13 December 2023

PRESS RELEASE – Sherbrooke Innopole is pleased to increase the financial aid granted as part of the 2024 edition of its Sherbrooke International program, which offers direct support for business development outside Québec. 24 industrial and technological companies from key sectors in Sherbrooke were selected following the 8th call for projects: Agendrix, AxCell Labs, BioMimir, CFM Robotics, Coastal Jibs, DBO Expert, Ecofilter Tek, EncephalX, Energy Solutions Air (ESA), Sherbrooke Gearworks, FrankSim, Immugenia, Poly-Pro Packaging, Alterna Technologies, Skyrenu Technologies, Mecanum, Petit Cactus, MedAssistant Products, Promethium, Soyxpert, TATUM Bioscience, DIGITHO Technologies, Terraquavie, and WASSC Technology (see below).

These ambassador companies will each receive a non-refundable contribution of $3,000 from Sherbrooke Innopole, to enable or optimize their participation in trade fairs, conferences or canvassing in 2024. In addition to financial support, the winning startups and SMEs will have the opportunity to connect with strategic stakeholders, such as trade commissioners, embassies, consuls, and other potential partners. They could be valuable allies in the pursuit of international business development efforts.

“The 2024 edition of our Sherbrooke International program attracted a record number of applications, signalling interest from the companies wishing to increase their presence in foreign markets. We are happy to be able to support more businesses than in recent years, underlines Sylvain Durocher, Executive Director of Sherbrooke Innopole. Our ambassador companies for 2024 are not only growing SMEs, but also start-ups ready to market their innovative technology in foreign markets. We are proud to be able to offer them a helping hand in their expansion efforts outside Québec, hence contributing to Sherbrooke continuing to stand out on the international scene in terms of innovation.”

Since its launch in 2017, the Sherbrooke International program has crowned more than 100 ambassador winners who have thus been able to achieve participation in major international events in their field of activity. They were able to consolidate their partnerships, expand their customer base and stay on top of trends and new developments.

“Our company, Les Technologies Alterna, considers itself privileged to be able to be supported by Sherbrooke Innopole, among others, through the Sherbrooke International program,” says the president and co-founder of the company, Chantal Michel. Alterna develops media that promote cell growth in the laboratory. Cellular agriculture, used to produce laboratory-grown meat, is a very new and very important market segment that is currently experiencing strong growth. Thanks to the funding awarded, we were able to make our first foray into this unique world during the Industrializing Cultivated Meat & Seafood Summit event last July in Boston. This conference allowed us to create privileged contacts with players in this sector and to better understand their challenges. Considering the strong potential of this niche, our participation was invaluable in reaching the still young and inaccessible companies that make it up. We firmly believe that this summit will allow us to realize a first commercial relationship, whether in the form of a collaboration or client. This crucial milestone will open the door for other potential partners in the near future. »

The Sherbrooke International program is open to companies in the five key sectors (Manufacturing and Advanced Manufacturing, Quantum and Information Technologies, Cleantech, Life Sciences and Micro-Nanotechnologies) which carry out an activity outside Québec aimed at developing their market at the international level for the reference year. The choice of winners is based on several criteria, including the impact of the activity for the company and for Sherbrooke, the company’s real need to receive the financial contribution and the countries targeted.y

Ambassador Laureates – 2024 Sherbrooke International

Agendrix | Scheduling app for employees → Together We Care Convention & Trade Show in Toronto, April 8-10, 2024

AxCell Labs | Design of highly biocompatible subcutaneous protective implants based on bacterial cellulose → BIOMEDevice Boston, September 25 and 26, 2024

BioMimir | Design of regenerative solutions designed for tissue repair → Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring in Orlando, May 14-19, 2024

CFM Robotics | Design and manufacturing of high-end, durable, and flexible custom robotic cells → NPE – The Plastic Show in Orlando, May 6-10, 2024

Coastal Jibs | Manufacturing of ramps and modules for snow parks → Midwest Ski Areas Association Meeting & Trade Show à Gaylord, Michigan, August 11-14, 2024

DBO Expert | Development and distribution of wastewater treatment solutions → WCOWMA Onsite Wastewater Management Association of BC Convention & Trade Show in Kamloops, British Columbia, March 14-16, 2024

Ecofilter Tek | Development of an intelligent and green polymer applicable to membranes intended for different industries → Visit to potential manufacturing plants in California, February 2024

EncephalX | Development of implants and cranial prostheses reducing the risk of complications in patients treated with neurosurgery → Redefine Early Stage Investments (RESI) Boston, in September 2024

Energy Solutions Air (ESA) | Manufacturing of new generation air exchangers optimizing air quality and reducing heating costs in agricultural production buildings → National Poultry Show in London, Ontario, February 7-8, 2024

Sherbrooke Gearworks | Gear manufacturing and machining centre → Design-2-Part Shows in Marlborough, Massachusetts, September 2024

FrankSim | Development of medical simulation products intended for training, certification and continuing education of emergency medical services → Society in Europe for Simulation Applied to Medicine (SESAM) Annual Meeting in Prague, June 19-21, 2024

Immugenia | Development of an immunotherapy generating immune cells equipped with a targeting arsenal to easily identify cancer cells → Biotech Showcase à San Francisco, January 8-10, 2024

Poly-Pro Packaging | Specialist in flexible packaging (polyethylene and paper)  → Specialty Coffee Expo in Chicago, April 12-14, 2024

Alterna Technologies | Development of cell culture media bioequivalent to FBS without recourse to a source of fetal origin → The Bioprocessing Summit in Boston, August 19-22, 2024

Skyrenu Technologies | Solutions for capturing CO2 directly from the atmosphere and sequestration of CO2 to revalorize mining residues → Carbon Unbound USA in New York, May 21-23, 2024

Mecanum | Software and consultation in acoustics and vibration as well as equipment for the characterization of acoustic materials → Noise-Con in New Orleans, June 10-12, 2024

Petit Cactus | Turnkey SaaS platform for diabetes self-management → Vascular Conference in Halifax, November 20 to 23, 2024

MedAssistant Products | Development of software tools aimed at automating and optimizing patient care in clinics → Healthcare Information and Management System Society (HIMSS) Global Health Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, March 11-15, 2024

Promethium | Combining photo catalytic and UV nanotechnology to design and manufacture the next generation of air treatment systems → AHR Expo in Chicago, January 22-24, 2024

Soyxpert | Food processor producing tofu made from organic soy → Planted Expo Toronto, March 23-24, 2024

TATUM Bioscience | Development of cargo probiotics to deliver therapeutic content into target bacteria → OBIO Investment Summit in Toronto, February 14-16, 2024

DIGITHO Technologies | Photolithography solution for microchip serialization and secure cloud platform for semiconductor supply chain traceability → SEMICON West in San Francisco, July 9-11, 2024

Terraquavie | Manufacturing and distribution of specialized sediment and erosion control products → Advanced Textiles Expo in Anaheim, September 24-26, 2024

WASSC Technology | Development platform for drug delivery systems such as antibody-drug conjugates → Redefine Early Stage Investments (RESI) South in Atlanta, March 25-27, 2024

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, Quantum and 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