PROGRAMME SCIENCE IMPACT
Collaborate with research to propel your innovation!
► Non-profits, cooperatives, and startups, try to win one of the $10,000 grants to bring your innovation project to life.
PROGRAMME SCIENCE IMPACT
Collaborate with research to propel your innovation
► $10,000 to bring a research project to fruition.
Key requirements for submitting an application
You want to get involved in research and you don't have a background in scientific entrepreneurship*
Your entrepreneurial project is or has been supported by an incubator/accelerator.
Your organization (NPO, COOP, INC) has its head office in Quebec.
Your company was registered after March 8, 2021.
*See eligibility requirements below for more details.
$10,000 grants to bridge the gap between research and entrepreneurship
Esplanade Québec and the Fonds de recherche du Québec are joining forces to launch the fourth edition of the Science Impact program, an initiative aimed at supporting the development of collaborations between the entrepreneurial community and scientific research in Québec.
This program offers up to 20 grants of $10,000 to entrepreneurial teams to start or strengthen a joint project with Québec researchers.
Want to learn more?
An online information session will be held on January 20 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Laure, the program manager, will be on hand to answer your questions.
Winners of the 2025 edition with members of Esplanade Québec and the FRQ
Discover testimonials from program winners (FR)
Promoting synergies between research and impact entrepreneurship to stimulate innovation
For entrepreneurs, it’s…
The opportunity to collaborate with experts who understand the specificities and potential advances in their sectors of impact
The benefit of access to cutting-edge knowledge and recent data on their fields of activity
The prospect of increasing the efficiency of their impact business and standing out through innovation
For researchers, it’s…
A way to deploy research results directly with potential users.
New perspectives on their research, thanks to interactions with the user community
The opportunity to work on innovative projects that have a tangible social and environmental impact on our societies
The Science Impact program is divided into two components
Component 1
Introduction to Research
Up to 10 grants of $10,000 will be offered to startups or organizations that are unfamiliar with research but would like to learn more about it.
The goal of this component is to introduce entrepreneurs to collaborations with the research community and to facilitate networking between innovation and research.
To learn more, register for our webinar: “Recipe for a successful research project” to clarify your research needs and better approach researchers.
Component 2
Strengthening innovation through research
Up to 10 grants of $10,000 will be offered to startups or organizations already familiar with the research community and wishing to undertake collaborative projects to continue integrating research into their business strategy.
The objective of this component is to encourage collaboration with research among startups.
DETAILED INFORMATION
Program objectives
The program aims to encourage collaboration between the research community and startups with a societal and environmental impact, as defined by Esplanade Québec.
More specifically for businesses, the program enables:
Strengthen innovation capacity and increase the societal and environmental impact of startups in Quebec through collaborative research.
More specifically for the research ecosystem, the program enables:
Making Quebec research expertise accessible and promoting a scientific approach in Quebec's entrepreneurial community
The program has two components: an introductory component, to support companies that are unfamiliar with the research community and wish to take their first steps toward collaborating with it, and a reinforcement component, for companies that have experience collaborating with the research community and wish to consolidate their innovation strategy through research.
Component 1
Introduction to research
Explore the potential of research to accelerate the development of your entrepreneurial project
Develop for the first time a research project to generate scientific knowledge tailored to your company's needs.
Component 2
Strengthening innovation through research
Follow up on one or more research projects that have already contributed to the growth of the entrepreneurial project.
Consolidate the contribution of research in the company's business model to maximize its impact
In both streams, projects must address a specific issue with concrete anticipated benefits.
The program was designed to encourage non-scientific companies to build links with research.
The desired profile therefore corresponds to that of companies whose primary goal is not to commercialize a potential innovation resulting from public research and which are not already affiliated with Quebec research institutions (see eligibility for details).
