How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 40% of admissible expenses, capped at $500000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the innovÉÉ — PSO?

innovÉÉ — PSO is funded by innovÉÉ

What are innovÉÉ — PSO's eligibility criterias?

At least one industrial partner must conduct production or R&D activities in Quebec. Foreign and Canadian companies are accepted as additional industrial partners. Companies majority-controlled by a ministry or government agency are not eligible as industrial partners, except for Hydro-Québec in certain cases.

innovÉÉ — PSO

Last Update: April 1, 2025

QC, Canada

Funding for electric and smart transportation technology innovation

innovÉÉ — PSO at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $500,000
Up to 40% of project cost

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Utilities
Transportation and warehousing
Professional, scientific and technical services

Grant Providers

innovÉÉ

Status

Open

Overview of the innovÉÉ — PSO program

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.

Financing 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.

Eligible projects & activities

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.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 23,000

Installing solar panels at a local community center

$ 25,000

Creating an educational app for early childhood learning

$ 15,000

Launching a new organic food delivery service

$ 20,000

Developing a digital platform for local art galleries

$ 20,000

Opening a new musical instrument shop in downtown

$ 35,000

Launching a mobile health clinic in underserved areas

Eligibility criteria of the innovÉÉ — PSO program

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.

Who is eligible?

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.

Who is not eligible

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.

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.

Eligible geographic areas

Quebec, Canada

Eligibility criteria of the innovÉÉ — PSO program

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.

How to apply to the innovÉÉ — PSO program

Identification of the research subject

Determine the strategic sector related to electrical technologies.

Formation of the research partnership

Establish a partnership with at least one academic partner and one industrial partner in Quebec.
Ensure that all partners are in good standing members of InnovÉÉ.

Search for additional funding

Identify and request complementary funding programs such as NSERC, Mitacs, etc.

Preparation and presentation of the proposal

Develop a clear and concise project proposal that meets the InnovÉÉ criteria.
Include a detailed financial plan using the "InnovÉÉ Template."

Submission of the request

Send the complete proposal by email to InnovÉÉ before the deadline for the call.

Evaluation of the request

The application will be evaluated based on scientific quality and economic impact.
Receive the evaluation results within 4 to 6 weeks.
If approved by InnovÉÉ, submit to MEIE for final approval.

Additional information

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.