Panel innovation platform
QC, Canada
The Innovation Platform for Next-Generation Engineered Wood and Composite Panels Grant.
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|fromMinToMax
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateMay 15, 2017
- grant_single|closingDateDecember 31, 2025
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
grant_single|grantors
- Gouvernement du Québec
- Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The Platform for Innovation in Panels program, funded by the Government of Québec, aims to boost innovation, diversification, and competitiveness within the panel and engineered wood composites industry. Eligible activities include research and development in areas such as raw material diversification, innovative processing methods, new adhesive formulations, and the development of high-performance, eco-friendly structural and non-structural panels.
grant_single_labels|projects
Yes, there are eligible projects and activities for this grant.
Projects must be submitted by a research center with at least two supporting companies. Eligible activities fall under several categories including innovative materials, processes, adhesives, and market studies.
- Diversification of raw material sources
- Innovative processing techniques such as molding, drying, pressing, and laminating
- Development of alternative or improved adhesives (biosourced, low emissions, high performance)
- Creation of high-performance structural panels, biosourced thermal and sound insulation, industrial-use non-structural panels, multi-property and eco-friendlier panels
- Market analysis, strategic studies, surveys, code and standard reviews, environmental impact assessments
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$420,000
Ottawa
Development of thermal and sound insulation panels
$330,000
Toronto
Optimization of raw material sources for composite panels
$300,000
Winnipeg
Strategic market analysis for eco-friendly composite panels
$400,000
Montreal
Development of biosourced adhesives for eco-friendly panels
$450,000
Vancouver
Creation of multi-property eco-friendly panels
$390,000
Calgary
Innovative molding techniques for composite panels
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Applicants must be legally constituted entities in the first, second, or third transformation stages, and must partner with at least two other enterprises and a recognized research center.
- Enterprises or groupings of for-profit enterprises legally constituted.
- Centers of research and recognized educational institutions.
- Organizations specialized in the panel and composite engineered wood industry.
- Projects must be submitted by a research center (applicant) and supported by a minimum of two enterprises (collaborators).
- Projects should fall under one or more of the following research axes: Raw Materials, Innovative Processes, Innovative Adhesives, Innovative Products, Markets.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Yes, there are eligible types of companies for this grant. The grant is available to legally constituted profitable enterprises across various stages of transformation, research, and educational centers recognized in the industry of composite wood panels and engineered wood.
- Enterprises or groupings of enterprises
- Centers of research and teaching institutions
- Organizations specializing in the panel and composite wood engineering industry
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
Yes, there are eligible expenses for this grant as specified in the guidelines.
- Costs for direct material
- Rental and acquisition costs of equipment
- Costs for software essential to project realization
- Costs for sampling materials and quality control
- Costs for patent filing and intellectual property protection
- Costs for technology transfer goods or rights
- Costs for labor conducted outside Quebec, under certain conditions
- Consulting and expertise fees (excluding geotechnical studies)
- Costs for documentation collection
- Subcontracting costs
- Direct labor costs and associated benefits
- Professional fees (according to approved rates)
- Certification and approval costs
- Costs for prototype and system production
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The eligible geographic zones for this grant are limited to projects conducted within Quebec, Canada. To qualify, projects must benefit companies and factories established in Quebec.
- Projects must be carried out in Quebec.
- Projects must benefit companies and factories established in Quebec.
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Preparation of the application
- Requérant and collaborators prepare and propose projects according to the platform's objectives.
- Requérant fills and submits project forms to CIFQ.
- Step 2: Evaluation of the application's eligibility
- CIFQ, in collaboration with MFFP-DMIPF, receives and verifies the submitted project forms.
- Validation of the form's completeness, signature, and attached documentation.
- Validation of the eligibility of expenses as per the convention.
- Transmission of eligible projects to the Prioritization Committee for discussion and prioritization.
- Step 3: Prioritization
- The Prioritization Committee prioritizes and ranks eligible research projects according to the platform's objectives.
- Notification of project ranking to the Coordination and Approval Committee.
