Rimouski, Quebec, June 30, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced the awarding of a $441,539 contribution to carry out two projects based on innovation, increased productivity and improvement of competitiveness. The Corporation de soutien au développement technologique des PME (CSDT-PME) will receive a non-refundable sum of $290,039 for its activities designed to improve the innovation capacity of the small and medium-sized enterprises in Bas-Saint-Laurent, while Produits Métalliques PMI will receive a refundable contribution of $151,500 to acquire technological equipment, increase its productivity and improve its competitiveness. In both cases, financial assistance is granted under the terms of the Business and Regional Growth program.
“The Government of Canada fully supports these initiatives, which will result in an overall investment of over $845,700, and the creation of two jobs. On one hand, the regional innovation network will be significantly strengthened, since SMEs will have access to the most qualified resources, forming a leading-edge mobile team with respect to innovation. On the other hand, enterprises, including Produits Métalliques PMI, will increase their strategic capacity and become more productive and competitive on markets as they continue to grow”, noted the Minister of State.
The CSDT-PME will provide support to innovating enterprises in developing new products and processes, as well as commercializing innovations. At the end of this two-year project, it is expected that 40 companies will have had the benefit of coaching, 20 will have invested in innovation related to new products and processes, and 10 will have succeeded in increasing their sales and profitability. The achievement of this project will foster the diversification of the region’s economy through the support of Bas-Saint-Laurent enterprises in their efforts to innovate further.
Martin Sirois, the President of CSDT-PME, stated the following: “Owing to the contribution of $290,039 granted by Canada Economic Development and that of $172,700 granted by the Conférence régionale des élus du Bas-Saint-Laurent, technical support from Quebec’s Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export and to a partnership agreement with Université du Québec à Rimouski, the restart of the CSDT-PME’s activities is off to a great start. In the last three months, some 10 interventions in enterprises have already been carried out and a second engineer has been hired to help out SMEs in the eight RCMs in Bas-Saint-Laurent.”
With regard to Produits Métalliques PMI, the acquisition of high technology equipment will enable the firm to diversify its opportunities by landing contracts from major international buyers and by making inroads on foreign markets. The achievement of this project will contribute to the strengthening of the metal products industry in Bas-Saint-Laurent.
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Sources:
Guylaine Beaudoin
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-648-4679
E-mail: guylaine.beaudoin@dec-ced.gc.ca
Ève Cardinal
Special Communications Assistant
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-1339
E-mail: eve.cardinal@dec-ced.gc.ca
