MTRIC — PSO SME

Who is eligible?

• Companies involved in metal transformation (Extraction, Concentration, Primary, First, Second and Third Transformation, Finished Metal Products, Metal Recycling)
• Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) legally constituted under Canadian or Quebec law and registered in the Registraire des entreprises du Québec
• Large Enterprises involved in the metal transformation sector
• Eligible research organizations collaborating with the metal transformation industry (universities, CCTTs, recognized research centers)
• Companies associated with critical and strategic minerals (e.g., steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, magnesium, copper, zinc, rare earth elements, and others as identified by the Quebec government)

Who is not eligible

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

Eligible expenses

• Salaries, wages, and employee benefits directly related to the project.
• Scholarships for students involved in the project.
• Purchase of supplies, consumables, and necessary materials.
• Purchase or rental of equipment (up to 25% of total eligible expenses; maximum value of $25,000 per piece before taxes).
• Professional fees, including limited consulting and subcontracting contracts.
• Travel and accommodation expenses related to project activities (in compliance with government standards; international travel for Quebec researchers and students capped at 15% of total eligible expenses).
• Expenses for disseminating project results and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Intellectual property management and related operating costs.
• CRITM management fees.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

• Degree of innovation of the product or process, demonstrating clear novelty compared to existing solutions.
• Capacity and commitment of project partners, including the financial and operational involvement of participating companies.
• Quality and complementarity of the research team and public-private partnership.
• Anticipated technological and commercial impacts for partner companies.
• Contribution to the training of students and highly qualified personnel, and other economic benefits for Quebec.

• Step 1: Contact CRITM for InformationReach out to the CRITM team for guidance or clarification regarding your project idea and submission process.
• Visit the CRITM website (www.critm.ca) for additional program details and documentation.
• Step 2: Become a CRITM MemberEnsure that all project partners, including companies and institutions, are regular members of CRITM for project eligibility.
• Step 3: Prepare Project ProposalComplete the required project application forms as provided by CRITM.
• Prepare a detailed project proposal aligned with CRITM’s research priorities and eligible expenses.
• Obtain letters of commitment from industrial partners, specifying cash and in-kind contributions as well as anticipated impacts.
• Compile necessary supporting documentation, including financial breakdowns and evidence of compliance with official requirements (e.g., certificate of francization or proof of steps taken with the OQLF where applicable).
• Step 4: Submit ApplicationUse the submission form provided on the CRITM website to send your completed application and all required documents by the appropriate call deadline.
• Ensure submission by one of the posted deadlines for the call: 25 October 2024, 21 February 2025, or 23 May 2025.
• Step 5: Application EvaluationWait for the evaluation by an independent committee based on innovation, partner engagement, research quality, and anticipated benefits.
• Step 6: Project Approval and Follow-upApproved projects are adopted by CRITM's board of directors, who oversee project follow-up and management.

• All partners in the project must obtain or show progress toward a Certificate of Francisation from the Office québécois de la langue française if they have 50 or more employees.
• Projects involving companies outside Quebec can be eligible provided the project is conducted in Quebec and includes Quebec-based partners.
• CRITM does not claim intellectual property rights but requires partner agreements to address intellectual property and results management.
• Regular updates to program conditions may occur; applicants are advised to confirm details with CRITM during the application process.