Guideline 4

PROMOTING GROWTH FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES

Promoting growth for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the materials sector is crucial when stimulating innovation, diversifying the economy, and promoting the local development of high-quality jobs. A range of initiatives will be used to further promote the integration of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into supply chains, notably by facilitating access to financing, raising awareness towards international expansion opportunities and existing regulations, and focusing on upgrading digital and technological infrastructures.

OBJECTIVE 4.1. To promote the personalized support-consultations currently available to those who produce advanced materials and their associated processes.
OBJECTIVE 4.2. To raise awareness among SMEs of foreign regulations in matters of decarbonization.
OBJECTIVE 4.3. To accelerate manufacturing processes by promoting the use of artificial intelligence.
OBJECTIVE 4.4. To help SMEs integrate supply chains.

Objective 4.1

OBJECTIVE 4.1

To promote the personalized support-consultations currently available to those who produce advanced materials and their associated processes.

Support and organize activities to promote the use of support services provided by Investissement Québec, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) – Accelerated Growth
Service, Business Development Bank of Canada, and PRIMA Québec, among others.
– Sponsors: PRIMA Québec, Investissement Québec, ISED and Business Development Bank of Canada.

Pending start

Objective 4.2

OBJECTIVE 4.2

To raise awareness among SMEs of foreign regulations in matters of decarbonization (e.g., digital product passports, carbon adjustment mechanisms at the border, etc.).

Propose and develop a section titled “Circular Advanced Materials” on the Québec Circulaire website.
– Sponsor: CERIEC

To be announced

Objective 4.3

OBJECTIVE 4.3

To accelerate manufacturing processes by promoting the use of artificial intelligence.

Familiarize advanced materials companies with the funding opportunities provided by the Offensive de Transformation Numérique (OTN), Investissement Québec, along with the upcoming Committee for Economic Development (CED) project, which targets the adoption and commercialization of artificial intelligence (AI).
– Sponsors: MEIE, Investissement Québec,  CED and PRIMA Québec

Advancement details:
OTN: To be shared.
Investissement Québec: To be shared.
CED: Information shared 3 times in 2024. To be shared in 2025.
Update: January 13, 2025
  • Advancement OTN for 2025

0

100

  • Advancement Investissement Québec for 2025

0

100

  • Advancement CED for 2025

0

100

Objective 4.4

OBJECTIVE 4.4

To help SMEs integrate supply chains.

Clarify the nature of the advanced materials and associated processes that are essential to the development of innovation zones.
– Sponsor: Current study by Propulsion Québec on advanced materials for LFP batteries

Pending start

Set up a simplified and accelerated referencing process to help with exports and financing.
– Sponsors: Investissement Québec and collaborators

Pending start

Identify and invite dynamic firms to work with a cohort in advanced materials and associated processes in order to assist their supply chain integration.
– Sponsors: Investissement Québec and PRIMA Québec

Pending start

PARTNERSHIPS AND SUPPLY CHAINS

Positioning companies in the battery industry through strategic alliances

Start-ups face many difficulties when seeking to integrate battery and
automotive sectors dominated by industrial giants. Nano One realized
early on that its survival and credibility depended on its ability to work
with key players.

Active cathode materials represent the halfway point between the mine
and the battery. Multinationals like Rio Tinto, Sumitomo Metal Mining,
Umicore, and BASF developed strategic partnerships with Nano One
after realizing that the company’s competitive and environmentally
friendly process could address a number of supply chain security
issues.

More recently, Nano One formed an alliance with the global engineering
firm Worley to market and deploy its technology worldwide.

Would you like more information on Ambition 2035, or would you like to propose an action for the Roadmap?

Contact the PRIMA Québec team
Continue reading:
Guideline 5