Eligibility requirements
You are eligible for the program if:
You have an entrepreneurial project, whether your business is incorporated as a nonprofit, cooperative, corporation (Inc.), or any other legal form
Your company has a Quebec Entreprise Number (NEQ)
Your company’s head office is located in Quebec
You are or have been supported by a business incubator or accelerator (minimum of 10 hours of support in a program with a selection process)
Your company was registered after March 8, 2021
For component 1:
You and your company are not familiar with research, meaning that:
You (or any member of your team) have not completed a research master’s degree (or any other equivalent graduate degree), AND your company has never carried out a research project in collaboration with researchers affiliated with a research institution.
For component 2
You and/or your company are familiar with research and the scientific method, but your current links with research were not forged during recent studies, meaning that:
Neither you nor any member of your team has completed a master’s degree in research (or any other equivalent graduate degree) or a doctorate in the last five years (i.e., after March 8, 2021).
You are not eligible if:
Your company is scientific, meaning that its primary goal is to commercialize a potential innovation resulting from public research
You are affiliated with a Quebec research institution (college technology transfer center, university, research center funded by the FRQ or the Quebec government, etc.) specifically, if you (or a member of your team) are:
- a researcher or research professional affiliated with a Quebec research institution
- a research assistant
- a student conducting research
The same company may receive only one grant per program.
Selection criteria
Relevance criteria
The application must be deemed satisfactory on all of the following criteria:
General criteria:
1- The company demonstrates that societal and environmental impact is central to its mission.
2- The company demonstrates potential for innovation through research. It shows that the research project would have a positive impact on its development.
Component 1
3- The company demonstrates potential for initiating research and implementing an initial business-research collaboration project.
Component 2
3- The company demonstrates potential for consolidating the contribution of research to its development and maximizing its impact.
Selection criteria
Applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
1- Quality, feasibility, and scope of the research project (20%)
Clarity of the issue, methodology/implementation plan, and anticipated results
Anticipated team composition and roles of each member (business and research)
Project feasibility (realistic deadlines and anticipated deliverables)
Research collaboration strategy
⚠️ Please note: The project must go beyond market research or impact analysis of an entrepreneurial solution.
2- Scope of anticipated impacts on stakeholders (30%)
Stimulating effect on researchers involved in the project and, more broadly, on research in Quebec
Benefits for user communities (the benefits may be scientific, social, economic, technological, environmental, etc.)
Benefits for Quebec’s innovation ecosystem
3- Potential impact of the Science Impact Grant on the company (20%)
Impact of the grant on the company’s ability to carry out the project
Impact of the research project on the company’s development and its capacity for innovation in the short and long term.
Criteria specific to Component 1: Introduction to research
Candidate’s potential for research initiation (30%)
Demonstration of experience and expertise transferable to a collaborative scientific project
Demonstration of an understanding of the upcoming steps for the project
Mechanism envisaged for familiarizing oneself with business-research collaboration (mentoring, training, kick-off meeting, etc.)
Criteria specific to Component 2: Strengthening research
Demonstration of the potential for consolidating innovation through research for the company (30%)
Experience in developing research projects
Demonstration of the project’s complementarity with previous research efforts
Alignment with a long-term vision of collaboration between business and research
Selection process
Applications are evaluated by an independent jury composed of researchers, professionals, and entrepreneurs. Esplanade Québec and the Fonds de recherche du Québec have established the eligibility and selection criteria, but do not participate in the evaluation of applications.
The selection process takes place in two phases:
Pre-selection phase based on application: an initial selection will be made upon receipt of applications.
Pitch selection phase: Preselected companies will be invited to present their pitch to the jury. Following these pitches, the jury will meet to select the grant winners for both categories.
Given the highly diverse profile of committee members, it is recommended that the project be presented in a way that facilitates understanding.
To help you prepare your application, we invite you to join the information session on January 20, 2026, and the webinar: Recipe for a successful research project (particularly for component 1) on January 22, 2026.
Calendar
Application period: January 7 to March 8, 2026 (11:59 p.m.)
Information session: January 20, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.
Webinar – Recipe for a successful research project: January 22, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.
