
innovÉÉ — PSO
QC, Canada
Funding for electric and smart transportation technology innovation
grant_single|update March 17, 2025
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Utilities
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
grant_single|grantors
- innovÉÉ
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The INNOVÉÉ — PSO grant offers a maximum funding of $1.5 million per project to support collaborative research and development efforts in electricity and electric vehicle technologies. Eligible activities include covering up to 40% of research expenses, involving academic and industrial partners, and pursuing complementary funding from other programs.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
- The grant covers up to 40% of eligible expenses for projects involving SMEs, with industrial partners required to cover at least 20% of project costs.
- For projects involving large enterprises (GE), the grant covers up to 20% of eligible expenses, with industrial partners covering at least 40% of project costs, of which up to 50% can be in-kind contributions.
- InnovÉÉ provides a maximum grant of $500,000 per year for up to three years, with a total project funding cap of $1.5 million.
- Indirect research costs (FIR) may be funded at a rate of 27% on MEIE's share of funding for certain expense categories.
- Eligible expenses include salaries, student scholarships, material and consumables, equipment purchases, and travel costs directly related to the project.
- Management fees for InnovÉÉ are covered, representing a maximum of 5% of the total project cost, up to $50,000.
- Public funding can account for up to 80% of total project costs, combining InnovÉÉ funding with other public sources.
- Contributions in-kind are considered but are not calculated into the minimum industrial contribution for SME projects; however, they are factored into project evaluation.
- Projects are approved by InnovÉÉ, followed by a final approval from MEIE, with variable timelines for the latter.
- Financial allocations include strict reporting and auditing requirements.
grant_single_labels|projects
- Research and development projects related to electricity and electric vehicle technologies.
- Collaborative projects involving at least one academic and one industrial partner.
- Projects under the categories of SME Project (involving at least one Quebec SME) and Large Enterprise Projects.
- Activities covering direct project costs, such as research staff activities, certain equipment expenses, consumables, and travel and dissemination expenses.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 23,000
Installing solar panels at a local community center
$ 25,000
Creating an educational app for early childhood learning
$ 20,000
Developing a digital platform for local art galleries
$ 15,000
Launching a new organic food delivery service
$ 20,000
Opening a new musical instrument shop in downtown
$ 35,000
Launching a mobile health clinic in underserved areas
grant_single_labels|admissibility
- At least one industrial partner must conduct production or R&D activities in Quebec.
- Eligible projects must involve either a Quebec-based SME (Small or Medium Enterprise) or larger enterprises.
- All project stakeholders, including industrial and academic partners, must be registered members of InnovÉÉ.
- The project must be within InnovÉÉ’s strategic research sectors, such as electric transportation, smart transportation, electricity production, and optimized use of electrical energy.
- Industrial partners controlled by a government ministry or agency are not eligible, except for specific cases with Hydro-Québec.
- Industrial partner contributions must not have been previously used as co-financing in other applications not involving InnovÉÉ.
- Each linked company within the project must demonstrate distinct activities, employees, and clients.
- All eligible expenses must be incurred within Quebec.
- Research must be conducted by an eligible Quebec-based research institution such as universities, CCTTs, or public research centers.
- All financial arrangements of the project must be presented using the "Gabarit InnovÉÉ" template.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Quebec that conduct production or R&D activities.
- Large Enterprises engaged in production or R&D activities.
- Canadian and foreign companies that do not conduct production or R&D activities in Quebec can participate as a second or third industry partner.
- Companies not majority-controlled by a government ministry or agency (except Hydro-Québec in specific cases).
- All industrial and academic partners must be members in good standing of InnovÉÉ throughout the project duration.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
- Companies controlled majority by a governmental ministry or agency, except Hydro-Québec in certain cases.
- Businesses related such that one has the capacity to exercise control or influence over the other cannot file for the same project.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
- Salaries, wages, and benefits of personnel engaged specifically by research institutions for the project (students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants, research professionals, technicians) without any other public financial support. University professor salaries and costs related to the release of college teachers are excluded.
- Student scholarships without any other public financial support.
- Materials, supplies, and other consumables incurred by research institutions specifically for the project.
- Purchase or rental of equipment incurred by research institutions specifically for the project, with a value of $25,000 or less before taxes (up to a maximum of 25% of total eligible expenses).
- Travel expenses (conferences, fieldwork, meetings with partners) incurred by research institutions specifically for the project.
- Other expenses, including professional and subcontractor fees, intellectual property management expenses, dissemination costs (publication-related fees), specifically incurred by research institutions for the project.
- In-kind contributions from partners for GE projects, given they are auditable, essential to the project, incurred specifically for the project, and wouldn't exceed the cost or need of purchase.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
- Quebec, Canada
grant_single_labels|criteria
- Quality scientific and technical merit and degree of innovation of the project.
- Impacts and potential outcomes of the project.
- Quality of the partnership and collaboration among involved parties.
- Project management capabilities and plan.
grant_single_labels|apply
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
- All stakeholders involved in the project must be members in good standing of InnovÉÉ from the project approval date until its completion.
- InnovÉÉ's management fees are considered eligible expenses and are included among the direct project costs.
- InnovÉÉ offers guidance in preparing project proposals, access to equipment, partner matching, and organizing networking activities.
- Applicants are encouraged to contact InnovÉÉ if facing any changes or issues regarding project deadlines or budgets.
- InnovÉÉ provides web-based seminars and networking activities to support applicants in understanding the program better.
- The program allows for expedited approval for projects where InnovÉÉ's contribution is below $350,000.
Apply to this program
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