innovÉÉ — SI2TEC

• The financial aid provided is in the form of a grant, which may reach a maximum of $500,000 or 50% of eligible costs.
• The maximum accumulation of government aids for a project is capped at 75% of the eligible expenses.
• Eligible expenses include professional fees for specialized services, including subcontracting services.
• Direct labor costs assigned to the project, including social benefits and mandatory contributions, as well as project management fees, are covered.
• Travel and accommodation expenses related to the project are admissible, in accordance with current governmental standards outlined in the Government of Quebec's Management Policies Manual.
• Direct material and inventory costs are eligible.
• Equipment costs are prorated according to the project's duration and the equipment's useful life.
• Rental costs for equipment directly related to the project, proportional to the project's duration, are admissible.
• Fees for acquiring studies or other documents are covered.
• Expenses related to the preparation of an intellectual property strategy are admissible, including costs for intellectual property protection, acquisition of rights or licenses, and patent application fees, such as patent agent fees.
• Costs for obtaining necessary certification or approval for commercialization are eligible.
• Non-eligible expenses include prior expenses before application, debt servicing, capital loss or replacement, regular operating expenditures, and recurring costs such as annual subscription or software update fees.

• The project must originate from research and development activities.
• The project must be an innovation with a minimum technology readiness level of 6 (TRL), meaning it should have reached the prototyping/implementation stage in a real environment.
• The project must offer solutions to ecological transition issues in Quebec within the framework of a circular economy.
• The project requires involvement from at least two eligible entities, including at least one SME that meets the listed criteria.
• The project duration must be 24 months.
• The applicant SMEs must be members of an industrial research sector group (RSRI) such as CRIBIQ, CRITM, CQRDA, PRIMA, or Innov-ÉÉ.
• Eligible SMEs must be profit-driven companies with fewer than 250 employees conducting industrial activities in Quebec.
• Eligible complementary partners can be profit-driven companies with industrial activities in Quebec, both below and above 250 employees.
• Joint ventures between municipalities and private sectors are also eligible.

Who is eligible?

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are members of a Regroupement sectoriel de recherche industrielle (RSRI) such as CRIBIQ, CRITM, CQRDA, PRIMA, or InnovÉÉ
• SMEs that are members of a cooperative or industrial federation that is a member of an RSRI
• Mixed companies (municipality/private sector)
• For-profit companies with fewer than 250 employees having industrial activities in Quebec

Who is not eligible

• Companies that are state-owned or majority-owned by a state enterprise.
• Cities or municipalities.
• Non-profit organizations (NPOs).
• Public research institutes.
• For-profit companies with more than 250 employees having industrial activities in Quebec.
• Regional county municipalities (MRCs).

Eligible expenses

• Professional fees for specialized services, including subcontracting services.
• Direct labor costs related to the project, including social benefits and mandatory contributions, as well as project management fees.
• Travel and accommodation expenses related to the project, in compliance with the current governmental standards outlined in the Recueil des politiques de gestion du gouvernement du Québec.
• Direct costs of materials and inventory.
• Direct costs of equipment, calculated based on the ratio between the project's duration and the equipment's useful life.
• Rental fees for equipment directly related to the project, calculated according to the project's duration.
• Fees for acquiring studies or other documents.
• Fees for animal studies or platform fees.
• Costs related to the preparation of an intellectual property protection strategy, obtaining intellectual property protection, and acquiring intellectual property rights or licenses (including patent application fees such as patent agent fees).
• Obtaining necessary approvals or certifications for commercialization.

Eligible geographic areas

• Companies with industrial activities located in Quebec.

• Démontrer le gain commercial ou le potentiel de déploiement de la solution développée.
• Le niveau de maturité technologique du projet.
• La pertinence du projet d’innovation au regard d’une problématique liée à un enjeu environnemental.
• Les gains environnementaux escomptés au Québec et hors Québec, en comparaison avec la situation actuelle, et ce, sur l’ensemble du cycle de vie de l’innovation.
• Le caractère structurant du projet à l’échelle d’une filière, d’une chaîne de valeur ou d’un territoire.
• La qualité du partenariat.
• Être en adéquation avec les principes de l’économie circulaire :Repenser nos produits pour réduire la demande en ressources et préserver les écosystèmes.
• Intensifier l’usage des produits.
• Prolonger leur durée de vie ainsi que celle de leurs composants.
• Leur donner une nouvelle vie en fin de cycle.
• Générer une activité économique viable.

• The program offers support services, including project preparation, access to equipment, partner matchmaking with academic or industrial entities, and supplementary financing.
• There are opportunities for participation in interest-based communities, webinars about the programs, and networking activities.
• The guide for the program is downloadable, providing detailed insights and instructions for applicants.
• A letter of intent needs to be downloaded as part of the application process.
• For queries regarding the funding program, applicants can contact Nabila El Khadir.
• The funding is aimed at supporting the transition towards a circular economy by enabling industrial innovations in Quebec.
• Eligible projects require a minimum technology readiness level of 6, focusing on prototyping or process implementation in a real-world setting.