MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic

Q: How much funding can be received?

MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic Funds up to 35% of admissible expenses, capped at $1500000 per project.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Q: Is the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic a grant, loan, or tax credit?

MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic?

MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic is funded by Metal Transformation Research and Innovation Consortium (MTRIC)

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic?

You can contact Metal Transformation Research and Innovation Consortium (MTRIC) by email at jfstcyr@critm.ca or by phone at 418.

Q: Where is the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic available?

The MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic program is available the province of QC.

Q: Are startups eligible for the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic program?

Yes, startups are eligible to apply for the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

QC, Canada

Funding for Quebec metal transformation R&D collaborations in AI

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $1,500,000
Up to 35% of project cost

Timeline

Closing date : October 27, 2023

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Manufacturing

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

Get a non-refundable grant up to $500,000 to cover up to 40% of eligible expenses when your SME partners with a research centre on an artificial intelligence R&D project in the field of metal transformation.

Financing terms and conditions

The CRITM provides non-repayable grants for projects.
The maximum funding from CRITM per project is $1,500,000.
The maximum grant rate for eligible expenses is 35% in cash and in kind. This rate increases to 50% when certain conditions are met, such as expenses by eligible public research centers constituting at least 20% of eligible project costs or costs related to quantum computing platforms like PINQ, Calcul Québec, and DistriQ.
A minimum industrial contribution of 25% is required, in cash and in kind.
The maximum public funding accumulation per project is 75%, covering both cash and in-kind contributions.
The duration of projects is capped at 24 months.

Activities funded

Research and development in the field of artificial intelligence and quantum technology.
Collaboration projects between enterprises and research institutions in the field of metal transformation.
Development of new or improved metal transformation processes or products.
Projects aimed at reducing ecological footprints in the metal transformation sector.
Projects involving the creation of advanced metallic products and new alloys.
Implementation of technologies for improving production processes through automation and data modeling.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 420,000

AI-driven development of lightweight alloys

$ 380,000

AI-powered recycling process for metal scraps

$ 480,000

AI-driven optimization of steel production processes

$ 440,000

AI-based predictive maintenance for metal processing machines

$ 300,000

Development of eco-friendly metallic coatings using AI

$ 520,000

Digital twin modeling for metal transformation industries

Eligibility

The applicant must be a regular member of the CRITM.
The project should be related to the transformation of metals, such as steel, aluminum, or critical and strategic minerals identified by the Government of Québec (e.g., nickel, titanium, magnesium, copper, zinc, rare earth elements).
The applicant should be a Québec-based company, with a particular emphasis on SMEs and startups.
The project must involve the development, commercialization, or adoption of AI and quantum technologies.
The project must be linked to any phase of metal transformation: extraction, concentration, primary production, first, second, or third transformation, finished products, or metal recycling.
The project must have at least two enterprise partners, one of which must be an SME or startup.

Who is eligible?

Enterprises in the sector of metal transformation
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
Startups
Companies involved in extraction and concentration
Companies in primary production
Companies involved in first, second, and third transformation
Producers of finished metal products
Metal recycling companies
Projects involving metals such as steel, aluminum, and other critical and strategic minerals
Enterprises focusing on the development, commercialization, or adoption of AI and quantum technologies

Who is not eligible

Yes, certain types of companies are not eligible for this grant:

Companies controlled directly or indirectly by a government, municipal entity, or crown corporation.
Companies listed as ineligible for public contracts or under the protection of the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

Eligible expenses

Yes, there are eligible expenses for this grant. These expenses are directly related to the projects, including salaries, materials, equipment, travel, and more.

Salaries, treatments and benefits
Scholarships to students
Materials, consumables and supplies
Purchase or rental of equipment (up to 25% of total eligible expenses)
CRITM's management fees
Intellectual property exploitation costs
Professional fees
Travel and accommodation expenses related to the project
Monetary compensations for participation in projects
Knowledge dissemination fees
Subcontracting contract fees

Eligible geographic areas

Companies based in Quebec.

Selection criteria

Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant program. Submitted projects are evaluated based on criteria such as innovation, partner capabilities, and potential economic and technological impacts.

Degree of innovation of the product/process: the project must present a clearly innovative aspect compared to what currently exists.
The capacity of partners to complete the project, including the level of commitment of companies in executing the project and their financial involvement.
Quality of the research team and the public-private partnership (complementarity and level of expertise).
Anticipated technological and commercial impacts for partner companies.
Training of students and highly qualified personnel.
Other economic impacts for Quebec.

How to apply

Eligibility verification

Make sure that your organization is a regular member of CRITM.
Confirm that your project corresponds to one or more research axes of CRITM.

Preparation of the documentation

Write a detailed project proposal including specific objectives and anticipated outcomes.
Gather the necessary documents, such as letters of commitment from industrial partners.

Fill out the application form

Obtain the required forms from CRITM.
Fill out the forms with the project details and the involved partners.

Submission of the application

Ensure that all documents are complete and accurate.
Submit the application to the CRITM before the deadline of October 27, 2023.

Confirmation of receipt

Wait for a confirmation from the CRITM indicating the receipt of your project.

Additional information

The CRITM does not claim any intellectual property rights from the projects it funds, but requires a partnership agreement to cover IP management and the handling of research results.
Submissions must include a detailed budget outlining each partner's contributions.
Contact details are provided for additional inquiries, with specific contacts for program direction and coordination.
The funding is a non-repayable grant.
The funding rate increases to 50% for expenses related to public research centers or calculating platforms when they constitute at least 20% of total eligible expenses, and for eligible startups.
Detailed program norms and processes are outlined in an annex of the document.

Contacts

jfstcyr@critm.ca

418

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic?

How much funding can be received?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Who are the financial supporters of the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic?

Who is eligible for the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic program?

To be eligible for the MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic program, you must: The grant is aimed at Quebec companies, with priority given to SMEs and startups working on projects related to the development, commercialization, or adoption of AI and quantum technologies. Eligible companies must be regular members of CRITM and operate within one of the various sectors of metal transformation. Projects should be related to critical and strategic minerals or metals such as steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, magnesium, copper, zinc, or rare earth elements.