15 April 2021

PRESS RELEASE – The COVID-19 pandemic has not slowed the progression of Sherbrooke businesses in their international targets. Sherbrooke Innopole is proud to support five key-sector companies through its Sherbrooke International Program, which provides direct assistance for business development outside of Québec. These companies are: Agilean, BioAlert Solutions, Foxtrot Industriel, and Solti Solutions TI.

These ambassador businesses will each be given a non-refundable contribution of $1500 from Sherbrooke Innopole to enable or optimize their participation—whether virtual or not, depending on the safety measures in effect—in trade fairs, missions, and conferences in 2021. In addition to receiving financial support, the winning companies can be put in touch with strategic contacts, such as trade commissioners, embassy and consulate officials, and other potential partners who could become invaluable allies in the international development efforts of these companies.

Startups and SMEs selected from the 5^th call for proposals will also benefit from customized training or coaching, kindly offered by the export assistance organization Carrefour Québec International (CQI), to maximize their participation in events.

“With the pandemic, market and technological intelligence development activities needed to be done in new ways, but they remain just as vital to the growth of our companies, which are at the cutting edge of innovation,” stated Josée Fortin, Director General of Sherbrooke Innopole. “The Sherbrooke International Program, which we adapted during the first COVID-19 wave last year, allows us to concretely and directly support the expansion and prospecting efforts of companies from the region, which in turn shine the spotlight on Sherbrooke’s expertise elsewhere in the world.”

Since its launch in 2017, the Sherbrooke International Program has named more than 50 ambassador winners that were consequently able to fully participate in major international events in their field of activity. These events provided them opportunities to consolidate their partnerships, expand their client bases, and remain up to date on current trends.

A winner in 2020, CIBLE successfully adapted its sales prospecting: “The Sherbrooke International Program provided CIBLE with a significant helping hand to transform its goal to expand internationally into a reality,” noted Nathalie Ashby, President of CIBLE and the driving force behind the Donna Interactive Suite. “In fact, during these turbulent times when foreign travel is not permitted, through the program we were able to support a completely virtual forum last November for the Association Française des Fundraisers as the event’s gold partner. At this unique gathering, we were able to network, give a presentation on company philanthropy to all participants, and be part of the event with a kiosque to introduce our product, as though we were there in person.”

To read more blog testimonials from the ambassador companies of the four previous calls for proposals, and to get more details on the program, visit sherbrooke-innopole.com. The call for proposals for 2022 will be issued on Sherbrooke Innopole’s digital platforms (website, social networks, newsletter) in fall 2021.

The Sherbrooke International Program is open to companies from the five key sectors (Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technologies, Cleantech, Life Sciences, and Micro-Nanotechnologies) that will be involved in an activity outside of Québec with the goal of developing their market at the international level during the reference year. The selection of recipients is based on several criteria, including the activity’s impact on the company and on Sherbrooke, the company’s actual need for financial contribution, and the target countries.

Ambassador Laureates – 2021 Sherbrooke International

Cleantech

BIOALERT SOLUTIONS INC. / Manufacturer of a pathogen biodetection system for industrial and commercial water environments. Project: Participation at the Propel NYC conference by MIPIM on December 8 and 9, 2021, in New York, bringing together major owners/landlords of rental properties and commercial spaces. The company will be exhibiting with the Québec delegation and also take part in the startup competition, enabling it to prospect for new clients and showcase its technology.

Information Technologies

AGILEAN / Software for optimizing the operations and productivity of manufacturing companies. Project: Virtual participation in the world’s largest industry forum, Hannover Messe, from April 12 to 16, 2021, as co-exhibitor through NGen Canada, to showcase its SaaS ALIX solution, meet potential clients, and conduct a technology watch.

SOLTI SOLUTIONS TI / Innovative, customized technological solutions to enhance organizational performance: mobility, software, training. Project: Visit to its partner Divalto in France in fall 2021 to pursue R&D collaboration and accelerate the development of new in-demand functionalities in Québec. The company will also use this opportunity to participate with Divalto in an IT trade show to establish business relationships with potential new partners.

Advanced Manufacturing

FOXTROT INDUSTRIEL / Designer and manufacturer of safe and efficient heavy-load transport robots to move heavy loads in industrial settings. Project: Participation as an exhibitor at the Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show in Toronto from October 4 to 7, 2021, to meet potential clients and suppliers.

Source: Sherbrooke Innopole