16 December 2021

PRESS RELEASE – Although the COVID-19 pandemic remains with us, world commerce has reignited, and several Sherbrooke companies are focusing on the development of new international markets. Sherbrooke Innopole is proud to support 12 of them through its Sherbrooke International program, which provides direct assistance in business development beyond Quebec’s borders. Included are: All Waves Technologies, DBO Expert, Dunin Technologie, Imeka, Immugenia, INO Science, Interfonction, IR&T, M5 Technologies, Panthera Motorsports, Pieux Vistech, and Stärk Hockey.

Each of these ambassador companies will receive a non-repayable contribution of up to $3000 from Sherbrooke Innopole, to enable or optimize their participation – virtual or not – in trade fairs, conferences, or foreign missions in 2022. In addition to receiving financial support, the winning companies will be put into contact with strategic stakeholders, such as trade commissioners, embassy and consulate officials, and other potential partners who could be valuable allies in the companies’ international development efforts.

The startups and SMEs selected following the 6^th call for projects will also be given five hours of customized aid generously provided by the export assistance organization Carrefour Québec International (CQI) with the goal of optimizing the companies’ participation in events.

“With the call for projects that has just closed, it is evident that market development activities, which could have been put on the back burner during the peak of the pandemic, are once again among our companies’ priorities,” noted Sylvain Durocher, Director General of Sherbrooke Innopole. “Despite the uncertainty surrounding the world’s epidemiological situation and constantly evolving health measures, it is expected that most international trade conferences and fairs will be back in 2022 with onsite or hybrid events. This will enable companies from the region to maximize their prospecting efforts and their visibility in foreign markets. We are, of course, closely following government measures and will consequently make adjustments, as needed, in collaboration with the winning companies.”

Since its creation in 2017, the Sherbrooke International program has benefited almost 70 ambassador winners that have thus been able to participate in major international events in their fields of activity. As a result, they have been able to solidify their partnerships, expand their client bases, and keep abreast of new developments and trends.

A winner in 2021, startup company Foxtrot Industriel experienced concrete results: “Through the Sherbrooke International program, Foxtrot Industriel’s team attended the Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show in Toronto. Exhibiting at Canada’s largest manufacturing trade show was very strategic in terms of introducing our technology and verifying the Ontario market’s interest in our solutions. During the four days of the show, we were able to discover new potential markets, get new potential clients, inform more than 2000 visitors, and gain new ideas for future products,” reported Foxtrot Industriel’s CEO, Charles-Éric Raymond.

The Sherbrooke International program is open to companies in the five key sectors (Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technologies, Cleantech, Life Sciences, and Micro-Nanotechnologies) that carry out an activity outside of Quebec, targeting market development at the international level during the reference year. The selection of winners takes several criteria into account, particularly the activity’s impacts on the company and the Sherbrooke area, the company’s actual need for the financial contribution, and the countries targeted.

The 2023 call for projects will be issued on Sherbrooke Innopole’s digital platforms (website, social media, newsletter) in fall 2022.

Ambassador Laureates – 2022 Sherbrooke International

Advanced Manufacturing

INTERFONCTION / Manufacture of aluminum doors with insertions of plain, laminated, or coloured lacquered glass, sliding doors and partitions, adjustable aluminum furniture bases, illuminated shelves, storage systems. Project: Participation in the Kitchen+Bath Canada Expo in Toronto from October 26 to 28, 2022, to promote its products, especially its KADRIUM and SÉSAME brands, and to find collaborators for exportation and installation.

PANTHERA MOTORSPORTS / Design and manufacture of high-performance engines and parts for specialized motorsports equipment. Project: Mission to California and Arizona in summer 2022 to meet with potential clients, integrators, and distributors regarding a new product to be launched next spring.

PIEUX VISTECH / Manufacture, distribution, and installation of galvanized steel screw piles for residential and light commercial markets. Project: Organization of three training events with its franchise network in Ontario, the Maritimes, and Alberta in February and March 2022, to properly train and equip them leading up to peak season, enhance their sales potential, and expand its franchise network.

STÄRK HOCKEY / Design and manufacture of parts for hockey equipment for men, women, and children. Project: Booth at the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association’s (OWHA) provincial tournament in Toronto from April 7 to 10, 2022 to promote its products among managers and players of the various leagues.

Life Sciences 

IMEKA / Neuroimaging software combining imaging diffusion and artificial intelligence to map white matter integrity. Project: Participation in and presentation of a plenary conference at the AD/PD 2022 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases from March 15 to 20, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain to enhance the company’s exposure, to meet pharmaceutical companies and biotechs with the potential to become business partners, and to strengthen relationships with its current clients. 

IMMUGENIA / Development of immunotherapy generating immune cells equipped with targeting arsenal to easily identify cancerous cells. Project: Virtual participation in the Biotech Showcase from January 17 to 19, 2022, taking place at the same time as the largest international conference on investment in the life sciences, the J.P. Morgan Health Care Conference, to meet investors, pharmaceutical companies, and potential partners.

INO SCIENCE / Development and manufacture of portable hyperbaric chambers. Project: Participation in the Profound Health Summit from April 1 to 3, 2022 near London, to enhance the visibility of its product OxyNova among specialists, and to recruit potential clients and distributors.

IR&T / Development and marketing of top-quality PET scanners. Project: Participation in the SPIE Medical Imaging event from February 20 to 24, 2022 in San Diego, California, to remain abreast of recent scientific discoveries in the field of medical imaging, biomedical applications, etc., and to meet experts, as well as potential partners, clients, and investors.

Information Technologies

ALL WAVES TECHNOLOGIES / R&D in personalized interactive touch-sensitive systems and the integration of its ALL WAVES Touch^MC patented technology into any structure, regardless of its size and shape. Project: Participation in the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 5 to 8, 2022, to meet potential partners and suppliers, showcase its technology, and pursue discussions initiated virtually with prospective clients.

DUNIN TECHNOLOGIE / Development of specialized artificial intelligence solutions for the mass customization manufacturing sector. Project: Participation in The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Orlando, from February 8 to 10, 2022, a large-scale international event bringing together kitchen cupboard manufacturers facing mass customization issues for which EVE intelligent software, developed by the company, may be the solution.

M5 TECHNOLOGIES / Development of multimedia communications solutions for providers of landline and cellular phone services, unified communications services, and hosted communications services. Project: Attendance at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 5 to 8, 2022, to find manufacturers, as well as distributors for its products, and to keep an eye out for options to expand its portfolio.

Cleantech

DBO EXPERT / Development and distribution of wastewater treatment solutions. / Project: Attendance at the Atlantic Canada Wastewater Association’s annual conference in December 2022, to stay up-to-date on new features, meet market stakeholders (manufacturers, septic system installers, and regulatory officials), and create new business opportunities.

About Sherbrooke Innopole
Sherbrooke Innopole is the paramunicipal economic development organization for the industrial and high-value-added services sector. Its mission is to accelerate the development of companies from the five key sectors – Advanced Manufacturing, Cleantech, Information Technologies, Life Sciences and Micro-Nanotechnologies – and ensure that Sherbrooke has an attractive and innovative business environment. It is mainly financed by the City of Sherbrooke through the Bureau de coordination du développement économique. 

Source: Sherbrooke Innopole