Backgrounder: Funding for Laval businesses and organizations to promote technological development

Laval, Quebec, September 3, 2020 – Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

The following information is in addition to the news release issued on September 3, 2020, on CED’s financial assistance and the recipient businesses and organizations and their respective projects.

Overview

• 4 projects supported by CED
• $2,444,286 in financial contributions from CED
• 20 jobs created
• 18 jobs maintained
  

Details

Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Laval

Established in 1967, the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Laval (CCIL) provides a variety of support services to businesses in order to promote the economic development of the greater Laval area in the retail trade, service and manufacturing sectors. With the support of the Ville de Laval, which partially funds it, the CCIL develops, undertakes and coordinates workforce development, employability, academic perseverance, francization, circular economy and sustainable development projects, among others.

CED is awarding a non-repayable contribution of $544,660 to the CCIL under the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF). Between now and March 31, 2021, the project aims to offer a technical support service to Laval businesses affected by the economic impacts of COVID‑19. CED’s contribution will cover costs such as salaries, professional fees and coordination expenses. This project is expected to create three jobs.

Centre québécois d’innovation en biotechnologie and Campus des technologies de la santé

The mission of the Centre québécois d'innovation en biotechnologie (CQIB) is to support life sciences and health technology start-ups in Greater Montréal. Established by the Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS) in 1995, this non-profit organization is Quebec’s only biotechnology incubator and the first life sciences incubator in Canada.

The Campus des technologies de la santé (CTS) is a non-profit accelerator for businesses specializing in information technology and medical devices. Established in 2008, it supports businesses in overcoming marketing challenges in health networks both in Canada and abroad.

The project is a collaboration between the CQIB and the CTS, which will be bound by a contribution agreement. They will receive a joint non-repayable contribution of $1.5 million, awarded under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program. CED’s assistance will cover CQIB and CTS support activities, namely incubation services for the formulation of digital health ideas and concepts. The project will make it possible to accelerate the development of digital and connected solutions, and to further stimulate the growth of businesses receiving assistance and to enhance their international competitiveness; it will also create three jobs.

Group Elite Communications

Established in 2014, Group Elite Communications specializes in call and contact centres for large businesses. This 80-employee-strong SME develops applications it integrates into its partners’ software packages to enhance workforce optimization solutions. The company provides a turnkey service that includes needs analysis, application design and development, rollout and monitoring of developed systems, and training.

Group Elite Communications has received a $203,672 repayable contribution to help it increase its productivity and implement an international marketing and commercialization strategy. The contribution, which was awarded under the REGI program, will enable this SME to create 10 jobs.

SynergX Technologies

Established in 2004, SynergX Technologies Inc. develops, manufactures and markets advanced optical and photonic non-contact glass inspection technological systems. The system uses a leading-edge anomaly recognition software application that is used in the glass industry and by manufacturers using glass as an input (automotive, aerospace, photovoltaic panels, electrical appliances, bottling and architectural glass).

CED’s financial assistance aims to help the company implement a commercialization strategy for its solutions in the United States, particularly in the Midwest and the South. The $195,954 repayable contribution, awarded under the REGI program, will enable this SME to create four jobs.