Montréal, Quebec, October 19, 2009 – The Honourable Claude Carignan, Senator (Mille Isles), today announced, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, the awarding of $633,834 in non-repayable funding to TechnoMontréal under the Business and Regional Growth program. This assistance will help the organization pursue its mission to strengthen the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Cluster of Greater Montréal by stimulating interactions between private and institutional players.
TechnoMontréal is a non-profit organization (NPO) incorporated in March 2007. As the ICT Cluster’s Secretariat, it coordinates the actions of all industry players with the goal of increasing their international competitiveness and positioning.
“The ICT sector is highly strategic and has a huge ripple effect on other sectors. Canada Economic Development’s financial assistance will enable TechnoMontréal to support ICT firms, increase their innovative capabilities and competitiveness, while positioning the Montréal region, and Quebec, among the best in the world. This funding will generate spin-offs in terms of job creation as well as increased private and university R&D investment and staff,” said Senator Carignan.
"For our government, it is important to contribute—in conjunction with local economic stakeholders—to the development, growth and international outreach of Montréal. The ICT sector is our largest skilled labour pool and Quebec’s industry can be proud of being a world leader in the field thanks to the quality of its workforce. With 120,000 jobs in 3,000 companies, the Greater Montréal’s ICT cluster is the most important in the region, as well as a key player for its prosperity with exports in excess of $5 billion in 2006,” the Minister of State concluded.
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Sources :
Marie-Claude Lemire
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-283-2199
E-mail: marie-claude.lemire@dec-ced.gc.ca
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
E-mail: simon.bachand@dec-ced.gc.ca
