The partnership between ÉTS and McGill receives generous support from the governments of Québec, Canada and the City of Montreal
The partnership between ÉTS and McGill receives generous
support from the governments of Québec, Canada and the City of
Montreal
The Quartier de l’innovation (QI) is one step closer to reality
today, with the announcement from the governments of Québec, Canada
and the City of Montreal that they will invest equal amounts in
pre-start-up costs for the project, for a total of $1,050,000. The
announcement was made today by Sam Hamad, Minister of Economic
Development, Innovation and Export Trade; Marguerite Blais,
Minister Responsible for Seniors and MNA for
Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne; and Richard Deschamps, Vice-Chair of the
City of Montréal Executive Committee.
Led by École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) and McGill
University, the QI’s objective is to promote synergy between
educational institutions and the business community in order to
increase the potential for creativity and innovation, along with
their practical applications in what might be called a “living
laboratory”. The QI will be located close to downtown Montréal, in
an area that includes Griffintown.
“We would like to thank the governments of Québec, Canada and
the City of Montreal for their invaluable support,” said Heather
Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University.
“By combining the complementary strengths of our two institutions
with the remarkable spirit of creativity of Quebec small and medium
enterprises, the QI will lead to practical training opportunities
for our students and facilitate the application of our researchers’
discoveries. The QI we envision will help better position Quebec as
an innovation leader on the international scene.”
“The Quartier de l’innovation that we are building will be a
place where the work environment and the living environment come
together. By integrating the four axes that are essential to a
creative society – industry, training and innovation, urban, and
socio-cultural – this will be a place to live, learn, work, and
relax,” added Yves Beauchamp, Director General of ÉTS. The
interconnections among these axes will form the foundation of the
QI and foster the type of innovative spirit that we wish to
encourage.”
In drawing on the respective strengths of ÉTS and McGill, the QI
will be a model of strategic complementarity. ÉTS ranks first in
Quebec and fourth in Canada in terms of the number of engineering
undergraduate degrees awarded each year. Close to 75 per cent of
its research and development funding, representing approximately
$21 million, comes from research contracts with more than 200
companies. McGill University is ranked 17th in the world, and
boasts one of the largest patent portfolios among Canadian
universities. McGill receives close to $470 million in research
funds annually.
The mission of the Quartier de l’innovation will extend beyond
its role in industry, science and technology, to encompass urban,
social and cultural innovation. The goal is to build the
neighbourhood as much around the businesses it will attract as
around the people who live there. The project is intended to create
a quality living environment that is diversified and attractive to
residents, local shops, cultural activities and modern public
services.
For more information concerning the Quartier de
l’innovation:
www.quartierinnovationmontreal.com
About ÉTS
École de technologie supérieure is one of the nine constituent
institutions of the Université du Québec network. ÉTS trains
engineers and researchers who are renowned for their practical,
innovative approach, the development of new technologies, and the
transfer of these technologies to industry. Nearly one out of four
engineers in Québec is a graduate of ÉTS, which has 6,500 students,
including more than 1,350 in graduate and doctoral programs.
Specializing in applied training and research in engineering, ÉTS
enjoys a unique partnership with business and industry. For more
information, visit: www.etsmtl.ca.
About McGill University
Founded in Montreal, Que., in 1821, McGill is Canada’s leading
post-secondary institution. It has two campuses, 11 faculties, 11
professional schools, 300 programs of study and more than 37,000
students, including 8,300 graduate students. McGill attracts
students from over 150 countries around the world, with more than
7,200 international students making up 20 per cent of the student
body. For more information, visit: www.mcgill.ca.
Photo credit: Rémy Boily