Project selection: March to June 2026
Selection pitches: June 2026
Announcement of winning startups: June 2026
The January 22 webinar is primarily intended for startups in component 1 and aims to inform applicants about best practices for developing a research question. It is optional.
Eligible expenses
In accordance with the program objectives, the $10,000 grant must be used to fund expenses directly related to the proposed research project. All funds allocated must therefore go to the research center or organization with which you will be partnering.
Eligible expenses are as follows:
Costs related to the remuneration and benefits of research staff directly involved in the project, according to the rates in effect at the managing institution or managing organization, as applicable
Scholarships, scholarship supplements, and salary support for students (CEGEP or university) and postdoctoral fellows
Costs associated with purchasing or accessing databases
Costs related to the use of equipment or premises necessary for the completion of the research project (up to a maximum of 15% of the value of the grant)
Indirect research costs (when required by the partner research center)
FAQ
We already have an in-house researcher. Can he or she take charge of the research project?
No, unfortunately. The Science Impact program was created to promote new collaborations between entrepreneurship and research.
My company was registered before March 8, 2021. Can I still apply?
No, unfortunately. Our program is aimed at startups or early-stage companies, and we had to choose a definition that we have to stick to.
My research project is not yet clearly defined. Can I still apply?
Yes, you can apply even if your research project is still vague. However, please note that some of the selection criteria (see above) tend to favor projects that have a good chance of coming to fruition, i.e., projects that are potentially already defined. It will therefore be up to you to convince the jury that your project will come to fruition if you are awarded the grant.
We recommend that you contact researchers to discuss your issues and work with them to develop a plan, even if it is only a rough outline. All steps taken will be considered and valued.
For more advice on this topic, please register for the webinar “Recipe for a successful research project” on January 22, 2026.
I haven't contacted any researchers to collaborate with yet. Can I still apply?
Yes, you can apply even if you have not yet contacted any researchers. However, please note that some of the selection criteria (see above) tend to favor projects that have a good chance of coming to fruition, i.e., those whose roles are potentially already established. It will therefore be up to you to convince the jury that your project will come to fruition if you are awarded the grant.
We recommend that you contact researchers or research centers to solidify your approach and deepen your thinking. All steps taken will be considered and valued.
For more advice on this topic, please register for the webinar “Recipe for a successful research project” on January 22, 2026.
Where to start looking for researchers to collaborate with?
You can:
Contact one of Quebec’s 59 college technology transfer centers (CCTTs).
Use a search engine to search for keywords related to your innovation to find professors or researchers at universities who are working on topics related to your issues or research topics.
In your introductory email, describe the context, your company, and the issues you are facing.
For more advice on this topic, please register for the webinar “Recipe for a successful research project” on January 22, 2026.
How can I know if my proposed research project is relevant?
We encourage you to consult researchers or research centers, who will be able to tell you whether your idea could lead to a research project and, if not, what kind of issue could be considered.
I already have funding for my research project. Can I apply?
Yes, you can apply if your project exceeds the budget allocated to the Science Impact Grant. However, please note that some of the selection criteria (see above) tend to favor projects that are likely to be successful. Funding that is too uncertain could cause you to lose points.
In addition, other criteria tend to favor projects that would not see the light of day without the Science Impact Grant. It will therefore be up to you to convince the jury that you really need the Science Impact Grant.
I have already received a grant from the Science Impact program. Can I apply again?
If you have already received a grant under Component 1 and meet the eligibility criteria for Component 2, you may apply.
If you have already received a grant under component 2, you are not eligible to apply again.
Need more information?
Information session
A virtual information session will be held on Tuesday, January 20, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Webinar: Recipe for a successful research project
To clarify your research needs, better approach researchers, and anticipate the impact of your innovation. Online, Thursday, January 22, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
You can also schedule an appointment with Laure Painchaud,
manager of the Science Impact program, by booking a time slot, or writing to her at: [email protected].
Convinced?
Don’t forget to submit your application for one of the program components by March 8, 2026!
