There is no shortage of resources to help Quebec businesses innovate: the Conseil de l’innovation du Québec lists nearly 700 organizations that support innovation across the province. But then, isn’t it a real challenge for a company to find its way through this abundance of support?
First, the situation needs to be put into perspective: not all of these organizations are aimed at every business. Programs and initiatives are segmented by industry sector and by type of company. “From an SME’s perspective, the opportunities probably can be counted on one hand,” notes Benoît Labbé, Deputy Executive Director of the Conseil de l’innovation.
However, even finding the few programs that could help an SME in its innovation journey, “the process can be confusing when the company does not have staff dedicated to this task,” Mr. Labbé acknowledges.
A single platform
It is precisely to guide businesses through this support labyrinth that the Conseil de l’innovation has officially launched the Quebec Innovation Advisors Network on the Innoveici.quebec website. Business leaders complete a form in 15 minutes. Within ten days, an innovation advisor contacts them and becomes their point of contact to guide them toward the appropriate support programs.
Over the past two years, the Conseil de l’innovation has trained 500 advisors across the province, equipping them with the knowledge required to navigate the ecosystem of innovation support organizations.
These advisors have access to an intelligent directory which, in addition to their own expertise, enables them to match the specific needs of a project with the most relevant organizations to contact.
– Benoît Labbé, Deputy Executive Director of the Conseil de l’innovation du Québec
The principle of this advisor network is to be needs-based. These innovation advisors are employees of public or parapublic organizations, non-profit organizations, economic development services, as well as research centers and industrial expertise centers.
Each advisor directs the business toward the appropriate resources, whether they are offered by the organization that employs them or proposed by another organization. And when a project goes beyond the expertise of a front-line advisor, the business may be connected with a lead advisor, who ensures guidance toward the resources required for the innovation project.
Clarifying needs and directing businesses to the right contact
It is precisely a lead advisor who guided Cédric Moindrot toward the relevant support programs to sustain the innovation projects of Ma Cantine, where he is a partner and Director of Operations. His partner, Philippe Jean, President of Ma Cantine, and he designed smart refrigerators that are sold or leased to organizations seeking to offer food services to their employees or visitors.
“We didn’t know exactly what we needed or which resources we were eligible for. Through discussion, ideas emerged, and within 48 hours, we received an email with proposed contacts,” Mr. Moindrot explains.
This is genuine follow-up, with attentive listening to our needs and concrete connections. We’re not just given names; we’re also provided with the contact details of the right people to reach.
Cédric Moindrot, Director of Operations, Ma Cantine
The entrepreneur was able to identify the need to finance the company’s working capital as well as the deployment of sales representatives in major cities across Quebec and Ontario. Ma Cantine, which has already installed around forty smart refrigerators, aims to deploy 100 more by the end of 2025, which requires significant commercialization efforts. His advisor made several suggestions and also provided him with the contact details of a connection in Toronto.
Commercialization is somewhat the poor cousin of innovation support, when assistance ends once new products have been developed. “Quebec businesses must benefit from continuous support from start to finish of their innovation projects, with greater emphasis on commercialization,” argues Frédéric Alberro, President and CEO of the Association pour le développement de la recherche et de l’innovation du Québec (ADRIQ). “We must keep our eyes on customers, competition, and external markets. We must not abandon businesses at the very moment they begin commercializing their products and developing exports.”
Source: Didier Bert, La Presse – Portfolio Innovation, November 5, 2024
