Innovation program — Call for mobilizing projects on the development of tomorrow's transport technologies
QC, Canada
Supports Quebec aerospace companies in innovative transport technology development
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
- Transportation and warehousing
grant_single|grantors
- Gouvernement du Québec
- Investissement Québec (IQ)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
The Innovation Program's call for mobilizing projects focuses on developing tomorrow's transport technologies and offers up to $10 million in non-repayable funding per project. This initiative supports Quebec enterprises in aerospace, promoting the design and demonstration of innovative manufacturing processes and technological solutions.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
- The financial support takes the form of a non-repayable financial contribution of up to a maximum of 50% of the eligible project expenses.
- The maximum financial aid per project is capped at $10 million.
- The cumulative rate of public assistance, including support from federal, municipal, and various governmental bodies, should not exceed 70% of the eligible expenses.
- The minimum eligible expenses for a project to qualify for financial assistance are $4 million.
- Funding is paid semi-annually in advance, based on the forecast of eligible expenditures for the upcoming period, with adjustments made based on the most recent project progress report.
- A minimum residual amount of 5% of the financial contribution from the Ministry is retained until project partners demonstrate the project is completed as per agreed deliverables and conditions.
- Eligible projects must last at least one year and conclude by December 31, 2028.
- Commitment to public credit availability is crucial, and adjustments may be made based on budgetary considerations.
- The Ministry reserves the right to cap the number of accepted projects to stay within the allocated budgetary envelope.
grant_single_labels|projects
- Development of a new product in the aerospace sector.
- Creation of a new innovative manufacturing process in partnership with other enterprises and public research centers.
- Implementation of new technological solutions contributing to the diversification of Quebec's aerospace industry.
- Innovative technical demonstrations in collaboration with at least two private enterprises.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 6,800,000
Creating advanced aerodynamic designs for next-gen aircraft
$ 5,200,000
Developing autonomous navigation system for drones
$ 6,000,000
Creating ultra-lightweight aircraft materials
$ 7,500,000
Developing a green propulsion system in aerospace sector
$ 8,000,000
Implementing AI-based predictive maintenance for aircrafts
grant_single_labels|admissibility
- The project must include a partnership of at least two private companies.
- The companies must be legally constituted under the laws of Quebec or Canada.
- These companies must be registered with the Quebec Enterprise Registrar and possess a Quebec Enterprise Number (NEQ).
- They must have an operational establishment in Quebec focused on the production of goods and services or internal research and development activities.
- The majority of their revenue must stem from manufacturing activities or service provision.
- They should not be affiliated or have control over one another directly or indirectly, unless authorized by the minister.
- Companies must financially contribute to the project's realization and its activities.
- Cost, benefit, and intellectual property sharing must be present in the innovation project.
- They cannot be bound by a service offer or subcontract with another project partner.
- Partners need to establish a new non-profit organization (NPO) responsible for managing the mobilizing project.
- SMEs (Small to Medium Enterprises) are defined as having 250 employees or fewer in Quebec. For foreign companies with a Quebec subsidiary, the total must not exceed 500 employees both in Quebec and abroad.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
- Quebec-based companies in the aerospace sector
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with projects in design, demonstration, or innovation
- Partnerships between two or more private companies and public research centers
- Companies developing new products, manufacturing processes, or technological solutions in aerospace
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
- Compagnies contrôlées directement ou indirectement par un gouvernement (provincial ou fédéral) ou une entité municipale.
- Entreprises majoritairement détenues par une société d'État.
- Entreprises sous la protection de la Loi sur les arrangements avec les créanciers des compagnies ou de la Loi sur la faillite et l'insolvabilité ou qui le deviennent durant le projet.
- Entreprises inscrites sur la Liste des entreprises non conformes au processus de francisation.
- Entreprises inscrites au Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA).
- Entreprises qui ont omis de respecter leurs obligations après mise en demeure concernant un octroi antérieur d'une aide financière du Ministère ou d'Investissement Québec.
- Entreprises avec des comportements éthiques susceptibles de ternir l'image d'intégrité du gouvernement du Québec.
- Sociétés de portefeuille (holding).
- Entreprises avec des activités impliquant la production ou la distribution d'armes.
- Entreprises engagées dans l'exploration, l'extraction, le forage, la production, et le raffinage d'énergies fossiles, sauf pour des activités de transition vers une économie sobre en carbone.
- Entreprises opérant dans les jeux de hasard et d'argent, les jeux violents, les sports de combat impliquant toutes espèces vivantes, ou des activités similaires.
- Entreprises impliquées dans l'exploitation sexuelle.
- Entreprises liées à la production, la vente, et les services liés à la consommation de tabac ou de drogues, sauf pour des interventions liées au cannabis et au chanvre industriel.
