Interview with the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE)
According to the OECD Oslo Manual, innovation is defined as a new or significantly improved product, process, or practice that has been implemented or commercialized and generates real value for a business, its users, or society. Consequently, while activities such as research and development (R&D), digital transformation, and the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies are essential drivers, they do not in themselves constitute innovation unless they lead to tangible and beneficial outcomes for the organization.
According to the Québec Innovation Council’s Innovation Barometer, innovation is a major strategic lever for businesses, doubling the likelihood of revenue growth and increasing organizational agility in responding to market opportunities. Yet nearly 40% of Québec businesses still do not perceive innovation as a priority.
To encourage innovation among manufacturers, the Government of Québec has implemented a range of initiatives aimed at supporting collaborative research, providing direct assistance to businesses, fostering startup development, and expanding access to investment capital.
To maximize the impact of these initiatives, it is essential to leverage Québec’s Excellence Clusters and Regional Spaces for Acceleration and Growth (ERACs), which promote collaboration among businesses, research centres, and regional stakeholders. By strengthening these connections, they help transform knowledge into concrete innovations, thereby enhancing Québec’s competitiveness in national and international markets.
ERACs and Excellence Clusters: Regional Drivers of Innovation and Growth
Accelerating the Growth of Québec Businesses: The Key Role of ERACs
Regional Spaces for Acceleration and Growth (ERACs) are designed to accelerate business growth by facilitating the emergence of innovative projects and ensuring access to services tailored to entrepreneurs’ needs. ERACs help foster a culture of innovation within their regions and are integrated into strategies such as the Québec Research and Innovation Investment Strategy 2022–2027 and the Québec Entrepreneurship Plan 2022–2025.
ERACs work closely with regional partners and economic development advisors. They play a key role in networking and connecting businesses with innovation ecosystem stakeholders by organizing events that encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration on a wide range of topics. In addition, they collaborate with public research centres to support collaborative research projects.
ERACs serve as innovation hubs, offering a broad range of services including personalized support, access to experts in various fields, training programs, and assistance in securing both public and private funding. Their objective is to strengthen the competitiveness of businesses in national and international markets.
Excellence Clusters: A Lever for Innovation, Specialization, and Competitiveness
Established in 2002 through the ACCORD initiative, Excellence Clusters support businesses within specific sectors by bringing them together around collaborative projects aimed at fostering innovation and economic growth. Their role is to provide the expertise and resources needed to help companies expand and enhance their competitiveness in sectors where regions possess strong competitive advantages, enabling them to specialize in areas of excellence.
Excellence Clusters support businesses in innovative projects involving new technologies, applied research, and collaborative initiatives. Through mobilization efforts and tailored support services, they help increase productivity and stimulate innovation.
These regional initiatives are designed to develop key sectors by facilitating cooperation among businesses, research institutions, and local stakeholders. They leverage each region’s unique strengths while supporting the growth of specialized industries.
Alliance Polymères Québec, founded in 2008 and originally known as Vallée de la Plasturgie, is an Excellence Cluster established through the ACCORD initiative in the Chaudière-Appalaches region.
ERACs and Excellence Clusters: Two Complementary Approaches to Québec’s Economic Development
ERACs and Excellence Clusters are both organizations that support regional economic development, but their approaches differ. ERACs take a broad, cross-sectoral approach, supporting businesses from all industries in their innovation and growth projects. Their role is to help accelerate business growth by facilitating the adoption of new technologies and providing access to a wide range of services.
In contrast, Excellence Clusters focus on specific industrial sectors, promoting collaborative projects among companies that share common challenges and opportunities. This approach enables businesses to pool resources, expertise, and costs, often with access to public funding that supports collective initiatives.
Although their methods differ, ERACs and Excellence Clusters share a common objective: strengthening economic development and innovation in Québec. ERACs achieve this through a multisectoral approach, while Excellence Clusters do so through sector-specific specialization.
Innovative Projects Carried Out in Collaboration with Alliance Polymères Québec
Developing a Construction Material Made from Recycled Plastic: A Sustainable Solution to Industry Challenges
In a context where environmentally responsible and cost-effective solutions are increasingly essential, the development of a construction material made from recycled plastic stands out as an innovative initiative. Several companies collaborated to create a sustainable alternative to traditional wood by developing a material that is economically viable, technologically advanced, and durable while incorporating recycled materials to reduce the environmental footprint of the construction sector.
Through extensive technological adaptation, the project resulted in the development of a material that exceeded performance targets in terms of strength, durability, and flexibility. This innovation opens new commercial opportunities and expands the potential applications of recycled plastics into other sectors. Beyond its impact on construction, the project contributes to the transformation of the plastics industry by combining environmental sustainability with economic value creation.
Éco-Progression: A Collaborative Approach to ISO 14001 Certification Implementation
As environmental management becomes an increasingly important driver of competitiveness, ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) certification has become a recognized benchmark for sustainability. The Éco-Progression project supports companies seeking certification by guiding them through every stage of the process, from assessing current practices to preparing for certification audits.
The project’s collaborative approach enables participating companies to share resources, reducing costs while facilitating the implementation of environmental management systems. Training activities are conducted collectively, and documentation is developed jointly, resulting in significant time and cost savings. This model also encourages the exchange of best practices, strengthening learning opportunities and fostering greater collaboration among participating companies.
ERACs and Excellence Clusters clearly demonstrate that innovation is a key driver of sustainable and competitive growth for Québec businesses. By leveraging regional strengths and fostering collaboration among economic stakeholders, these initiatives translate Québec’s innovation ambitions into concrete actions and measurable results.
Their efforts extend beyond addressing current challenges; they also help pave the way for a resilient, forward-looking economy that creates lasting benefits for businesses, communities, and society as a whole.
By Fanny Charreteur
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