Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

A newly announced partnership between Investissement et Développement Gatineau (ID
Gatineau) and the Association for the Development of Research and Innovation of Quebec
(ADRIQ) is set to accelerate innovation within the region’s manufacturing sector. The initiative
will provide 10 selected companies with specialized support from ADRIQ’s accredited
consultants, aiming to enhance their technological transformation and competitiveness.

Under this agreement, each company will receive 30 hours of strategic consulting tailored to its
growth and innovation needs. With ID Gatineau covering 75% of the cost, businesses will only
be required to pay a fraction of the total investment. This financial backing underscores the city’s
commitment to fostering a dynamic and innovative business environment.

For ADRIQ, this collaboration aligns seamlessly with its core mission. “This agreement fully
supports ADRIQ’s mission to guide Quebec companies along their innovation journey,” said
Marilyn Rémillard, Director of Communications and Events at ADRIQ. “By joining forces with ID
Gatineau, we want to offer Outaouais manufacturing businesses privileged access to experts,
tools, and strategic resources to accelerate their technological transformation and
competitiveness.”

Yet, the road to innovation is not without its challenges. Many small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) struggle with the adoption of new technologies, access to financing, and
internal change management. “One of the major challenges we anticipate for selected
companies is the effective adoption of new technologies and the integration of innovation into
their business processes,” Rémillard added. “Often, SMEs face obstacles such as limited
internal resources, difficulty securing funding, or resistance to change within their teams.

ADRIQ’s expert consultants will provide personalized diagnostics and recommendations
tailored to their realities. Our approach is pragmatic: we want each company to quickly
implement concrete solutions and achieve measurable returns on investment.”
The selected companies must meet ID Gatineau’s eligibility criteria, including being located
within the Gatineau region and demonstrating the potential to benefit from this high-level
support.

“This agreement represents a unique opportunity for Gatineau manufacturing companies to
access strategic resources and high-caliber support,” said Sylvie Charrette, General Manager of
ID Gatineau. “Together with ADRIQ, we aim to create an environment conducive to innovation,
allowing our companies to prosper and stand out in competitive markets.”

With Quebec’s business landscape becoming increasingly competitive, public-private
collaborations like this one may prove essential to ensuring that local manufacturers not only
survive but thrive in an evolving global economy.​

Photo: This new partnership between ID Gatineau and ADRIQ, led by Sylvie Charrette, General
Manager of ID Gatineau, and Frédéric Alberro, CEO of ADRIQ, aims to accelerate
manufacturing innovation in Gatineau by providing strategic resources and expert support to
selected companies. (TF) Photo: Courtesy of ID Gatineau and ADRIQ