Montreal Summit on Innovation - Over 475 participants assemble to strengthen ties betweencreative industries and health

MONTRÉAL, Nov. 7, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Quartier de l'innovation and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal are pleased with the success of the fourth edition of the Montreal Summit on Innovation (MSI), which brought together over 475 participants at the Palais des congrès de Montréal on November 6. An initiative of the Quartier de l'innovation, under the leadership of McGill University and École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), the theme for the MSI was Health and Creative Industries: An Inspiring and Winning Partnership.

"Health and creativity are two strong sectors in Montreal, and bringing them together creates fertile ground for innovation," said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. "Montreal has an abundance of innovative businesses that can tackle the health care sector's challenges with their expertise and creativity. These partnerships are all the more significant today with the patient at the centre of the equation. The fourth edition of the MSI went beyond bringing these two worlds together; it was a chance to explore concrete solutions to complex problems in the health care sector."

"Presentations by local and international speakers started a reflection process and debate among participants to identify best practices from home and abroad that can help Quebec and Montreal tackle the many health challenges they are facing," said Damien Silès, Executive Director of the Quartier de l'innovation. "Through the 2014 MSI, different players in health and creative industries embarked on a process of collaboration and innovation that has only just begun. The Quartier de l'innovation will do its part to bring about future encounters between these two strategic sectors and facilitate the success of these collaborations."

The 2014 MSI involved a day of presentations and discussions as well as a business luncheon with the Chief Scientist of Québec, Rémi Quirion, as a special guest. He spoke with representatives of businesses, Montreal schools and health care institutions, and cultural organizations on site about how we can prepare Montreal's succession in science and innovation while increasing collaborations between the health care sector and creative industries.

Results of the Hacking Health Design Challenge

The Hacking Health Design Challenge took place alongside the MSI, with six teams of professional designers developing innovative, realistic and patient-focused solutions to health care problems. These solutions will be presented on November 26^th as part of an activity inspired by the show Dragon's Den meant to generate financing for their commercialization. The Hacking Health Design Challenge is organized by Hacking Health Montréal in partnership with f. & co.

The 2014 edition of the MSI was organized this year by McGill University, in partnership with the ÉTS and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, and was made possible through the support of the MSI 2014 Steering Committee and the following partners: the Fonds de recherche du Québec and Bell (Gold partners), BDC Capital, BDO, C2 Montréal, the Centre d'entreprises et d'innovation de Montréal, Concordia University, Cossette, the Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et des Exportations, Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ville de Montréal, ROBIC, Ubisoft and the Université du Québec à Montréal (Bronze partners).

About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has over 7,000 members. Its mission is to be the voice of Montréal's business community and to promote the city's prosperity. It is involved in key areas of economic development, advocating a philosophy of action based on engagement, credibility, proactivity, collaboration and innovation. The Board of Trade also offers a range of specialized services to individuals and to business of all sizes to support them in their growth at home and abroad.

About the Quartier de l'innovation

The Quartier de l'innovation (QI) – officially launched in May 2013 by École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) and McGill University – is an innovative ecosystem at the heart of Montréal which aims to foster the creative potential of the metropolis. The QI promotes the complementary strengths and resources of its founding institutions as well as its numerous partners in research, training, innovation and entrepreneurship. The QI is located a few steps away from downtown Montreal in the South-West district, which encompasses Griffintown, Saint-Henri, Petite Bourgogne and Pointe Saint-Charles. QI projects and activities are founded on its four pillars: research and education, social and cultural, industrial and urban.

Video with caption: "Video: The Quartier de l’innovation and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal are pleased with the success of the fourth edition of the Montreal Summit on Innovation (MSI).". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20141107_C2718_VIDEO_EN_7687.mp4&posterurl=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos.newswire.ca%2Fimages%2F20141107_C2718_VIDEO_EN_7687.jpg&order=1&jdd=20141107&cnum=C2718

SOURCE: Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

Sources: Advisor, Media Relations, Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, Tel.: [phone], ext. 4042, [email protected]; Facebook: www.facebook.com/chambremontreal; Twitter: @chambremontreal; follow the discussion: #ccmmqcca; Carole Graveline, Director, Media Relations, McGill University, Tel.: [phone], [email protected]