6 December 2018

PRESS RELEASE – In 2019, twelve Sherbrooke companies will be global ambassadors through the Sherbrooke International program, which provides direct assistance for international development. These businesses are: Défi Polyteck, Technologie Demtroys, Terraquavie, CDE Solutions informatiques, FlagFranchise, SE2, STIM, Calimacil, Brûlerie Faro, Immune Biosolutions, IBIOM Instruments, and Dekko Technologies.

Josée Fortin (Sherbrooke Innopole), Jean-Sébastien Cyr (Technologie Demtroys), Roxana Giraldez (CQI), Robbie Paquet (Terraquavie), Frédéric Leduc (Immune Biosolutions), Sara Turcotte (CDE Solutions informatiques), Jasmin Bibeau (IBIOM Instruments), Benoit Longpré (Défi Polyteck), Joël Dion (Dekko Technologies), Patrick Lessard (Calimacil), Maxime Fabi (Brûlerie Faro), Martin Tardif (STIM), Mylène Grégoire (FlagFranchise), Jean-Frédérick Benoit (SE2)

The SMEs and startups chosen from the program’s third call for projects will each receive a non-reimbursable contribution of $3000 from Sherbrooke Innopole to enable them to attend and optimize their participation in trade fairs, investor conferences, and marketing missions abroad in 2019. In addition to receiving financial support, the winning companies will be put in touch with strategic contacts, such as trade commissioners, embassy and consulate officials, and other potential partners. These contacts could become valuable allies for businesses in their international development efforts.

New this year, the ambassador companies will be given group training provided by the export assistance organization CQI to help them effectively prepare for attending trade fairs and thus maximize impact.

“The growth of Sherbrooke’s innovative companies is undeniably reliant on internationalization.  The Sherbrooke International program is once again demonstrating its relevance, supporting promising businesses in their international endeavours. These soon coming missions are promising for their business development and Sherbrooke’s reach,” noted Josée Fortin, Director General of Sherbrooke Innopole.

Sherbrooke International’s first two calls for projects enabled 21 Sherbrooke companies to participate in major international events in their field, which provided them with an opportunity to consolidate their partnerships and expand their client bases.

“Sherbrooke International’s program made it possible for us to take crucial steps with a major client base, i. e. school board directors in the United States,” pointed out Shawn Young, co-founder and CEO of Classcraft, and a 2018 ambassador. Through this program, we were able to attend an exclusive conference to network, present, and sell Classcraft, which directly led to major contracts in California.”

For more personal accounts in blog format on the 2017 and 2018 ambassador companies and for further details on the program, go to sherbrooke-innopole.com. The 2020 call for projects will be launched on Sherbrooke Innopole’s digital platforms (website, social networks, newsletter) in September 2019.

Sherbrooke International’s program is open to companies in the five key sectors (Cleantech, Information Technologies, Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, and Micro-nanotechnologies) that will be engaged in activities outside of Québec during the reference year to expand their market internationally. Winners are selected based on several criteria, in particular, the activity’s impact on the company and Sherbrooke, the company’s real need for a financial contribution, and the countries targeted.

Ambassadors – Sherbrooke International 2019

Cleantech

DÉFI POLYTECK / An adapted company specializing in a range of industrial subcontracting, the manufacture of ceramic mosaics, paper shredding, as well as various circular economy projects. / Project: Attendance as a visitor from April 9 to 12, 2019, at the Coverings trade show, one of the most popular events in the ceramics and floor coverings market, to target and meet new prospects from the United States. Défi Polyteck will also be able to use part of the booth of one of its suppliers, Toksel, at no cost.

TECHNOLOGIE DEMTROYS / Simple inexpensive and energy-saving solution for managers of multi-unit buildings through a control system enabling adjustment of the amount of energy required in relation to the outdoor temperature while ensuring user comfort. / Project: Participation as an exhibitor at the GLOBALCON Conference and Expo, the largest exhibition of its kind in the northeast United States, on March 20 and 21, 2019, in Boston, to seek out potential clients. 

