How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 40% of admissible expenses, capped at $1500000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the MTRIC — PSO SME?

MTRIC — PSO SME is funded by Metal Transformation Research and Innovation Consortium (MTRIC)

What are MTRIC — PSO SME's eligibility criterias?

Must be a regular member of CRITM Must operate in the metal transformation sector in Quebec Must have a head office in Quebec and be incorporated under federal or Quebec law

MTRIC — PSO SME

Last Update: May 23, 2025

QC, Canada

Funding for industrial research projects

MTRIC — PSO SME at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $1,500,000
Up to 40% of project cost

Timeline

Closing date : May 23, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Manufacturing

Grant Providers

Metal Transformation Research and Innovation Consortium (MTRIC)

Status

Closed

Overview of the MTRIC — PSO SME program

Get a grant of up to $500,000 to cover up to 40% of eligible costs if your SME partners with a research centre on a project involving metal processing.

Financing terms and conditions

Non-repayable financial assistance from CRITM of up to 40% of eligible expenses for projects involving SMEs and up to 20% for projects involving large enterprises, with a maximum of $1,500,000 per project (max $500,000 per year).
Industrial contribution requirement: minimum 20% of project costs in cash for SME projects, and minimum 40% (cash and in-kind, with a maximum of 50% as in-kind) for large enterprise projects.
The total public funding for a project may not exceed 80% for SME projects and 60% for large enterprise projects.
Management fees of 8.5% of the CRITM contribution, up to 3.4% of the total cash cost of the project, are included as eligible expenses.
Equipment purchases are eligible up to a maximum of 25% of total eligible expenses, with individual equipment value capped at $25,000 before taxes.

Eligible projects & activities

Collaborative research and development projects between metal transformation companies and research institutions.
Development or improvement of metal transformation processes, including automation and digital innovation.
Design and commercialization of advanced metallic products or alloys.
Projects aimed at reducing environmental impact, such as lowering greenhouse gas emissions or enhancing resource efficiency.
Initiatives supporting the transfer of research results to industry to boost competitiveness and productivity in Quebec's metal transformation sector.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 200,000

Innovation in 3D printing of metallic structures

$ 200,000

Development of powder metals for lightweight structures

$ 200,000

Development of an energy-efficient metal smelting process

$ 200,000

Automation of metalcasting processes using advanced robotics

$ 200,000

Reduction of pollutant emissions in metal processing

$ 200,000

Design and testing of a new aluminum alloy

Eligibility criteria of the MTRIC — PSO SME program

The applicant company must be a regular member of CRITM during the project.
The business must operate in the metal transformation sector (including extraction, production, finishing, recycling, etc.).
The company must be legally constituted under Quebec or Canadian law and registered with the Quebec Enterprise Register.
The project must be associated with eligible metals (such as steel, aluminum, or minerals deemed critical/strategic by the Government of Quebec) or essential non-metallic substances related to metallurgical processes.
If the company is a SME, it must have its head office in Quebec, employ 249 or fewer employees worldwide, and its staff or subcontractors must predominantly work from Quebec.

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

Eligibility criteria of the MTRIC — PSO SME program

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.

How to apply to the MTRIC — PSO SME program

Membership in the CRITM

Ensure that all project partners are regular members of the CRITM.

Project Alignment

Check that the project is related to one or more research axes of the CRITM.

Preparation of the documentation

Prepare a funding request from a recognized research institution using the specific forms.
Ensure that industrial partners provide a letter of commitment with their cash and in-kind contributions.

Calculation and validation of the budget

Structure the financial setup of the project while respecting funding standards (cash and in-kind contributions).
Include budget simulations that comply with CRITM rules.

Project Submission

Use the project submission form available on the CRITM website to send the documentation.
Submit the project before the announced deadlines.

Confirmation and follow-up

Contact the CRITM for any clarification or additional information.

Additional information

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.