- Step 4: Approval of the project
- MFFP-DMIPF analyzes prioritized and selected projects.
- Preparation of pertinence notices with recommendations for the Coordination and Approval Committee.
- Final decision-making by the Coordination and Approval Committee to accept or refuse projects for funding.
- Confirmation of the eligibility of expenses as per the convention.
- Step 5: Preparation and submission of project reports
- The requérant prepares and submits quarterly financial and progress reports to CIFQ.
- The requérant prepares and submits annual financial and progress reports to CIFQ by March 31 each year.
- The requérant prepares and submits final financial and activity reports with supporting documents to CIFQ by January 31, 2021.
- The requérant provides supporting documents for admissible expenses to CIFQ.
- Step 6: Aggregation and preparation of platform reports
- CIFQ receives, verifies, and consolidates quarterly, annual, and final reports from different projects of the platform.
- Submission of quarterly, annual, and final reports to MFFP-DMIPF.
- Step 7: Validation of reports
- MFFP-DMIPF receives and validates quarterly and annual progress reports, final financial reports, and supporting documents for admissible expenses submitted by CIFQ.
- MFFP-DMIPF submits recommendations to the Coordination and Approval Committee for decision-making.
- Step 8: Approval of reports
- The Coordination and Approval Committee approves the quarterly and annual progress reports, final financial reports, and supporting documents for admissible expenses based on the recommendations of MFFP-DMIPF.
- The Coordination and Approval Committee ensures the smooth operation of the platform and addresses any operational issues as per the convention.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
This grant aims to support the innovation, diversification, and competitiveness of the composite wood products industry in Quebec.
- This platform was announced on May 15, 2017, with a total investment of four million dollars from 2017 to 2021.
- The projects must be submitted by a research center and supported by at least two companies.
- The grant is eligible for projects that diversify raw material sources or develop innovative processing techniques, adhesives, and products.
- Eligible expenses include direct material costs, equipment rental, software acquisition, quality control expenses, patent fees, and labor costs, among others.
- Non-eligible expenses include travel costs, office equipment, project financing costs, and advertising expenses.
- A minimum private contribution of 5% in cash is required, with the total private contribution reaching at least 25% of the project costs.
- Projects must adhere to a maximum government aid coverage of 75% of the project costs.
grant_single_labels|contact
418-657-7916
Apply to this program
Quebec's Innovation Panels Platform Grant: A Boost for Composite Wood Panel Industry
The Quebec Government's Innovation Panels Platform grant aims to foster innovation, diversification, and competitiveness in the composite wood panel industry through an investment of four million dollars from 2017 to 2021. This grant supports research and development initiatives while promoting innovative processes, products, and market developments.
An In-Depth Look at the Innovation Panels Platform Grant
In an ambitious move to enhance the competitiveness and technological advancement of Quebec's composite wood panel industry, the Government of Quebec launched the Innovation Panels Platform in 2017. With a substantial investment of four million dollars earmarked for the period from 2017 to 2021, this grant program aims to stimulate innovation, market diversification, and industry leadership in developing new-generation composite wood panels.
The Innovation Panels Platform is a key initiative responding to the recommendations from the Quebec Wood Innovation Forum's Panel Working Group. This targeted financial assistance program is designed to empower industries to create pioneering products, applications, and processes that meet current and future market demands through market intelligence.
Objectives and Vision
The Innovation Panels Platform has several core objectives:
- Leadership in Innovation: Position the Quebec composite wood panel industry as an innovative leader in product creation, applications, and process development.
- Competitiveness: Accelerate the development of advanced panels and engineered composite wood products to enhance industrial competitiveness.
- Research Collaboration: Facilitate access to high-caliber researchers and state-of-the-art equipment through network partnerships with institutions such as FPInnovations, Laval University, and SEREX affiliated with the Cégep of Rimouski.
Who Can Apply?
The grant is available to:
- Commercial enterprises and legally constituted for-profit organizations involved in primary, secondary, and tertiary processing in the panel and composite wood industry.
- Recognized centers of research and teaching, as well as specialized industry organizations.
