Presentation by Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et des Exportations

Strengthening Science, Technology, and Innovation Partnerships

between Québec and Europe

International Collaboration Division

Montréal, September 24, 2014

Proposed Agenda

• General overview of Québec – Research and innovation

• Mandate of the International Collaboration Division

• Our existing collaborations with Europe

• Opportunities on the Québec side

• Potential new collaborations

General Overview of the Province of Québec

• GDP: $358 billion (20% of Canada’s GDP)• NAFTA: Access to a market of 460 million consumers

General Overview of the Province of Québec

An economy focused on innovation

• Life sciences (biotechnology, personalized health care, biofood)

• Aeronautics

• Green technologies

• ICT and creative industries

• Renewable energy and transportation electrification

Research and Innovation in Québec

• Québec’s assets:

A substantial university and college network covering almost the entire province

Strong and competitive international clusters A vibrant international culture A political commitment to invest in research and

innovation in the coming years

• In 2010, Québec had the most intensive R&D in Canada with total expenses in terms of GDP of 2.49%. The Canadian average is 1.85% and for the OECD, 2.38%.

• Québec had 42,800 researchers, or 10 per 1,000 of the active population, the highest ratio in Canada.

• A unique position in Canada: Québec Chief Scientist

General Overview of the Province of Québec

1- Bishop’s University

2- Concordia University

3- Université Laval

4- McGill University

5- Université de Montréal

6- HEC Montréal

7- École Polytechnique

de Montréal

8- Université de Sherbrooke

9- UQAM

10- UQTR

11- UQAC

12- UQAR

13- UQO

14- UQAT

15- INRS

16- ÉNAP

17- ÉTS

18- TÉLUQ

Québec Innovation Chain

New minister since April 24: Jacques Daoust

Promote Québec’s participation (including institutional and industry partners) in

international projects and networks in the fields of research and innovation by

supporting the implementation of activities and strategic alliances.

Initiatives may take the form of international agreements, programs, foreign missions, and the hosting of international

delegations with a view to facilitating targeted matchmaking with potential partners.

The International Collaboration Division also promotes Government of Québec

representation in international forums.

What We Do

Examples of Past Activities

• May 2011: Canada-EU Innovation Forum• May 2011: Visit by Ana Arana Antelo, Directorate General for

Research & Innovation, European Commission• March 2012: Eureka European delegation• July 2013: Visit by André Syrota, CEO of INSERM • November 2013: Visit by Eurogia• January 2014: Passport for Partnerships: Linking Québec and

Europe in Research and Innovation• September 2014: Visit by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European

Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science

Since 2011: Québec participation in the Canada-EU Joint Committee on S-T (JSTCC)

PROGRAMS TO WATCH IF YOU WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH

QUÉBEC

11

Goals of PSR-SIIRI

Increase the number of high-level international research and innovation partnerships in

strategic and priority areas for Québec

Foster the participation of strategic groups, Québec centers of excellence, and businesses

within large international networks and R&D consortiums

Research Assistance Program: Assistance for

International Research and Innovation Initiatives

Component (PSR-SIIRI)

12

Types of projects

Joint projects Bilateral and multilateral Major projects

- International networks (four foreign partners and more)- Large-scale joint projects (7th European Framework

Program, Horizon 2020) Specific calls for proposals (government commitments,

themes)

Research Assistance Program: Assistance for

International Research and Innovation Initiatives

Component (PSR-SIIRI)

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Research Assistance Program: Assistance for

International Research and Innovation Initiatives

Component (PSR-SIIRI)

Target clientelesResearchers associated with businesses* and nonprofit

organizations active in all aspects of scientific and technological

research, innovation, and transfer and with public research

facilities, health and education networks.

*Priority is given to those with less than 250 employees.

Calls for proposals to be confirmed.

For more information click here: PSR-SIIRI

Québec and European Partners Share Strong Ties

• At the Canadian level, Québec receives 30% of EC funding to Canada (ranked 2nd after Ontario).

• Our division offers 50% co-funding via PSR-SIIRI to Québec researchers for their participation at FP7.

• Since 2007, 23 FP7 projects have been funded for a total of $13.4 million.

= total budget of these projects is $36 million to be spent in Québec - more than $119.5 million from international contributions

Québec and European Partners Share Strong Ties• We have funded bilateral

and multilateral projects (outside FP7) that include European partners.

• Since 2007 we have funded 179 projects with our European partners for a total of $14.8 million from the Ministry.

• These included joint research projects, strategic networking, and project building initiatives.

Partner country Participating projects

France 105

Italy 35

Germany 33

Belgium 29

United Kingdom 27Spain 16

Denmark 11

Netherlands 9

Sweden 6

Switzerland 5

Québec Tax Holiday for Researchers and Experts

Eligibility for employers: Basically private sector

Any employer operating a business in Québec and conducting science research and experimental research is eligible.

Exceptions:• Any municipality or public body performing government

functions.• Any company with at least 90% of its shares, capital, or assets

held by a government or municipality in Québec.• Any university or public research center.