- Entreprises dont le sujet principal est protégé par la Charte canadienne des droits et libertés (religion, politique, défense de droits, etc.).
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
- Costs of direct labor dedicated to the project and residing in Quebec, including social benefits (excluding bonuses) and contributions to mandatory schemes. Salaries for this workforce during foreign travels undertaken as part of the mobilizing project, with IQ's written consent, are considered eligible.
- Labor costs directly responsible for project management. Salaries for this workforce during foreign travels are considered eligible, with IQ's written agreement provided within 10 working days from a partner's request.
- Fees for external consultants based in Quebec, not exceeding 5% of eligible project expenses.
- Specialized services and subcontracting (research, prototyping, machining, etc.).
- Costs of foreign experts coming to Quebec, up to 5% of eligible project expenses, provided they are present in Quebec as part of the mobilizing project.
- Travel expenses, in accordance with current government regulations set out in the Quebec government management policy compendium, not exceeding 5% of the eligible project expenses.
- Acquisition of equipment and raw materials from non-affiliated companies, including specialized computer tools, with costs calculated according to accounting principles for annual amortization, as well as raw material purchases. The cumulative value of equipment acquisitions and purchases of raw materials from outside Quebec is limited to 25% of eligible project expenses.
- Equipment rental for a period not exceeding the project duration, including installation, removal, and return costs, except in the cases of leasehold improvements or permanent infrastructure.
- Transportation costs for equipment and materials.
- Costs related to a study including the evaluation of various aspects (e.g., markets, processes, technologies, acquisition of patents or certifications, costs and schedules, compliance with standards) and the creation of requirement specifications, not exceeding 5% of eligible project expenses.
- Costs of using a license required by a non-affiliated company or organization for the project duration.
- Communication activities expenses on all platforms, including social media, not exceeding $10,000 per partner.
- Costs for preparing an intellectual property protection strategy for obtaining or acquiring rights or intellectual property licenses (including patent application agent fees).
- External testing and certification costs, where applicable.
- Project verification and standards compliance costs conducted by external auditors.
- Certification activity costs, where applicable.
- In-kind contributions, provided they do not exceed 10% of the project's eligible expenses.
- Costs associated with the project management and reporting to the Ministry by the newly created OBNL designated by the partners, including creation costs, project start-up costs, direct management and monitoring costs (salaries, external consulting fees, phone, Internet, computer expenses, travel and accommodation costs according to government norms), audit costs for the OBNL's records by an external auditor, and costs for producing final deliverables. The total project management costs cannot exceed $200,000 per year, with up to 50% or $100,000 financed by the Ministry.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
- Quebec
grant_single_labels|criteria
- The character of innovation and the potential for commercialization of the project (30%).
- The economic benefits to Quebec during and after project completion (30%).
- The partners involved and the quality of the partnership (15%).
- The mobilizing nature of the project (10%).
- The environmental and social characteristics of the project (10%).
- The governance of the project (5%).
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Preparation of the submission documents
- Carefully read the Application Submission Guide.
- Gather all required documents, including a detailed description of the project and its economic impacts.
- Complete the financial assistance application form associated with the relevant component.
- Prepare any necessary appendices such as the table of major activity programming and the history of funded mobilizing projects.
- Step 2: Familiarization with official documents
- Request a copy of the standard financial assistance agreement at the indicated address.
- Familiarize yourself with this agreement.
- Step 3: File registration
- Save the form on your computer and avoid filling it out in a web browser.
- Ensure that you do not modify the PDF document after saving it.
- Step 4: Electronic submission
- Make sure that all required information and documents are complete and accurate.
- Email the application to the indicated address before the deadline.
- Step 5: Acknowledgment of receipt
- Wait for the electronic acknowledgment of receipt to confirm that the application has been successfully received.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
- The financial assistance will be in the form of a non-repayable grant covering up to 50% of eligible expenses.
- The maximum financial assistance available for a project is $10 million.
- The total public assistance rate, including this grant and other public aid, cannot exceed 70% of eligible expenses.
- Partner companies must each provide at least 30% of the total eligible project costs.
- Specific conditions apply for intellectual property rights, particularly regarding non-Quebec entities during the five-year period following the project's completion.
- An independent auditor's report is required annually for the project's duration.
- A minimum of 5% of the project’s eligible expenses should be allocated to Quebec universities and public research centers.
- The industrial impact for Quebec should be maximized through the project and subsequent commercialization.
- All partners must contribute to the creation of a new non-profit organization (NPO) to manage the project and are involved in its governance.
- At least two Quebec private enterprises must be involved as partners in the project.
grant_single_labels|contact
pi.transports.demain@economie.gouv.qc.ca
