Université de Sherbrooke partners with the Quebec government’s first two designated innovation zones

The first two innovation zones designated by the Quebec government are both active and strategic partners with the Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS). The Sherbrooke quantique zone for quantum sciences and tech applications in Sherbrooke and the Technum Québec digital technology zone in Bromont are two separate but complementary projects that are leveraging one of the most dynamic research communities in the country.

In fact, according to the most recent list of Canada's Top 50 Research Universities compiled by Research Infosource, UdeS is still ranked among Canada’s top research universities. This year it once again posted the strongest growth in terms of research revenue. Research Infosource also released its 20-Year University Spotlights, which placed UdeS first in terms of growth in research activity and second for growth in corporate research revenue over the past 20 years.

Partnership research has been part of our culture for many years. It is a driver of change that generates innovation for organizations of all types, from NPOs and SMEs to municipalities and large corporations. With our researchers, we want to actively contribute to meeting society’s challenges.” When the Quebec government launched a call for innovation-zone projects, UdeS and its partners in Sherbrooke and Bromont began putting together original proposals that would meet the government's highest expectations.

UdeS Rector Pierre Cossette

Rector Cossette is pleased to see this partnership approach recognized by the Quebec government as part of the first two designated innovation zones. This dual recognition is rooted in a history of collaboration that is unique in Quebec. As a link between university research and the development of new products transferred to industry, the Integrated Innovation Chain helps organizations develop technological solutions through the synergy of three leading entities: the Institut quantique (IQ), the Interdisciplinary Institute of Technological Innovation (3IT)—both of which are located at UdeS—and the MiQro Innovation Collaboration Center (C2MI), which is located in Bromont and was co-founded by UdeS. This network includes a very large scientific community working in research and development that serves industry.

As a founding partner of the Sherbrooke and Bromont zones, UdeS will contribute many of its strengths to this unique ecosystem, such as the excellence of its cutting-edge fundamental and applied research; internship placements for all education levels to train the highly qualified personnel (HQP) needed by companies and organizations; research chairs; a Business Partnership Group to support innovation at SMEs; entrepreneurial facilitation and support for start-ups with the Accelerator for the Creation of Technological Businesses (ACET-National Bank); and more.

The partners of these two innovation zones have confirmed their shared desire to collaborate and coordinate. For example, the board of directors for each innovation zone includes a member from the other zone.

“Over the past 20 years, Teledyne DALSA's Bromont facility has made a strategic operational shift to various types of sensors. This new orientation has been very successful thanks in part to our culture of collaboration with different players in the sector. We have been working with many universities, and especially UdeS, for a very long time. Many of these collaborations have taken place at 3IT and C2MI since its inception in 2012. These partnerships allow us not only to develop and adequately and fairly protect new technologies but also to nurture the specialized talent that has made our growth possible in recent years. It was a natural step for us to become actively involved in the Bromont and Sherbrooke innovation zones,” said Claude Jean, Chair of the Board of Technum Québec in Bromont, CEO of Teledyne DALSA, and Board Member of Sherbrooke quantique.

Working and innovating with organizations has always been a vital part of our practices. This partnership culture has continued to develop over the years and is a driving force of the technology transfer of our organization that has attracted over a billion dollars in investments since its creation. As a key partner in the Sherbrooke and Bromont innovation zones, UdeS will help scale up the major spin-offs of research.

Vincent Aimez, Vice-President, Partnerships and Knowledge Transfer at UdeS, Vice-President of Sherbrooke quantique and Board Member of Technum Québec

UdeS shares the Quebec government's vision of accelerating the transition from the research lab to the marketplace in leading-edge sectors to support growth and exports, attract local and foreign investment to the regions, attract and retain talent, and create collective wealth in sustainable communities.