• Provincial tax holiday. The direct beneficiary is the foreign employee.

• This tax holiday is for a maximum of 60 consecutive months and applies to the salary received by the foreign researcher: – 100% of taxable income the first two years – 75% the third year – 50% the fourth year– 25% the fifth year

Financial Assistance

Tax Holiday for Foreign Experts and Researchers

• Since 2007, 109 experts and 352 researchers have been admitted.

• For both categories, areas of expertise are ICT, aeronautics, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.

• Beneficiaries are mostly from France, the UK, and Germany.

For more information click here: Tax holiday

Tax Holiday for Precompetitive Research Projects in Private Partnership

For R&D partnerships between a minimum of 2 companies

The project must meet two objectives:• Hold a partnership agreement• Conduct precompetitive research

A foreign company can be a partner in these projects.

For more information click here: Precompetitive

Québec Research Fund in Nature and Technologies

• FRQNT is now a member of CHIST-ERA (European Coordinated Research on Long-term Challenges in Information and Communication Sciences & Technologies, ERA-Net).

• This membership allows Québec researchers to present projects with their international partners.

Québec Research Fund in Nature and Technologies

Two thematic priorities:

• Resilient and Trustworthy Cyber-Physical Systems

• Human Language Understanding

FRQNT will be funding two projects.

The call will be launched in October 2014. 

For more information on the call: http://www.chistera.eu/topics-keywords-chist-era-conference-2014

Contact on the Québec side:Guillaume Lamontagne

Email: guillaume.lamontagne@frq.gouv.qc.ca

Telephone: 1-418-643‑8560, ext. 3455

Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Québec (CRIAQ)

p. 23

55+

industrial members

academic members 25+

Aerospace Collaboration Opportunities

$107.6 million total for ongoing & completed projects

• International collaborations - Require at least two Canadian enterprises, and one foreign.

• Intellectual property matters are managed between partners.

international collaborators

researchers and

industrial specialists

600+

20+

Collaborations with Europe

p. 24

Continued relations with Europe since CRIAQ’s creation in 2002 (missions, MOU, agreement)

Successful projects:

A collaborative model based on business agreements between companies and/or student

exchange (& co-supervision) between research institutions

Launched in April 2014

Operational model based on CRIAQ recognized as a best practice for collaborative research in Canada

Industry-driven with strong academic presence and collaboration

Mandated to manage the first EU-Canada coordinated call in aeronautics

NEWConsortium for Aerospace Research and Innovation in Canada (CARIC)

• Funding available for 3–4 projects (total project budget around €3 million: Canadian and European activities combined)

• A partnership of a minimum of 7 partners: 4 from Canada (2 academics & 2 industries)3 from Europe

• Deadline for submission: April, 23, 2015, on both sidesMore info on the Canadian side starting September 30 at www.caric.ca/

• Success rate: twice the average for H2020 Research and Innovation Actions

Ongoing opportunity 1st call in coordination with the European Commission

2015 EU-Canada Coordinated Call for Research Projects in Aeronautics

Topic-oriented call:

• Reducing environmental impact through advanced design of novel aircraft configurations

• Reducing noise through novel materials design and application on engines and/or airframes

• Resource-efficient, high-performance, advanced-materials product development and manufacturing

• Reducing energy consumption through more electrical aircraft and systems integration

2015 EU-Canada Coordinated Call for Research Projects in Aeronautics

More info on this call (European side) at

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/9059-mg-1.9-2015.ht

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BLUE GROWTH FOCUS AREA

WP 2014-2015Trans-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance

Status: Political statement advanced jointly by all three parties:

• Utilizing existing bilateral science and technology cooperation agreements and multilateral

cooperation frameworks,

• Recommending priorities for future cooperation, and, where possible,

• Coordinating the planning and programming of relevant activities in these areas.

Goal: Better understand the Atlantic Ocean and promote the sustainable management of its

resources. The work will also study the interplay of the Atlantic Ocean with the Arctic Ocean,

particularly with regard to climate change.

In Work Program 2014–2015: Several topics are identified as relevant for implementation of the Galway

Statement:

• Involvement of US and Canadian entities strongly encouraged

https://www.marine.ie/home/aboutus/newsroom/pressreleases/

EUUSCanadalaunchAtlanticOceanresearchallianceinGalway.htm

Our Priorities with Europe

• Facilitate the dissemination of opportunities for collaboration with Europe to the research and innovation community in Québec.

• Offer direct co-funding for international research projects involving European partners and work with partners to extend our offer to researchers and companies.

• Organize outward and inward missions and contribute to the creation of strategic partnerships.

CONTACTS

For questions Hasna Rouighi

Email: hasna.rouighi@mesrs.gouv.qc.ca

Tel.: 514-873-1767, ext.6910Inji Yaghmour

Email: Inji.yaghmour@mesrs.gouv.qc.ca

Tel.: 514-873-1767, ext.6971

Questions/Comments

• …

Thank you!

MERCI!

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www.economie.gouv.qc.ca