensure that both forms are filled out and submitted to the chosen RSRI by the specified deadlines.

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

The grant aims to support collaborative research projects in Quebec that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, underpinning Quebec's Green Economy Plan 2030.

Projects need to reduce at least 50,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent within the first ten years post-commercialization.
The contribution by MEIE/MELCC must be less than $20 per tonne of CO2 avoided.
Eligible expenses include salaries, student scholarships, equipment purchase or rental, travel costs and more.
Ineligible expenses are those already receiving financial aid from Quebec's government, transactions between linked partners, and recurring expenses.
Funding parameters include a maximum duration of 3 years and different contribution levels for regular (40% funding, 20% private funding) and express pathways (50% funding, 50% private funding).
Evaluation criteria include scientific quality, innovation degree, potential to reduce GHG emissions, and methodology quality.
Applications must be submitted through designated RSRI, specific to the project's sector.

grant_single_labels|contact

418-446-7187

Apply to this program

Quebec's INNOV-R Grant: Fueling Collaborative Research for GHG Reduction

The INNOV-R grant, part of Quebec's Plan for a Green Economy 2030, aims to foster collaborative research projects that significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across various sectors. Funded by the Fonds d'électrification et de changements climatiques (FECC) and managed by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, and Energy (MEIE), this program supports innovative efforts to achieve Quebec's GHG reduction targets.

Understanding the INNOV-R Grant: Opportunities for Collaborative Research in Quebec

The INNOV-R grant is an integral component of Quebec's Plan for a Green Economy 2030 (PEV 2030), a comprehensive strategy aimed at driving the province towards a sustainable future. Announced in November 2020, this initiative underscores the government's commitment to combatting climate change through electrification, the development of renewable energy resources, and the creation of future-oriented economic sectors. The ultimate goal is to both foster economic growth and secure Quebec's international standing as a leader in green innovation.

The INNOV-R measure is specifically designed to stimulate the emergence of collaborative research projects with a high potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By targeting significant GHG reductions, these projects support Quebec's ambitious goal of reducing emissions by 37.5% below 1990 levels by 2030. Administered by the Fonds d'électrification et de changements climatiques (FECC) and overseen by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, and Energy (MEIE), INNOV-R mobilizes the resources necessary for Quebec to reach its environmental targets more swiftly and effectively.

Eligible Collaborative Research Projects

To qualify for the INNOV-R grant, projects must demonstrate a substantial potential for reducing GHG emissions in Quebec. Specifically, each project must aim to cut or avoid at least 50,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent during the first ten years following the commercialization of the product, technology, or innovation. Furthermore, the financial contribution from the MEIE/MELCC must be less than $20 per tonne of CO2 avoided.

Eligible projects must be initiated by a public research institute in Quebec (IRPQ) and involve active collaboration with at least one Quebec-based company or non-profit organization engaged in internal production or research and development activities. The project must also include at least one IRPQ partner, such as a university, a college technology transfer center (CCTT), or another public research center based in Quebec. Additional partners can include other non-profits, state-owned enterprises, public organizations, municipalities, companies outside Quebec, and others.

Admissible projects should be innovative, possessing technological uncertainties and incorporating research and development (R&D) phases to be completed within the project timeline. The financial support provided by the INNOV-R grant cannot be combined with other funding from the FECC, Investissement Quebec, or the MEIE.

Eligible Expenses

The INNOV-R grant covers a range of direct research costs and in-kind contributions directly related to the project. Eligible expenses include salaries, student scholarships, materials, consumables, and supplies. Additionally, costs associated with purchasing or renting equipment (up to 25% of total eligible expenses), intellectual property management fees, professional fees, travel expenses, monetary compensations for project participation, knowledge dissemination fees, platform fees, subcontracting fees, and project follow-up and reporting costs are all admissible.

In-kind contributions provided by partnering businesses and organizations are also eligible as long as these contributions are auditable, essential to the project's execution, incurred specifically for the project, and represent costs that would otherwise incur equal or higher payments.

Non-Admissible Expenses

Certain expenses are not covered by the INNOV-R grant, including those previously funded by the Ministry or other Quebec government programs financed by the FECC, transactions between related businesses or partners, and recurring costs such as annual subscription fees and software update fees.

Indirect Research Costs

Indirect research costs (FIR) are additional operating expenses incurred by universities and CCTTs necessary for executing the projects but not directly attributable to the projects. For all funded projects, the grant includes a contribution to these indirect costs representing 27% of the research grant provided by the RSRI, applicable to specific cost categories, including salaries, student scholarships, materials, consumables, supplies, and equipment purchase or rental costs.

Management Fees

Management fees amounting to a maximum of 5% of the eligible expenses (up to a maximum of $50,000) will also be charged. These fees are divided between the industrial partners and the MEIE for managing the program.

Funding Parameters

The INNOV-R grant offers two funding pathways: the Regular Pathway and the Express Pathway. The parameters for each are outlined as follows:

Regular Pathway: Provides up to 40% of eligible costs, requiring a minimum of 20% private funding (50% of which can be in-kind), with a maximum project duration of three years.
Express Pathway: Offers up to 50% of eligible costs, requiring 50% private funding (50% of which can be in-kind), with a simplified and accelerated approval process. Projects under this pathway should not seek co-financing from other public sources.

Application Process

Applicants must submit their proposals to one of the seven designated Regroupements sectoriels de recherche industrielle (RSRIs). Each RSRI caters to different industry sectors, and applicants should contact the appropriate RSRI to obtain the necessary application forms and specific submission guidelines. Two forms must be completed:

A general funding application form collecting collaborative research project details.
An INNOV-R GHG form, which gathers information on the project's potential to reduce GHG emissions over the first ten years of commercialization. Free guidance is available to help applicants complete this section.

Evaluation Criteria

Projects are evaluated on two main criteria, each worth 50 points:

Scientific Quality: Assessed based on scientific merit, the research team's quality, innovation degree, project feasibility, potential industrial benefits, public-private partnership quality, scientific and technological impact, personnel training potential, and broader socio-economic impacts.
GHG Reduction Potential: Evaluated by a committee of GHG quantification experts, focusing on the solution's capacity to reduce GHG emissions, the quantity of emissions reduced or avoided, cost-efficiency per tonne of CO2 reduced or avoided, the quality of the methodology used for GHG reduction potential, and deployment risks.

Mention of Financial Support

All communications regarding the granted funding must acknowledge the financial support from the Quebec government through the INNOV-R program, adhering to the communication guidelines set forth for the beneficiaries of financial aid under the Plan for a Green Economy 2030.

The INNOV-R grant represents a significant opportunity for public research institutes and their partners to make meaningful advancements in reducing GHG emissions, contributing to Quebec's sustainable development goals while fostering innovation and collaboration.