SynergiQc

• The applicant must be a researcher working in a Quebec research institution, which can be a university, affiliated hospital, research institute, college center for technology transfer (CCTT), or public research center.
• The applicant must collaborate with at least one eligible Quebec company.
• Eligible projects must involve R&D activities with an industrial impact applicable to the life sciences sector, including clinical trials, conducted in partnership with one or more eligible companies.
• The level of technological maturation of the project must be between 1 and 6 at the beginning of the project.
• The project must demonstrate socio-economic benefits for Quebec and for the private partner(s) involved.
• At least one student (master's, doctorate, or post-doctorate) must be involved in the project.

Who is eligible?

• Quebec companies in the biopharmaceutical industry
• Research centers in Quebec
• Universities and affiliated hospitals in Quebec
• Research institutes in Quebec
• College centers for technology transfer (CCTT) in Quebec
• Public research centers in Quebec
• Quebec-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Large enterprises (LE) located in Quebec
• Companies with research and development and/or production activities in Quebec
• Companies legally constituted under federal or Quebec law and registered with the Quebec Enterprise Register

Eligible expenses

• Fellowships, wages, and fringe benefits for research personnel assigned to the project, including technicians, research assistants and associates, postdoctoral fellows, and students.
• Laboratory equipment, consumables, and supplies, as well as animal housing and platform fees.
• Travel expenses related to the project, collaborations, and conferences.
• Knowledge dissemination costs.
• Intellectual property costs, such as patent applications and maintenance fees for the duration of the project.
• Rental or purchase of small equipment with a maximum value of $25,000 necessary for the project.
• Subcontracting expenses to Quebec companies that are not partners in the project, if the activity is essential and cannot be performed by the research institution.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations and companies situated within the province of Quebec.

• Scientific merit and feasibility of the project.
• Commercialization plan.
• Differentiation, competitiveness, and added value of the proposed technology.
• Quality of the collaboration/team.
• Benefits for the private partners.
• Socio-economical benefits for the province of Quebec.

• The CQDM SynergiQc program aims to expand the pool of industrial members by increasing research collaboration with life sciences organizations such as pharmaceuticals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), spin-offs, start-ups, and contract research organizations (CROs).
• Research institutions granted funding must sign a research agreement with industrial partners within three months following receipt of CQDM's approval letter.
• A research agreement template, provided by CQDM, will detail the project milestones, timeline, and final deliverables.
• An independent scientific evaluation is part of the approval process, highlighting the project's scientific merit.
• The approval of the project funding is ultimately decided by the CQDM Board of Directors and the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE).
• CQDM offers the framework but does not involve itself in the intellectual property agreement between research institutions and industrial partners, which must be attached to the research agreement.
• The program encourages the transfer of knowledge and technologies developed by public institutions into the industry.