How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $500000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 2025-12-31T23:59:59Z.

Who are the financial supporters of the Panel innovation platform (PIP)?

Panel innovation platform (PIP) is funded by Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Gouvernement du Québec

What are Panel innovation platform (PIP)'s eligibility criterias?

For-profit businesses (first, second, or third transformation) legally constituted in Quebec Projects must be submitted jointly with at least one eligible research center and a minimum of two companies

Panel innovation platform (PIP)

Last Update: June 23, 2025

QC, Canada

Supports innovation in engineered wood and composite panel industries

Panel innovation platform (PIP) at a glance

Eligible Funding

From $100,000 to $500,000
Up to 75% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : May 15, 2017
Closing date : December 31, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Grant Providers

Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks
Gouvernement du Québec

Status

Open

Overview of the Panel innovation platform (PIP) program

The Panel Innovation Platform (PIP) provides up to $375,000 per project to support innovation, diversification, and competitiveness in Quebec's next-generation engineered wood and panel industry. Eligible activities include research and development of innovative panels, adhesives, production processes, market studies, and the commercialization of advanced products.

Financing terms and conditions

Financial support up to 75% of eligible project expenses, with grants ranging from a minimum of $75,000 to a maximum of $375,000 per project.
Total project costs eligible for grant funding must be between $100,000 and $500,000.
The combined government financial assistance (provincial and federal) for a single project cannot exceed 75% of total project costs.
At least 25% of total project costs must come from private sources, including a minimum of 5% cash contribution.
An advance of up to 20% of the grant may be provided to commence project activities, with additional payments made following verification of incurred eligible expenses.

Eligible projects & activities

Development of new, innovative composite panels and engineered wood products.
Research on alternative raw material sources and processing methods for panel production.
Creation and improvement of advanced adhesives for panel manufacturing (including bio-based or high-performance adhesives).
Market studies and environmental impact assessments related to the panel and engineered wood sector.
Design and pilot-scale production of high-performance, eco-friendly, or multi-property panel products.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 420,000

Development of thermal and sound insulation panels

$ 330,000

Optimization of raw material sources for composite panels

$ 300,000

Strategic market analysis for eco-friendly composite panels

$ 400,000

Development of biosourced adhesives for eco-friendly panels

$ 450,000

Creation of multi-property eco-friendly panels

$ 390,000

Innovative molding techniques for composite panels

Eligibility criteria of the Panel innovation platform (PIP) program

The lead applicant must be a legally constituted research center.
The project must be submitted jointly by at least one research center (as applicant) and a minimum of two for-profit companies (as collaborators).
Eligible entities include for-profit companies, groups of for-profit companies, recognized research and teaching centers, and organizations specialized in the panel and engineered wood composites industry.
The project must be implemented in Quebec and benefit companies and facilities located in Quebec.
The applicant and its collaborators must demonstrate the technical and financial capacity to carry out the project, and have met any past commitments with the granting body.

Who is eligible?

For-profit companies legally constituted and operating in the first, second, or third transformation of the panel and engineered wood composites industry
Groups or consortia of eligible for-profit enterprises
Recognized research and teaching centers specialized in the panel and engineered wood composites sector
Specialized organizations within the panel and engineered wood composites industry

Who is not eligible

Companies or organizations not involved in the panel and engineered wood composites industry.
Entities that are not legally constituted for-profit businesses or recognized research and educational centers.
Businesses or groups unable to form a partnership with at least one center of research (as applicant) and a minimum of two collaborating companies.
Organizations proposing projects not carried out in Quebec or without clear benefits for companies located in Quebec.

Eligible expenses

Direct material costs required for the project.
Rental, acquisition, and installation costs for equipment directly related to the project.
Purchase and development costs of software essential for project completion.
Sampling and quality control expenses linked to process development.
Patent application and intellectual property protection fees.
Costs for reports, studies, or technology transfer rights (licenses).
Work conducted outside Quebec, if essential and justified (with reasonable proportional limits).
Consulting and expert study fees (excluding geotechnical studies).
Expenses related to acquiring scientific articles, reports, or specialized publications.
Subcontracting costs directly related to the project.
Direct labor costs, including social benefits and mandatory contributions, up to permitted limits.
Professional fees as per approved rates.
Certification and homologation costs, in whole or in part.
Prototype and system production costs.

Eligible geographic areas

Quebec

Eligibility criteria of the Panel innovation platform (PIP) program

Relevance of the project to the platform’s priority research areas and targeted objectives.
Extent of the potential impact on the industry or market for the innovative solution proposed.
Anticipated benefits for the industry and for Quebec as a whole.
Optimal industrial, research, and financial partnership (leverage effect).
Technical capacity of the applicant and collaborators to carry out the project.
Clarity and appropriateness of objectives and expected results.
Appropriate cost-benefit analysis and realistic cost-effectiveness ratio.
Clarity and quality of the proposed approach or work plan.
Realistic timeline and project milestones.
Sufficient means and resources to achieve results within rapid deadlines.

How to apply to the Panel innovation platform (PIP) program

Preparation of the request

The research center (applicant) and the companies (collaborators) prepare the project together according to the objectives of the platform.
Fill out the project submission form provided in the annex.
Prepare a detailed work plan.
Obtain and attach letters of support from collaborators indicating their contribution to the project.
Complete the section on the use of resources outside of Quebec, if applicable.
Write the project description detailing its importance for the company, the panel industry, and Quebec.

Submission of the request

Send the complete request with all attachments to Pierre Vézina by email at pierre.vezina@cifq.qc.ca.

Assessment of Eligibility

The CIFQ, in collaboration with the MFFP, checks the eligibility of the application: completed form, supporting documents included.
Validation of the eligibility of expenses according to the agreement.

Prioritization

The eligible projects are submitted to the Prioritization Committee, which ranks the projects according to their relevance and the objectives of the platform.

Final approval

The Coordination and Approval Committee makes decisions on the funding of projects.
Representatives of the MFFP may exercise a veto right over proposed projects.

Additional information

The application process is ongoing and submissions are accepted until December 31, 2025, or until funds are depleted.
Applicants must submit quarterly, annual, and final reports, including financial documentation, throughout the project lifecycle.
Participation of out-of-province expertise is allowed only if justified and pre-authorized, but should be marginal and not strategic for Quebec's forest products industry.
Supporting documents such as partners' letters of support and a detailed work plan must accompany the application form.