The Quartier de l'Innovation (QI) is a district in Montreal that aims to be a hub for innovation through collaboration between academic institutions, industries, and community partners. The QI seeks to improve the quality of life in the area through projects exploring solutions to community needs. It is located in Montreal's historic South West district and is led by McGill University and École de technologie supérieure, with the goal of becoming a global model for sustainable development and social, cultural, and technological innovation by 2025. The QI supports various projects through different partners in its four pillars of industrial, education and research, social and cultural, and urban innovation.

1. QUARTIER DE
L’INNOVATION
An Ecosystem of Innovation in the Heart of Montreal
March 2015

2. WHAT IS QUARTIER DE L’INNOVATION ?
The QI is a “living laboratory” located
Montreal's historic South West district.
The QI seeks to increase
collaborations and partnerships with
local actors.
The QI district offers students,
researchers and professors
opportunities to explore solutions to
expressed-needs, with the goal of
improving the quality of life for the
community.
2

3. INNOVATION DISTRICTS: GLOBAL CONTEXT
3

4. GETTING YOUR BEARINGS
4

5.  Renowned as a dynamic industrial hub in the 19th century
 Positioned at a convergence of technological businesses
 Rich with cultural and artistic creativity, but largely unknown to the
public
 Facing sizeable urban planning challenges
 Comprising three of Montreal’s poorest neighbourhoods and served
by numerous non-profit organizations
 Experiencing significant real-estate development
A PROMISING DISTRICT
5

6. In 10-15 years, the QI will be known as a:
 Hub of mobilization for academic
institutions as well as industrial,
social, and cultural actors
 “Ecosystem” that encourages
social, cultural, and technological
innovation
 Model of sustainable development
 Catalyst for the growth of entrepreneurs,
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), cultural, and social
organizations
VISION 2025
6

7. THE QI FOUNDING PARTNERS
Launched in May 2013, the QI is firmly rooted in the complementary
strengths of its two founding partners: McGill University and École de
technologie supérieure (ÉTS).
ÉTS
• More than $21.5-million in R&D
funding
• 75% of research budget linked
to industrial partnerships
• 6,500 students, including 1,350
postgraduates
• Nearly one of every four new
engineers in Quebec graduates
from ÉTS
• Largest undergraduate
engineering program in Quebec
and fourth largest in Canada
McGill University
• $484-million in R&D funding
• One of the largest patent portfolios
among Canadian universities
• Over 38,000 students, 10,000
graduates and postgraduates, and
1,636 professors
• Worldwide network of more than
215,000 graduates
• Ranked first in Canada (Maclean’s)
among research-intensive
universities
7

8. THE QI ORGANIZATION
The QI non-profit organization is governed by a strong Board of Directors,
with each member representing multiple facets of the QI pillars, and since July
2014, is led by its Executive Director, Mr. Damien Silès.
8
1st row, left to right: Jacque Bernier, Pierre Dumouchel, Pierre Boivin, Lyse Brunet, Jean-Pierre
Desrosiers, Suzanne Fortier, Alan Shepard. 2nd row, left to right: Mariouche Gagné, Monique
Jérôme-Forget, Daniel Lamarre, Alan MacIntosh, Nancy Shoiry, Natalie Voland, Philippe Huneault.

9. MISSION
To create, around knowledge institutions, favourable conditions for
establishing an urban district of the highest quality, based on
international standards, which brings together a creative and
engaged community with the purpose of driving the development of
an innovative and entrepreneurial culture that balances four pillars:
Industrial, Education and Research, Social and Cultural, and
Urban.
9

10.  Provide broad promotion and support of innovation
 Accelerate the development of technological, social, and cultural
organizations
 Promote the development of innovative initiatives that highlight
the expertise of our partners and institutions
 Create bridges and opportunities in order to increase the
exchanges involving the QI’s four pillars
OBJECTIVES
10

11.  Salon 1861
 The Salon 1861 and the
Laboratory of Urban Culture
 Social Innovators’ Integration Lab (SIIL)
 Montreal Summit on Innovation
 McGill Innovation Week
 The School Complex/Science Futures
 BioFuelNet Canada
 McGill High Performance Computing (HPC)
 Social Economy Initiative Impact Internships in QI
 Creativity Hub
QI PROJECTS
11