To maximize synergy towards achieving the platform's objectives, projects must be submitted by a research center (the applicant) and supported by a minimum of two businesses (collaborators).
Eligible Projects
Projects must align with the following axes and research themes:
- Raw Material: Diversification of raw material sources, processing, and preparation techniques.
- Innovative Processes: Development of innovative processes such as mat laying, drying, pressing, and laminating for next-generation panels.
- Innovative Adhesives: Creation of alternative or improved adhesives (bio-based, low-emission, high-performance).
- Innovative Products: Advanced structural panels, biosourced thermal and acoustic insulators, non-structural industrial panels, multi-property, and eco-friendly panels.
- Market Studies: Market research, strategic studies, surveys, code and norm examinations, and environmental impact evaluations.
Applicants must use the project submission form provided in the grant guidelines.
Eligible Expenses
The grant covers a variety of direct costs, including:
- Material costs directly related to project execution.
- Rental and acquisition costs of project-specific equipment.
- Essential software purchases and development.
- Sampling materials and quality control costs.
- Patent and intellectual property protection expenses.
- Technology transfer costs (reports, studies, licenses).
- Necessary costs for work performed outside Quebec that is indispensable to project completion.
- Consulting fees, excluding geotechnical studies.
- Documentation-related expenses (scientific articles, specialized reports, or books).
- Main labor costs, including benefits and contributions to mandatory plans.
- Professional fees and certification costs.
- Prototype and system production costs.
All eligible expenses must comply with generally accepted accounting principles and be reasonable based on the project context and nature.
Non-Eligible Expenses
However, the grant does not cover:
- Travel expenses.
- Office equipment and building costs.
- Project financing costs.
- Taxes for which reimbursement is available.
- Representational and advertising costs.
- Legal and notary fees.
Governance Structure
Governance of the Innovation Panels Platform involves:
- Research Centers and Enterprises: Direct involvement in project preparation and proposal submission.
- Quebec’s Ministry of Forests, Wildlife, and Parks (MFFP): Oversight and final approval authority.
- Quebec’s Forest Industry Council (CIFQ): Coordination and evaluation of project eligibility.
Two committees play critical roles in project evaluation and approval:
- Coordination and Approval Committee: composed of representatives from MFFP and CIFQ.
- Prioritization Committee: ensures projects align with the identified research priorities and objectives.
Financing Terms
The MFFP will financially support eligible projects according to the following terms:
- Project Value: Minimum $100,000 and maximum $500,000.
- Subsidy: Up to 75% of eligible expenses, ranging from $75,000 to $375,000.
- Private Contribution: At least 25% of project costs, with at least 5% in cash. Contributions include company funds, shareholder investment, or non-government partner funding.
Submissions and Evaluation
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until December 31, 2025, or until funds are exhausted. The following steps outline the submission process:
- Complete and submit the project submission form, including any required documentation.
- The CIFQ, in collaboration with MFFP, will verify project eligibility.
- The Prioritization Committee will rank projects based on adherence to research priorities and objectives.
- The Coordination and Approval Committee will review prioritized projects and make final funding decisions.
Eligible projects must demonstrate technical and financial feasibility, align with government policies and platform objectives, and present a clear potential for market impact and industry innovation.
Reporting and Accountability
Approved projects must submit regular progress and financial reports. The reporting process includes:
- Quarterly reports detailing expenditures and project progress.
- Annual reports summarizing yearly activities, verified by an external accounting firm.
- Final reports, including a comprehensive project summary and financial audit.
The CIFQ consolidates these reports and submits them to the MFFP for validation. The Coordination and Approval Committee ultimately approves these reports, ensuring compliance and successful project execution.
Contact for More Information
For further details or assistance, interested parties can reach out to:
- Pierre Vézina: 418-657-7916 ext. 451, pierre.vezina@cifq.qc.ca
- Mélanie Turgeon: 418-627-8644 ext. 4101, melanie.turgeon@mffp.gouv.qc.ca
This comprehensive approach to supporting the composite wood panel industry ensures that Quebec remains at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, and market competitiveness.
