Canada and Quebec to grant $35M to innovative manufacturers
by CM Staff
The near $35 million investment project is expected to boost SMEs' performance in innovative packaging, intelligent packaging systems and production lines.
RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP — Representatives from the governments of Canada and Quebec have said they will grant a total of $22.8 million in financial support to the NPO Halles d’Innovation et de Formation Avancée to build an innovation centre specializing in packaging and manufacturing intelligence.
A statement from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions says that the packaging and manufacturing centre should allow SME’s in the manufacturing sector to accelerate their digital transformation and SME’s in the agri-food sector to help reduce food waste.
The near $35 million investment project is expected to boost SMEs’ performance in innovative packaging, intelligent packaging systems and production lines. The centre will use wood fibre and bioplastics in the short term to create new types of packaging.
As part of this project, the federal government will grant a non-repayable contribution of $9.4 million under the Jobs and Growth Fund, a federal program administered by CED in Quebec.
Additionally, the Government of Quebec is granting $13.4 million, including $12.9 million in non‑repayable financial assistance from the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation and $500,000 from the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation, provided under the Soutien au rayonnement des régions component of the Fonds régions et ruralité.
“Our government has adopted measures to help our businesses by leveraging innovation, new technologies, and the green shift. By supporting the Halles d’Innovation et de Formation Avancée, that is exactly what we are doing today. We are assisting an organization that will provide technical and specialized mentoring to SMEs. Building this new centre of excellence will be a key element in deploying the green economy in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and right across Quebec,” said Pascale St-Onge, MP for Brome-Missisquoi, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for CED in a statement.