12. McGill Student
Residences
in St Henri
Laboratory of
Urban Culture in
the Salon 1861
Creativity Hub/
Planétarium
Biofuel.NET
McGill HPC
McGill Footprints
Collaborations
LEGENDE
CEIM
Centech
L’Ancre des jeunes
RESO
Horse Palace
Fonderie Darling
Legado
Coalition de la
Petite-Bourgogne
Solidarité St-
Henri
The QI District: Pointe-St-Charles, Griffintown, St-Henri and Little-Burgundy
Cité du
multimédia
AéroÉTS
Carrefour de la
Création (RESO)
L’Arsenal –
C2-MTL
Carrefour d’innovation INGO
ÉTS Footprints
Bâtiment 7
Le Corridor culturel
Communautique / EchoFab
12

13. MONTREAL SUMMIT ON INNOVATION
The Montreal Summit on Innovation
(MSI), an international event organized
by the QI, brings together international
experts to exchange on themes related
to innovation.
The first four editions were based on
the Aerospace Industry (May 2012),
Innovative Districts (October 2012),
Smart Grids and Sustainability
(November 2013) and Health and
Creative Industries (November 2014).

14. MCGILL INNOVATION WEEK
13
McGill Innovation Week (MIW) is a an
opportunity to raise awareness about
innovation and entrepreneurship on campus
and in the QI, as well as to reach out to
various communities and stakeholders.
In November 2013, more than 700 people
were reached through the inaugural MIW.
In November 2014, McGill Innovation Week
included 14 activities and drew in over 1,500
participants, generating a lot of positive
feedback!
QI Student Working Group members Zoey, Sylvia & Chloé
Innovation Fair, MIW 2014

15. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INNOVATION I
Salon 1861 is a socially responsible project that will protect the
architectural heritage of the St-Joseph Church in Little Burgundy and
turn it into a destination for cultural and social innovation as well as
social entrepreneurship.
The St-Joseph Church, Little Burgundy
15

16. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INNOVATION II
The Salon 1861 ecosystem will enable several projects
with McGill students, professors and external partners,
such as:
• The Laboratory of Urban Culture: a unique collaborative space that will
benefit the entire community, led by the McGill Institute for the Study of
Canada
• The Social Innovators’ Integration Lab (SIIL), a shared observatory and
clearing house for social innovation and entrepreneurship, led by the
Desautels Faculty of Management
• Architectural research and sustainable design, led by the School of
Architecture
• Urban agriculture and design landscaping, led by MacDonald Campus
16

17. RESEARCH IN QI
BIOFUELNET CANADA, a network of centres of
excellence located in the heart of the QI, supports
the growth of Canada’s advanced biofuels industry
through coordinated research, innovation, effective
education, smart policy and strategic partnerships.
17
The McGill High Performance Computing
(HPC) Centre, one of the most advanced
computing and data management facilities in
Canada, provides the highest level of HPC
support and operations to research, education
and industry.

18. QI ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM
17
From discovery to commercialization, the QI supports all aspects of the innovation
process.
McGill students and entrepreneurs have access to
an array of resources in the QI, such as a
fabrication lab, incubators and accelerators, with:
CEIM Incubator
Centech Incubator
échoFab Fabrication Lab
Ecofuel Accelerator
GriffinCamp Accelerator
This microcosm is connected to investors, financial angels, a network of experts
and resources.
QI Student Working Group member Justin Leung
Centre d’entreprises et d’innovation de Montréal (CEIM)

19. STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
QI Student Working Group
As young ambassadors of the QI, Student Working Group (SWG) members
are actively engaged in shaping QI projects, research and outreach activities.
Created in February 2013, the SWG is composed of students from different
disciplines and faculties who have championed innovative projects, such as:
 McGill Innovation Week programming
 QI series in the McGill Reporter and other articles
 QI Projects Fund, which will help students launch innovative projects in QI
 Thematic outreach activities, such as Community Engagement Day (CED)
in QI
 Internships
19

20. QI PROJECTS FUND
19

21. In the near future, the Quartier de l’innovation will be known as:
 A vibrant, desirable, and sustainable living environment for all
innovators in Montreal and Quebec;
 A neighbourhood that attracts, promotes, and supports talent and
knowledge;
 An international leader in innovation, education, and partnerships;
 An integral part of Quebec and Canada’s economic, social,
educational and cultural scenes;
 A new model of collaboration with the community.
LOOKING FORWARD
ENGAGED UNIVERSITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY
21

22. THANK YOU!
MERCI!