Funding support

1- Soutien à des initiatives internationales de recherche et d’innovation (SIIRI) – PSR (volet 4)

This program aims to foster international research and innovation projects between academia and industry and to increase high-level partnerships in industrial research by supporting international strategic initiatives.

Please note that the call for projects ended on November 9, 2015.

For details on this program, please consult the application guide you can find on the MEIE website: Soutien à des initiatives internationales de recherche et d’innovation (SIIRI) – PSR (volet 4) (in French only)

2- Passeport Innovation

Access to this program is subject to availability of funds.

Passeport innovation aims to support technological, organizational and social innovation projects.

It facilitates access to a range of services that are useful for the advancement of a project of applied research, testing, experimentation, etc., requiring the expertise of one or more QuébecInnove member organizations.

Eligibility:

• SME;
• Cooperatives;
• Social development NPOs legally constituted in Québec

Eligible projects:
Projects of technological, organizational and social innovation with a level of maturity between 1 and 6 (levels of maturity are described in Appendix 1 of the application guide).

For details on eligible expenditures and specificities of Passeport innovation, please refer to the application guide found on the MESI website Passeport Innovation (in French only)

3- First job in research program

This initiative allows college and university graduates to gain research work experience within a QuébecInnove member organization as part of an applied research project or research and development project (R&D) in partnership with partner companies, cooperatives or non-profit organizations (NPOs).

For more details, please visit the MEIE website: Premier emploi en recherche (in French only)

Tax credit for university research or research carried out by a public research centre or a research consortium (code 03)

A corporation carrying out a R&D project with the support of a college centre for technology transfer (CCTT) could benefit from Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credits both for the fees it pays the CCTT and for other project-related expenses (internal wages, materials, subcontractors and overhead expenses).

For more information on the federal tax credit for SR&ED and Québec tax credits, click on the links below.

Federal program

• Scientific research and experimental development tax incentive program (home page)
• Claiming SR&ED tax incentives (overview of the program)
• Pre-claim consultation (presentation of this service from the Canada Revenue Agency)
• Self-assessment and learning tool (series of questions designed to help you determine a project’s eligibility)

Québec Programs

• Tax assistance for scientific research and experimental development (brochure presenting all R&D programs of the Government of Québec)
• Tax credit for (R&D) salaries and wages (in French only)
  
  
• Tax credit for university research or research carried out by a public research centre or a research consortium (in French only)

Very easy for a corporation to claim (a simple form!) (in French only)

What is the tax credit for technological adaptation services?

The tax credit for technological adaptation services was introduced to support businesses in their innovation and technology transfer projects.

The services covered include, but are not limited to:

• identifying and brokering research results;
• evaluating the needs of businesses;
• building relationships with stakeholders;
• conducting technical feasibility studies and market potential assessments for innovation projects;
• guiding businesses through the development phases of their innovation projects (excluding eligible SR&ED expenditures); and
• software certification tests.

Which companies qualify for the tax credit?

A corporation can claim the tax credit regardless of its size if it operates a business in Québec, if it has an establishment in Québec, and if it is not exempt from income tax.

How is the tax credit calculated?

The credit will be determined by multiplying by 40% the amount of eligible expenditures incurred by a corporation for liaison and transfer services when rendered by a college centre for technology transfer or liaison and transfer centre.

Qualified expenditure:

• An amount equal to 80% of eligible fees for watch services or liaison and transfer services.
• The cost of participating in training and information activities in connection with liaison and transfer services offered by an eligible liaison and transfer centre or a college centre for technology transfer. However, the cost of participating in a training activity that is part of a current training program does not qualify for the tax credit.

How can we claim the tax credit?

To claim the tax credit, the corporation simply fills out the form Crédit d’impôt pour services d’adaptation technologique (CO-1029.8.21.22) (in French only) and encloses it with its income tax return and a copy of the receipt issued by the college centre for technology transfer or eligible liaison and transfer centre.

If the corporation does not attach the form to its tax return, it must submit the form to Revenu Québec no later than 12 months after the filing deadline for its income tax return.