Strengthening Canada's innovative manufacturing sector - Quebec and Ottawa grant over $740,000 to support business innovation in the Mauricie region

TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QC, June 12, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada are offering a non-repayable contribution of more than $740,000 to Économie du savoir Mauricie (ESM) for two projects that will help it guide manufacturing SMEs in upgrading their level of technological innovation and delivering investment and market development projects.  

Julie Boulet, Minister of Tourism, Minister responsible for the Mauricie Region, acting on behalf of Lise Thériault, Deputy Minister, Minister responsible for SMEs, Regulatory Streamlining and Regional Economic Development, Minister responsible for the Status of Women and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière Region, along with Jean-Denis Girard, Member for Trois‑Rivières, and François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade and Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice–Champlain, made this announcement today.

The first project is evaluated at $887,250 and consists in implementing a three-year strategic plan (2017–2020). The ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation (MESI) is contributing $202,500 through the Programme d'appui au développement des secteurs stratégiques et des créneaux d'excellence (PADS), while Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) is investing $300,000. The organization's strategic plan focuses on specific directions, notably tailor-made coaching in the delivery of innovative projects, access to networks of experts, innovation promotion, innovation diagnostics and financial support for the delivery of innovative projects.

The second project is called Cellule Croissance 2017–2020 and is evaluated at $480,000, with MESI granting $240,000 over three years through the PADS. This project is for businesses that want to undertake a process of Accompagnement-conseil stratégique^TM that will help them expand their skills and possibly submit a project as part of a government strategy, such as the PerforME strategy, or have access to the Economic Diversification Fund for the Centre‑du‑Québec and Mauricie regions.

Quotes:

"The Government of Canada is committed to helping businesses grow, innovate and export so that they can create good quality jobs and wealth. As the Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice–Champlain, I am proud that we are supporting regional economic development partners such as Économie du savoir Mauricie."

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade and Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice–Champlain

"As the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, my goal is to support Canadian businesses and organizations that build on innovation. As a true economic driver, innovation is the key to success because it generates growth that benefits enterprises and communities. By supporting Économie du savoir Mauricie in implementing its three-year strategic plan, we are helping provide businesses with adequate resources to create and commercialize innovative products."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED

"Économie du savoir Mauricie has implemented a high-performance network of resources specialized in providing SMEs in the Mauricie region with personalized coaching. Numerous discussions with business leaders have led to the implementation of innovative initiatives that take regional concerns and realities into account. It makes me happy to know that over the past few years, some 75 Mauricie businesses have benefited from the innovative approach developed by this organization."

Julie Boulet, Minister of Tourism, Minister responsible for the Mauricie Region and Member for Laviolette

"The pool of Mauricie region SMEs that could become tomorrow's leaders offers great potential. That is why Cellule Croissance will be working proactively to encourage businesses to develop a structured coaching approach that will help them perform at a higher level. Économie du savoir Mauricie has developed a service line that complements those of local economic development organizations, while addressing specific needs related to innovation."

Jean‑Denis Girard, Member for Trois-Rivières

"Quebec's growth is based on three major pillars: entrepreneurship, innovative manufacturing and exports. Our government announced an investment of $825M over three years in innovative manufacturing. We are therefore proud to support Économie du savoir Mauricie, whose strategic business guidance and coaching is paramount for innovation. Every year, five to ten businesses in the manufacturing and tertiary sectors will be able to get financial assistance. This is an excellent way to ensure their growth and diversify the regional economy."

Lise Thériault, Deputy Minister, Minister responsible for SMEs, Regulatory Streamlining and Regional Economic Development, Minister responsible for the Status of Women and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière Region

Highlights:

• Économie du savoir Mauricie (website in French only) is a regional organization that started operations in 2011, providing personalized coaching services for businesses with strong innovation potential. It supports pre-startup, startup and innovation capacity building for businesses by providing them with specialized, personalized coaching services. The organization also encourages the entire business community to adopt innovative practices.
• The Stratégie d'accélération des projets d'entreprises performantes performe (website in French only) is designed to stimulate economic growth in Quebec by accelerating the delivery of projects by SMEs recognized by their peers for their high performance.
• The Fonds de diversification économique du Centre-du-Québec et de la Mauricie (website in French only) provides flexible financial instruments for SMEs in those regions. Its services include support for the creation, startup and growth of high-performance, innovative businesses, and for projects involving the development of new products or processes.
• The PADS (website in French only) mobilizes and harmonizes the actions of businesses and MESI's economic partners around common goals and modes of intervention to promote the development of strategic sectors and the implementation of ministerial guidelines.
• In Budget 2017, the Government of Canada presented its Innovation and Skills Plan, which will make Canada a world leader in an innovation-based economy in order to create jobs and ensure growth for the middle class.
• CED's Quebec Economic Development Program is one of the main programs supporting innovation and economic diversification in Quebec.
• To learn more about CED's key directions up to 2021, please consult Strategic Plan 2021 or visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca.

SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

For further information: Patrick Soucy, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Mauricie region, Tel.: [phone]; Marianne Méthot, Policy Advisor, Office of the Member for Trois-Rivières, Tel.: [phone]; Clémence Beaulieu Gendron, Press Secretary, Office of the Deputy Minister, Minister responsible for SMEs, Regulatory Streamlining and Regional Economic Development, Minister responsible for the Status of Women and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière Region, Tel.: 418-691‑5650; Information: Jean‑Pierre D'Auteuil, Media Relations Officer, Direction des communications, Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation, Tel.: 418-691‑5698, ext. 4868, Cell.: 418-559-0710; Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Tel.: [phone], Email: [e-mail]