Strategic sectors

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

• Apply as a consortium of at least two Quebec companies, including at least one SME or startup.
• Carry out a large-scale collaborative innovation project (with one or more partner companies, and optionally an eligible Quebec public research center).
• The project must be in one of the strategic sectors: quantum technologies, aerospace, digital technologies and microelectronics, or energy transition.
• The project must develop a new solution or significantly improve an existing product, service, or process, from planning through to pre-commercialization (real-life demonstration/technology showcase).
• The project must respect one or more principles of Quebec’s Sustainable Development Act.

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).

• Alignment of the project with the strategic focus areas of the innovation zones (quantum, information technologies and microelectronics, aerospace, energy transition), since these projects are prioritized.
• Formal support from an innovation zone (letter of support confirming the consistency of the project with the zone’s strategic orientations, research and innovation priorities, and its potential economic impact on the zone).
• Multipartner nature of the project (priority given to projects involving more than two companies).

• 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).