MEDTEQ+ — PARTENAR-IA — Industry

Who is eligible?

The PARTENAR-IA call for consortia innovation projects in artificial intelligence is specifically aimed at consortia of companies and research centers, focusing on supporting collaborative research projects in Quebec.

• Minimum partnership must include at least two companies (including one Quebec SME) and collaboration with a research center.
• Research centers' expenses must account for at least 20% of eligible project expenses.
• Consortium partners must share costs, benefits, and intellectual property rights.
• Each partner company should plan to hire one trainee per year.
• Projects must be completed within a 24-month duration.
• Companies must be legally incorporated, have their head office in Quebec, and have fewer than 250 employees in Quebec.
• Assets must be under $50 million, globally calculated, for the preceding taxation year.
• Companies must not be controlled by government entities or majority-owned by Crown corporations, nor be under bankruptcy protection.
• Companies with unethical conduct, failures to meet previous obligations, or ineligible under certain policies will not be considered.

Who is not eligible

This grant has specific exclusions based on company status and conduct to ensure alignment with its objectives. The restrictions help focus resources on companies that contribute positively to Quebec's economy and society.

• Companies controlled directly or indirectly by a government or municipal entity.
• Companies majority-owned by a Crown corporation.
• Businesses under protection of the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
• Companies registered with the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA).
• Companies with a history of failing to meet previous financial assistance obligations in Quebec.
• Entities whose ethical conduct may negatively impact the Quebec government's image.
• Companies potentially ineligible under the responsible financing policy.
• Holding companies.

Eligible expenses

This grant supports collaborative industrial research projects in artificial intelligence with a focus on healthcare technologies. Eligible projects aim to improve business competitiveness and facilitate AI adoption through partnerships between companies and public research centers.

• Collaborative research projects in artificial intelligence involving SMEs or start-ups with a public research center.
• Projects aimed at developing and validating healthcare technologies using AI.
• Initiatives to improve business competitiveness through AI adoption.
• Projects fostering collaboration between various companies and research communities.
• Projects supporting mass adoption of AI in the primary and secondary sectors.
• Projects promoting Quebec as a leader in AI.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is specific to companies located in Québec, as defined by the funding body's eligibility criteria. The focus is on supporting businesses that enhance the region's competitiveness and technological advancement.

• Companies with their head office in Québec.
• Businesses where employees or subcontractors work mainly in Québec.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Applications must be submitted in French and may require a francization certificate for certain companies.
• A program management fee of 5% will be applied by MEDTEQ+, which is part of the eligible expenses and covered at 50% by the Ministry's support.
• The MEDTEQ+ team provides support in preparing research proposals, and MEDTEQ+ acts as the sponsoring organization for SMEs involved in the project.
• It is mandatory to contact MEDTEQ+ during the application preparation stage to ensure all requirements are met.