Alma, Quebec, May 21, 2008 – The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, today unveiled the third component of his Agency's 2008-2011 Strategic Plan during a luncheon conference hosted by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie Lac-Saint-Jean-Est. With a $32 million budget over three years, this newest component will help support Quebec's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their efforts to improve their innovation performance, thereby generating estimated investments of more than $192 million in the Quebec economy through financial leverage.
"I recently announced the Major Economic and Tourism Facilities and Productivity Support components of the Canada Economic Development Strategic Plan for 2008-2011. Today, we are adding a new component, Innovation Support, which will allow us to help SMEs pursue their growth while continuing to build on the competitiveness of these firms across the regions of Quebec," stated Minister Blackburn.
The Minister took the opportunity to once again underscore the valuable input of the 14 advisory committees established at his initiative in fall 2006 to formulate a series of economic recommendations. "The advice they have given us reflects the realities and concerns of regional stakeholders, which has in turn allowed us to be better tuned in to the regions and to business," he explained.
The Innovation Support component centres on two elements, namely business innovation and natural resources testing and experimentation.
Innovation
In the area of innovation, Canada Economic Development intends to help SMEs in all regions of Quebec better manage their development of new products, processes and services and intensify their commercialization efforts. SMEs that, within the framework of a growth strategy, are looking to undertake a project to restructure their research and development activities by conducting a diagnosis or implementing an innovation management system, among other things, could be eligible for funding under this element. Such projects must ultimately result in an increase in the efficiency of the firms' innovation activities. SMEs with a project to commercialize a new device developed through demonstrations carried out by outside experts to help these firms better assess customer needs could also qualify for assistance. These projects must ultimately lead to an increase in the firm's revenues derived from its innovation activities.
Testing and experimentation
In terms of natural resources testing and experimentation, support will be available to SMEs in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Côte-Nord, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Nord-du-Québec and Mauricie regions, as well as in Quebec's 21 devitalized regional county municipalities. Eligible activities will include, among other things, the testing of new products or processes and the development of higher-performance equipment or innovative technologies.
"Innovation is a decisive factor in SME competitiveness and natural resources are central to the economic growth of many of Quebec's regions. In developing this Innovation Support component, we maintained our focus on the need to offer SMEs effective support that meets their needs and promotes their adjustment to the particularly high demands of the global economy," Minister Blackburn concluded.
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Sources:
Nadia Marceau
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-668-4602 or 1-800-463-9808
E-mail: nadia.marceau@dec-ced.gc.ca
Sylvain Frenette
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-1282
E-mail: sylvain.frenette@dec-ced.gc.ca
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