PAFODE — Component 2 : Operating support for organizations supporting strategic sectors and regional economic development

• Non-repayable contribution covering up to 100% of eligible expenses for centers of excellence, regional clusters, and zones of innovation.
• Maximum funding per year: $100,000 for clusters (with up to $30,000 in additional funding), $360,000 for centers of excellence, interregional clusters, industrial clusters, and innovation centers, and $800,000 for zones of innovation.
• Maximum of 80% coverage of eligible expenses for industrial clusters, centers, and zones of innovation.
• Eligible expenses incurred must not exceed a continuous period of 36 months.

• The applicant must be a non-profit organization, a CEGEP, a collegial technology transfer center, or a university in Quebec.
• Cities, municipalities, regional county municipalities (MRCs), and similar organizations are eligible.
• The organization’s activities must support strategic sectors or regional economic development.
• The applicant must not be a for-profit business with an establishment in Quebec.
• The applicant must have fulfilled past financial obligations to the Quebec government or Investissement Québec for at least two years.

Who is eligible?

• Non-profit organizations
• Cégeps
• College technology transfer centers
• Quebec universities
• Cities, municipalities, and regional county municipalities (MRCs)
• Organizations with similar activities and non-profits incorporated under the Cities and Towns Act

Who is not eligible

• State-owned enterprises or companies controlled directly or indirectly by a government (municipal, provincial, or federal), a municipal entity, or a business majority-owned by a state-owned enterprise.
• For-profit companies with establishments in Quebec.
• Organizations in a situation of bankruptcy or insolvency.

Eligible expenses

• Administrative costs.
• Salaries and remuneration.
• Operating expenses.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

• Coherence between the organization's mission, the program objectives, and government priorities.
• Track record of the organization in achieving set targets.
• Quality of the action plan and performance indicators, including the alignment between proposed activities, available resources, and target outcomes.
• Capacity of the organization to fulfill its mandate successfully, particularly regarding financial and human resources.
• Relevance of the organization's contribution to the needs of Quebec's industry and its businesses.
• Quality of the supporting documentation provided.
• Adoption and implementation of eco-responsible practices (such as recycling or a sustainable development action plan).

• Applicants must submit supporting documents such as financial statements, strategic planning documents, and any relevant certifications with their application.
• All documentation must be submitted electronically, ensuring the subject line specifies "Soutien au fonctionnement des organismes en appui aux secteurs stratégiques et au développement économique des régions."
• Forms should be downloaded and filled with Adobe Reader (version 10 or above) and not completed directly in a web browser.
• The program was last updated on March 26, 2024.