Local economic development organizations and Lanaudière Économique join forces with the Quebec Innovation Council to deploy a support network for Lanaudière businesses

Saint-Jacques, June 2, 2023 - Lanaudière companies in all sectors can now benefit from a vast network of innovation advisors. The free service enables companies to quickly find the best expertise and financing programs specific to their innovation needs, from among the hundreds of resources available.

This regional network is in keeping with the spirit of Quebec's Research and Innovation Investment Strategy (SQRI).2) 2022-2027. One year after the launch of the Strategy, the network already has eight certified advisors in the region. Several other advisors will be receiving their certification in the coming months. To support the regional network, the Quebec Innovation Council has joined forces with ERAC Lanaudière, powered by Lanaudière Économique.

Together, they support and expand the scope of services offered by front-line business advisors working in regional county municipalities (RCMs), economic development corporations and other local organizations, helping to mobilize cutting-edge expertise around large-scale or technologically more complex innovation projects.

"We're very proud of the interest and participation of Lanaudière's economic development advisors. This rigorous training will ensure that the region's entrepreneurs are referred to the right resources, says Nicolas Framery, President of Lanaudière Économique.

"The deployment of this network enables companies to accelerate the realization of an innovation project. From now on, all Quebec companies, in every region, can be guided along their innovation path in a competitive, fast-changing world. By reinforcing the expertise of the MRCs and regional players already in place, the Council is emphasizing the importance of knowing your region and being close to businesses to increase innovation in Quebec. says Luc Sirois, Quebec's Chief Innovator.

Thanks to the training and high-performance tools developed by the Council, certified advisors share a common understanding of support services and assistance and financing programs, as well as a fine-tuned knowledge of local issues and complex business environments. The Quebec Innovation Council provides them with an intelligent directory to help them navigate through the range of organizations and programs available to businesses.

To support the first line of service, the Espaces régionaux d'accélération et de croissance (ERAC) are first-rate partners for the Board, with their second-line regional mandate acting in complementarity with Investissement Québec's regional office advisors and local partners such as MRCs, SADCs, niches and poles of excellence.

More than anything else, this vast network simplifies access to the resources available to companies; wherever they are located, they can now find an innovation advisor at a regional outreach organization, or simply ask to be contacted by filling out the following form this form on the Quebec Innovation Council website.

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About Lanaudière Économique

Lanaudière Économique is a non-profit organization whose mission is to respond to common local economic development issues and contribute to the prosperity and influence of Lanaudière by promoting synergy between economic development players.

About the Quebec Innovation Council

The mission of the Quebec Innovation Council, established by the Quebec government, is to boost innovation within Quebec businesses and society. Luc Sirois, Quebec's Chief Innovator, is the organization's Executive Director. The Council's role is first and foremost to advise the government and other players on strategies and approaches to boost our innovation ecosystems. The Council's team participates in the promotion and development of an innovation culture by encouraging the mobilization of regional and sectoral leaders. It also contributes to documenting and measuring innovation in Quebec, so as to better guide decision-making and multiply the economic, social and environmental spin-offs for Quebec's future.

For further information:

For Lanaudière Économique

Pascale Lapointe-Manseau, General Manager

450 365-9218 p. 201

direction@lanaudiere-economique.org

For the Quebec Innovation Council

Steve Flanagan, media relations

514 916-2512

steve@flanaganrp.com

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