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Strategic sectors - Quebec - Canada
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Strategic sectors

Supports collaborative innovation projects in Quebec strategic technology sectors
PROMPT
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
No Condition
Timeline
  • Open continuously
Location
Quebec, Canada

Overview

This call for projects supports large-scale collaborative innovation projects in Quebec’s strategic sectors, offering up to $1,000,000 per project to help startups and SMEs develop and/or market innovative solutions. Eligible activities include planning, R&D, and pre-commercialization steps such as real-life demonstrations and technology showcases in quantum technologies, aerospace, digital technologies and microelectronics, or energy transition.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals
  • Increase performance through digital transformation
  • Develop strategic partnerships
  • Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
  • Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
  • Open continuously

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturing
  • Information and cultural industries
  • Professional, scientific and technical services
Location
  • Quebec
Legal structures
  • Public or Parapublic institution
  • For-profit business
Annual revenue
  • All revenue ranges
Organisation size
  • All organization sizes
Audience
  • Startups

Next steps

1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility

Activities funded

  • Collaborative innovation projects to develop a new product, service, or process (or significantly improve an existing one) in quantum technologies, aerospace, digital technologies and microelectronics, or energy transition.
  • Joint R&D projects carried out from planning through to pre-commercialization, including real-life demonstration and a technology showcase of the innovative solution.
  • Collaborative projects to develop and/or market innovative solutions in the program’s strategic sectors.

Documents Needed

  • Letter of support from the relevant innovation zone (if claiming alignment/support)

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Quebec start-ups
  • Quebec SMEs (249 employees or less)
  • Consortia (groups) of at least two Quebec companies collaborating on an innovation project (including at least one SME or start-up)
  • Companies active in quantum technologies
  • Companies active in aerospace, digital technologies and microelectronics, or energy transition

Who is not eligible

  • Companies or consortia whose project is not in one of the targeted strategic sectors: quantum technologies, aerospace, digital technologies and microelectronics, or energy transition.
  • Companies that are 50% or more owned by other companies (for the SME/startup eligibility stream).
  • Startups that have already made significant sales (i.e., not in the pre-marketing phase).
  • Startups not supported, at the time of application, by a Quebec-based incubator or accelerator.

Eligible expenses

  • Eligible project expenses incurred by consortium partners (used to calculate the reimbursement, up to the program’s maximum rates).
  • Costs billed by an eligible Quebec public research center, provided they represent at least 20% of the project’s eligible expenses (to access the increased aid rate).
  • Fees for access to the PINQ2, Calcul Québec and DistriQ quantum computing platforms (to access the increased aid rate).
  • Administration fees (up to 5% of eligible expenses).

Eligible geographic areas

  • Quebec (companies must have their head office in Quebec and operate mainly from Quebec).

Additional information

  • Priority is given to multi-partner collaborative projects (involving more than two companies).
  • Support from an innovation zone is not mandatory, but projects aligned with the strategic axes of the identified innovation zones are given priority and require a letter of support from the zone.
  • The call documentation available via the program guide contains the complete criteria and should be reviewed in addition to the summary information.
  • The project is managed by the research center (fund management is handled by the research center).

Frequently Asked Questions about the Strategic sectors Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Strategic sectors. 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 Strategic sectors?

This call for projects supports large-scale collaborative innovation projects in Quebec’s strategic sectors, offering up to $1,000,000 per project to help startups and SMEs develop and/or market innovative solutions. Eligible activities include planning, R&D, and pre-commercialization steps such as real-life demonstrations and technology showcases in quantum technologies, aerospace, digital technologies and microelectronics, or energy transition.

How much funding can be received?

Strategic sectors Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses.

Who is eligible for the Strategic sectors program?

To be eligible for the Strategic sectors program, you must: Consortium of at least 2 Quebec companies, including at least 1 SME or startup. SME/startup: legally constituted & registered in Quebec; head office in Quebec; ≤249 employees; assets <$50M. Startup: pre-marketing with no significant sales; supported by a Quebec incubator/accelerator.

What expenses are eligible under Strategic sectors?

Collaborative innovation projects to develop a new product, service, or process (or significantly improve an existing one) in quantum technologies, aerospace, digital technologies and microelectronics, or energy transition. Joint R&D projects carried out from planning through to pre-commercialization, including real-life demonstration and a technology showcase of the innovative solution. Collaborative projects to develop and/or market innovative solutions in the program’s strategic sectors.

Where is the Strategic sectors available?

The Strategic sectors program is available the province of Quebec.

Is the Strategic sectors a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Strategic sectors is a Grant and Funding

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