Accelerating Innovation Program
Le brief
CRIAQ has been involved in the Quebec and Canadian innovation ecosystem for many years and has played a major role in the development of leading-edge technologies financially supported by numerous programs and strategic initiatives aimed at the competitiveness of the aerospace industry. Innovitech’s experts have been working for several years with CRIAQ and its partner NRC-IRAP to deploy and implement the Accelerating Innovation program developed by CRIAQ to support SMEs and start-ups in Quebec’s aerospace ecosystem.
This program aims to support start-ups and SMEs in the ecosystem to :
- Develop a more robust R&D and innovation strategy aligned with a market strategy
- Identify and confirm short, medium and long term revenue opportunities
- Stimulate product and service innovations associated with renewed business models
- Develop partnership and network development strategies
- Encourage the development of innovation management capacities and skills
- Linking and connecting with support and funding partners
- Strengthen the long-term positioning and integration of companies in globalised supply chains in a sustainable way
This coaching program consists of a multi-step iterative process, integrating all technical, commercial, human and operational factors, combining several stages of analysis and decision making, in order to transform the full potential of new technologies into a stream of competitive advantages for the company.
Client
CRIAQ (Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec)
Date
2019-2020
The accomplishments
- Based on the methodology developed by CRIAQ, Innovitech Inc. enriched working practices to fit the context of each company, with a close collaborative approach with existing managers and teams.
- In 2019-20, more than 23 technology companies (SMEs and start-ups) were accompanied by the program across Quebec and Canada to refine their development strategy, identify business opportunities and, above all, plan their technological and commercial roadmap.
- Almost 80% of the companies that participated in the last edition of the program were active in the development of digital technologies (AI, VR, AR, MR, etc.)
- The program continues to support between 10 and 20 SMEs and start-ups per year since 2014.
The impact
CRIAQ’s testimony:
“We would like to acknowledge the professionalism shown by the Innovitech team in the field: the rigour, expertise, know-how and ability to communicate with and mobilise diverse players really accelerated the innovation of several partners in the CRIAQ ecosystem”..
Testimonies from companies that have benefited from the program:
“The CRIAQ and Innovitech teams have been extremely present, professional, collaborative and supportive. We are privileged to work with these teams who have an external view but who act as if it were their project. They make us think, deepen our strategies, objectives and method and make sure we are well oriented to achieve success. We thank them!”
“Une équipe avec beaucoup d’expérience et de relations dans divers secteurs d’activité, très appréciée !”
“Excellent, dynamic, very human and personalized approach!”
“The CRIAQ program and the Innovitech team have opened many doors for me. Among other things, they allowed me to see the full potential of my business and the possibility of expanding my research and development expertise to other levels. The contacts that were suggested to me will help me establish new and promising business partnerships!”
- 100% of respondents to the post-program survey would recommend the Program to other entrepreneurs
- 100% of respondents to the post-program survey agree that the Program stands out advantageously or is complementary to other support programs (Incubation/Acceleration)