TERRAQUAVIE / Manufacture and distribution of erosion management and control products; manufacture of industrially sewn products; distribution of technical products for landscaping; technical support for specialists in land use planning. / Project: Participation as a visitor at the world’s largest get-together on erosion control, the International Erosion Control Association’s IECA Annual Conference and Expo, from February 19 to 22, 2019, in Denver, Colorado, to strengthen business relationships, create new ones, and bolster the company’s credibility.

Information Technology

CDE SOLUTIONS INFORMATIQUES / Business IT services: Programming, networking, security, customized skills development; certified Microsoft, Google, Acomba, call centre training programs. / Project: Meeting with the Divalto firm (Strasbourg, France), with which a partnership has been established, to enhance collaboration, especially in R&D, and attendance at the Salons Solutions in Paris, from October 1 to 3, 2019, to identify new markets. 

FLAGFRANCHISE / Tool to detect franchise business opportunities that searches for, identifies, and assesses options to purchase a franchise based on the entrepreneur’s goals. / Project: Participation as an exhibitor at the Franchise Canada Show in Toronto, one of Canada’s largest trade fairs in the franchise industry, on January 12 and 13, 2019. The event will provide the company with an opportunity to strengthen its relationships with its current clients and to mine for new franchisors/franchisees. 

SE2 (ALICE POS) / Point-of-sale management software optimized for managers of business networks, franchised or not. / Project: Participation at NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show, in New York from January 13 to 15, 2019, to position itself with retailers in the United States.

Advanced Manufacturing

STIM / Industrial maintenance; support for manufacturing plant maintenance departments; management and carrying out of projects involving industrial mechanics, mechanical engineering, and robotic automation. / Project: 2019 Paris visit to Alstom, a company with which a partnership has been formed, to qualify as a global provider and thus be able to bid on projects, specifically in Europe. 

CALIMACIL / Design and manufacture of high-end foam weapons; professional urethane moulding service, flexible foam; making of dies, moulds, production equipment, and production of urethane parts. / Project: Participation as an exhibitor at the Lucca C&G (Comics and Games) event from October 31 to November 4, 2019, in Lucques, Italy, to enhance the visibility of the brand and expand the company’s current market in Italy.

BRÛLERIE FARO / Coffee bean roasting and distribution. / Project: Participation as a visitor at the Pack Expo International event in Las Vegas from September 23 to 25, 2019, to analyze the various packaging equipment options available to accommodate the specific requests of its current and potential clients. 

Life Sciences

IMMUNE BIOSOLUTIONS /  A biotechnological company specializing in the discovery and engineering of humanized chicken antibodies targeting historically difficult proteins with a demonstrated therapeutic potential. / Project: Participation at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference and the RESI@San Francisco/Biotech Showcase in San Francisco from January 6 to 11, 2019, to follow up with major partners and develop new business relationships.

IBIOM INSTRUMENTS LTÉE / Manufacture and sales of medical equipment for hospitals, long-term care facilities, and private clinics (stretchers, chairs, phlebotomist workstations, gel pad cushions, dialysis chairs, multifunctional chairs). / Project: Participation as an exhibitor at the American Society of Echocardiography Scientific Sessions, from June 21 to 25, 2019, in Portland, Oregon, to develop the American market. 

Micro-Nanotechnologies

DEKKO TECHNOLOGIES / Manufacture and marketing of acoustic microscopes that aid in quality control in numerous industries including microelectronic technology. / Project: Attendance at one of the following conferences: The Electronic Components and Technology Conference in Las Vegas from May 29 to 31, 2019, the annual conference of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography in Maryland from September 26 to 29, 2019, or the MD&M East (Advanced Manufacturing) conference in New York from June 11 to 13, 2019, to enhance the company’s visibility outside of Canada and meet potential buyers/distributors.

Source: Sherbrooke Innopole

———————————–

RELATED ARTICLES

» Sherbrooke International Program: Announcement of the 12 Ambassadors for 2018

» Sherbrooke Innopole Provides Financial Support for the International Development of Nine Sherbrooke Businesses