Cilex gets quarter million injection from feds to help local businesses

Sophie Demers

 

Cilex, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to help startups, companies and institutions with technological and social innovations, is set to receive $230,000 in funding to support high potential businesses in the region.
Cilex provides services that aid in research, acceleration and development for approximately 60 companies in the region.
The funding, from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, is to assist Cilex in their support of businesses in the Outaouais. “The Government of Canada’s mission is to accompany Canadian businesses and regions into the economy of tomorrow and help them seize the business opportunities that will emerge,” said Greg Fergus, Member of Parliament for Hull-Aylmer and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the President of the Treasury Board. “That is why we are providing our support to develop assets specific to the various regions of Quebec, such as here in the Outaouais. Building on these strengths is essential to ensuring an inclusive recovery and creating good jobs in all of our communities.”
Cilex stated that they will use these funds to enhance the services they offer to businesses in order to increase the network of regional business innovations. Cilex plans to develop more local, national, and international partnerships for business which will result in a greater number of potential projects.
According to Cilex, this grant will also aid in the incubation and acceleration of help in the field of cybersecurity. One of Cilex’s projects is Connexité, a Gatineau innovation zone project, a collaboration space, where investors, entrepreneurs, businesses, and researchers can work together to develop technology or social projects in the fields of cybersecurity, digital health and identity.
“We are very pleased to be able to count on the financial support of Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions,” said Cilex Director General Martin Roy. “This support demonstrates CED’s confidence in the services we offer and will enable us to help high-potential startups benefit and catalyse business development.”
According to Roy, the organisation is funded by the federal, provincial and municipal governments, as well as through the fees charged to companies they support.
Since its creation in 2005, Cilex’s mission has been to support companies in carrying out their innovation projects, while fostering partnerships between companies or with universities and research centres in Quebec or abroad. In 2014 the organisation reinvented itself and became an incubator-accelerator that connects entrepreneurs with a network of coaches, professionals, and potential partners.

Photo: Courtesy of Cilex Photo: Martin A. Roy, General manager of Cilex. Photo: Courtesy

Photo: One of Cilex’s projects is Connexité, a Gatineau innovation zone project, a collaboration space, where investors, entrepreneurs, businesses, and researchers can work together to develop technology or social projects in the fields of cybersecurity, digital health and identity. Photo: Connixité website