Get funding for a collaborative project between a research center and an eligible Quebec company. CQDM's maximum rate of assistance now varies according to the size of the partner company, regardless of the project's level of technological maturity.

Eligibility criteria

Here is a summary of the eligibility criteria for the Quebec Funding Program for Biopharmaceutical Research:

All researchers in Quebec working in a research institution and collaborating with an eligible Quebec company
R&D projects with industrial impact applicable to life sciences
Technological maturation between level 1 and 6 at the project's start
Generation of socio-economic benefits for Quebec and private partners
Participation of at least one student in the project

Who is eligible

Eligible types of companies for this grant include:

Small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with 249 employees or less that have a place of business in Quebec, are legally constituted, and are registered with the Quebec Enterprise Register
Large enterprises (LE) with 250 employees or more that have a place of business in Quebec, are legally constituted, and are registered with the Quebec Enterprise Register

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses for the Quebec Funding Program for Biopharmaceutical Research include fellowships, wages, laboratory equipment, travel expenses, intellectual property costs, small equipment purchases, and essential subcontracting expenses.

Fellowships, wages, and fringe benefits
Laboratory equipment, consumables, and supplies
Travel expenses and knowledge dissemination costs
Intellectual property costs
The rental or purchase of small equipment
Some essential subcontracting expenses

Evaluation & selection criteria

There are evaluation and selection criteria for the SynergiQc grant program:

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-economic benefits for the province of Quebec

How to apply

Step 1: Contact Mathieu Paquette, Director – Business Development, to validate the eligibility of your project and obtain the application form and the SynergiQc budget template at the following address: mpaquette@cqdm.org
Step 2: Submit a half-page non-confidential scientific summary (including the project title, the PI’s name and affiliations, the project’s total budget, the private partners involved as well as the amounts of their respective contribution) to the following address no later than 1 week before the application deadline: appliquez-apply@cqdm.org
Step 3: Obtain letters of support from corporate partners and include them as an appendix to the application
Step 4: Send the completed application to appliquez-apply@cqdm.org

Documents and links

SynergiQc program for biopharmaceutical research

Apply to this program

Grant Summary

The SynergiQc program by CQDM offers funding for university-based industrial research in the biopharmaceutical field in Quebec. The program aims to promote collaboration between research institutions and eligible Quebec companies to drive innovation and economic growth.

Details of the Quebec Funding Program for Biopharmaceutical Research

The SynergiQc program, managed by CQDM, focuses on fostering technological innovation in the biopharmaceutical sector in Quebec. It encourages partnerships between academic researchers and companies to develop high-value biopharmaceutical products. The program supports projects with industrial impact that benefit Quebec's economy while promoting knowledge transfer between academia and industry.

Eligible applicants for this grant include researchers from Quebec research institutions collaborating with at least one eligible Quebec company. Projects should have a technological maturation level between 1 and 6 and aim to generate socio-economic benefits for Quebec and private partners.

The funding duration ranges from one to three years, with a minimum project budget set at $500,000. Financial support is allocated based on the size and participation of partner companies, with contributions from CQDM ranging up to $1.5 million for projects involving Quebec SMEs and up to $7.5 million for large Quebec companies.

Eligible expenses covered by the grant include research personnel salaries, equipment, travel costs, and intellectual property fees. The application process involves project validation, submission of a scientific summary, obtaining support letters from corporate partners, and completing the application form.

Evaluation criteria focus on scientific merit, commercialization plan, technology value, collaboration quality, and socio-economic benefits. The evaluation process includes scientific review, assessment of non-scientific aspects, recommendation by CQDM's advisory committee, and final approval by the Board of Directors and the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE).

Research institutions and industrial partners awarded the grant must sign a research agreement within three months, outlining project milestones and deliverables. An intellectual property agreement involving all project stakeholders is also required to ensure proper IP management.

For further information on project eligibility and application, interested parties can contact Mathieu Paquette, Director of Business Development, at mpaquette@cqdm.org.