Prima

Guideline 5

DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SKILLED WORKERS

The shortage of a qualified workforce and skills development represent significant challenges for technology-intensive sectors[10]. By strengthening the training received by the next generation of fundamental scientists while aligning academic curricula with industry requirements, this guideline will prepare a new generation of highly qualified personnel who can support innovation and growth in the advanced materials sector. 

OBJECTIVE 5.1. To promote career opportunities in advanced materials and processes for young people.
OBJECTIVE 5.2. To help create training opportunities that correspond to the sector’s industrial needs.
OBJECTIVE 5.3. To promote the use of company programs that strengthen workers’ technical skills, numeracy and literacy.

Objective 5.1

OBJECTIVE 5.1

To promote career opportunities in advanced materials and processes for young people.

Launch the Création d’Étincelles project.
– Sponsors: PRIMA Québec and Réseau TechnoSciences

Advancement details:

ÉnigMAtique Kit

During the 2024–2025 school year, 504 students participated in one of the 19 ÉnigMAtique Kit activities that were carried out (out of 20 planned). The activities took place in 7 different schools, 100% of which were public schools.
During the 2025–2026 school year, the Réseau Technoscience led 27 activities from the ÉnigMAtique kit at 10 different schools—including 7 public schools and 3 private schools—reaching 749 9th-grade students from various regions of Quebec.
Thanks to the support of three funding partners (e2ip, AP&C, and FRQ), we are pleased to announce the extension of the project to raise awareness of science career paths among the province’s youth for three additional years (2026–2029).

Awards at the Super Expo-Sciences

At the Quebec finals of the Hydro-Québec Super Expo-Sciences (April 17–19, 2026), two 10th-grade students from the Montreal region won the PRIMA QUÉBEC award for their project titled “Bana-Aids.” And two students from the Québec City and Chaudière-Appalaches regions won first prize in the Étinc’Elles competition for their project titled “Mission Algipack.”
Update : August 28, 2026
  • Advancement for 2025-2026
0
100

Organize workshops in elementary and secondary schools to introduce polymers and composites to the students.
– Sponsor: CREPEC

Advancement details:
3 thematics have been offered in 2024:
– Engineering behind origami (2 workshops, around 50 participants)
– Introduction to composites (1 workshop, 180 participants)
– 3D printing (3 workshops, 88 participants)
In 2025:
– Engineering behind origami (1 workshop, 206 participants)
– 3D printing (7 workshops, 40 participants)
For now, in 2026:
– Engineering behind origami (1 workshop, 35 participants)
– Introduction to Composites (2 workshops, 165 participants)
– 3D printing (3 workshops, 95 participants)
Update : October 1, 2026
  • Advancement
0
100

Organize summer camps to promote the advanced materials sector among youths.
– Sponsor: Réseau de la Transformation Métallique du Québec (RTMQ)

To be announced

WORKFORCE

Training tomorrow’s engineers:
Key skills in materials science

Faced with rapidly evolving needs regarding materials skills, Québec universities are reassessing their training needs. Led by Professor Nadi Braidy, a materials science and engineering training committee at the Université de Sherbrooke has identified key skills for engineers and scientists.

These are:

1. Identifying and solving applied problems involving materials, along with their microstructure and properties, using the appropriate measurement tools.

2. Controlling the properties of various materials to optimize their selection and integration into systems with a given function under potentially extreme usage conditions.

3. Optimizing the production costs and yields associated with a variety of materials according to their intended application.

4. Designing durable materials, tools and devices equipped with the most effective replacement and repair properties (cost, complexity, repeatability, etc.).

5. Providing leadership for a multidisciplinary team, particularly through knowledge of the social and environmental impacts associated with the life cycle of materials.

Objective 5.2

OBJECTIVE 5.2

To help create training opportunities that correspond to the sector’s industrial needs.

Conduct a survey of companies working with advanced materials and associated processes regarding the skills required from graduates. Survey results will be shared among every university and college in Québec.
– Sponsors: PRIMA Québec and partners

Advancement details:
The members of the steering committee are currently being selected in order to create the survey.
Update : March 5, 2026
  • Advancement
0
100

Propel an interdisciplinary, collaborative, professional, inclusive and immersive training program in materials science and engineering to integrate students into the job market.
– Sponsor: Advanced Materials Academy

Advancement details:
2 active cohorts of 17 PhD students and 15 master students. 4 Summer internship scholarships for undergraduate students are available in 2025, 6 scholarships are planned for Summer 2026.
Update : March 5, 2026
  • Advancement
0
100

Mapping key skills and training needs to support the advanced materials sector.
– Sponsor: PRIMA Québec

Scheduled to start in 2027

Objective 5.3

OBJECTIVE 5.3

To promote the use of company programs that strengthen workers’ technical skills, numeracy and literacy.

Familiarize the ecosystem with programs like those offered by the sectoral workforce committees (Commission des partenaires du marché du travail – needs identified by sectors), the Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec/Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, and the ISED program (Upskilling for Industry Initiative (UII) – needs identified by companies).
– Sponsor: PRIMA Québec 

Advancement details:
Sectoral workforce committees (CSMOs):
FCCQ/CCMM: The Visées program is being deployed – sector analysis carried out, training courses being developed. Informative webinar presented by Mouhamadou Ndiaye (FCCQ), et Victorine Boucaut et Mercédez Plante (CCMM) on May, 13 2025.
ISED: To be announced.
Update : March 5, 2026
  • Advancement CSMO
0
100
  • Advancement FCCQ/CCMM
0
100

WORKFORCE

Demystifying quantum physics

Curieux quantiques is a science popularization initiative dedicated to promoting and disseminating knowledge of quantum physics among the general public, secondary and CEGEP students and teaching staff, along with companies interested in developing their understanding of the subject. Curieux quantiques’ activities have expanded over the years to include quarterly newsletters, lectures, animated videos, classroom workshops, and large-scale popularization events. It also provides adapted teaching materials for teachers, like explanation sheets and interactive learning modules.
Since its creation in 2020, the Curieux quantiques team has organized or taken part in more than 180 activities, reaching over 15,000 individuals. The initiative plays an important role in public awareness by demystifying quantum physics, getting young people interested in the subject, and promoting scientific careers.

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 6