Startup Québec: $1.35 million to support three Montréal projects

Digital Economy Action Plan

MONTRÉAL, May 18, 2018 – As part of point 3 of Startup Québec, from the Digital Economy Action Plan, the Government of Québec is granting funding totalling $1,350,000, divided equally, to District 3, GamePlay Space and Esplanade Montréal to support three projects¹ valued at $8,972,000 in total.

David Birnbaum, MNA for D’Arcy-McGee and Chair of the Montréal caucus, made the announcement today, on behalf of the Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, Dominique Anglade, and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Martin Coiteux.

Quotes:

Montréal is overflowing with talent and innovative economic projects. These three organizations truly highlight the city’s strengths and create a fostering environment for dynamic start-ups, which will in turn stimulate economic growth in Montréal. Our government is proud to support these stakeholders and their initiatives, which are essential for developing a creative and innovative company.

– David Birnbaum, MNA for D’Arcy-McGee and Chair of the Montréal caucus

Through their projects, District 3, GamePlay Space and Esplanade Montréal will work together to propel Québec start-ups so that they can take full advantage of the digital revolution that is currently taking place. Digital technologies offer the potential for innovation and rapid growth, regardless of the business sector. The projects announced today are advantageous for the city since they will allow more start-ups to benefit from world-class support in Montréal.

– Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region

The new Québec stands out thanks to its dynamic entrepreneurs who, like us, have a vision of innovative companies, and it also sets itself apart by its thriving entrepreneurial culture. Because of Startup Québec, the steps are in place for us to further stimulate the creation and growth of innovative technology start-ups in all areas. This is how we will be able to count Québec as one of the most entrepreneurial and innovative societies in the world.

– Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy 

Key points:

• Startup Québec is intended for incubators, accelerator organizations and university entrepreneurship centres that hope to establish international partnerships for exchanges between innovative start-ups or to help create such businesses in Québec. It has four components:
  • Point 1 – International exchange partnerships for start-ups;
  • Point 2 – Support for incubators, accelerator organizations and university entrepreneurship centres;
  • Point 3 – Innovative projects;
  • Point 4 – Youth start-up.
• Startup Québec, from the Digital Economy Action Plan, is part of the fifth guideline, an economy of digital excellence, of Québec’s digital strategy. This guideline is to ensure that Québec businesses increase their digital intensity by 50% over the next five years.
• Twenty other projects under points 1 and 2 were announced July 4, 2017.
• With a budget of $200 million over five years, the Plan d’action en économie numérique (Digital Economy Action Plan, in French only) is one of the pillars of Québec’s digital strategy, launched in December 2017.
• The  Stratégie numérique du Québec (Quebec Digital Strategy, in French only) is a social project aiming for coherence in government actions to foster the development of a truly digital culture in all fields.