VRQ call for projects

Who is eligible?

• Research teams affiliated with CCSMTL
• Research teams affiliated with CHUM
• Research teams affiliated with CIUSSS EMTL
• Research teams affiliated with CIUSSS NIM
• Research teams affiliated with HEC Montréal
• Research teams affiliated with CHU Sainte-Justine
• Research teams affiliated with IRCM
• Research teams affiliated with Polytechnique Montréal
• Research teams affiliated with Université de Montréal

Who is not eligible

• Companies whose projects are eligible for the PSO (Programme de soutien à l'innovation) technology maturation program.
• Organizations seeking funding for fundamental research rather than for innovation maturation and commercialization.
• Projects that intend to use VRQ funding as a matching contribution for a public funding program managed by the Government of Quebec.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries of personnel assigned to the project.
• Purchase of consumables required for project maturation.
• Fees for external consultants.
• Field experimentation costs.
• Other expenses supporting project maturation, except patent fees.
• Indirect research costs (up to 27% of the total budget).

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations affiliated with the following institutions located in Quebec: CCSMTL, CHUM, CIUSSS EMTL, CIUSSS NIM, HEC Montreal, CHU Sainte-Justine, IRCM, Polytechnique Montréal, Université de Montréal.

• Relevance and impact of the project (35 points), including how well the innovation addresses a concrete problem, its contribution to bringing the solution closer to adoption, and its demonstrated social, environmental, and/or economic impact.
• Research team and deployment plan (25 points), covering the credibility of the team, adequacy of the transfer and valorization strategy, and the robustness of the intellectual property management plan.
• Project quality (40 points), considering the overall quality of the project approach, clarity and feasibility of objectives, coherence between project objectives and financial planning/timeline, and clear demonstration of financial need for the grant.

• Step 1: Contact Institutional Representative
  • Reach out to the designated representative at your research institution as early as possible to discuss your project and the application process.
• Step 2: Prepare Complete Application
  • Fill out the required application form with the following sections: project name, Axelys file number (if available), researcher(s) and affiliated institution(s), funding amount requested, partner name (if applicable), and a non-confidential project summary.
  • Describe the problem addressed, the innovation proposed, the research project (objectives, methodology, deliverables), and the impacts (environmental, social, economic).
  • Detail the research team and their experience, the commercialization strategy, intellectual property holdings and plans, past and current funding, requested budget and usage of funds.
  • For requests over $25,000, include a support letter from a critical commercialization partner.
  • Attach all required annexes: invention declaration, Gantt chart of the maturation plan, and, if applicable, partner letter of support.
• Step 3: Internal Review
  • Submit your completed application to your institutional representative for review and signature.
  • The representative may suggest modifications to strengthen your application.
• Step 4: Final Submission to Axelys
  • Have your institution's representative send the signed application to investissements@axelys.ca before the specified deadline.
• Step 5: Await Notification
  • Axelys will inform applicants of the results by the date indicated in the call for projects timetable.

• The maximum project duration allowed under this funding is 24 months.
• For requests above $25,000, a letter of support from a critical commercialization partner is required.
• Indirect research costs are eligible up to a maximum of 27%, but their inclusion is not generally recommended.
• The announcement of selected projects will be made no later than January 23, 2026.