MRC de L'Assomption, January 22, 2021 - In partnership with Bioenterprise Corporation, the Ecofuel Accelerator and Zone Agtech officially launch the Ecofuel Acceleration Agtech Program - powered by Zone Agtech. This is the first acceleration program 100% dedicated to the commercialization of agricultural innovations in Quebec. This initiative will provide farmers with concrete solutions for adapting to climate change, and support Quebec's food autonomy. This will enable us to take a further step towards greener, more efficient and more profitable agriculture.
As part of the Ecofuel Agtech Acceleration Program - Powered by the Zone Agtechfive companies offering innovative agricultural technologies in thepre-seed or seed phase will benefit from various forms of support, as well as proximity to the farming community in which they market their technology. This intensive, immersive program will help to support the commercialization of agtechs by focusing on the quality of innovation, deployment in operational environments with agricultural user-partners, and the financing of technology commercialization.
The call for applications for the Ecofuel Accélération Agtech - Propulsé par la Zone Agtech program officially takes off today, and the first cohort will begin its activities at the beginning of March. Powered by the Agtech Zone, this program is open to innovative agricultural companies whose solutions reduce GHGs, increase food self-sufficiency or promote adaptation to climate change. Companies must also be located in the Agtech Zone or commit to setting up operations there at the end of the program. For more details: ecofuelaccelerate.com/programme-agtech/
This initiative is part of a broader three-year partnership between Zone Agtech, Bioenterprise Corporation, Canada's foodtech and agtech network, and the Ecofuel Accelerator. With an investment of $570,000, this alliance will serve to catalyze the development of innovative agricultural technologies in Quebec, in addition to supporting the broader mission of the Agtech Zone.
It's through initiatives like these that we can build the agriculture of tomorrow, while generating significant economic spin-offs," says Sébastien Nadeau, mayor of L'Assomption and champion of the Zone Agtech vision within the Conseil des maires de la MRC de L'Assomption. The agtech sector holds great promise for Quebec. With the Zone Agtech and its ecosystem, we have the potential to become a world reference in this field. By supporting it, we are actively contributing to its attractiveness and influence.
In addition to accelerating the development of innovative technologies in the agricultural sector that have a positive impact on the environment, the involvement of the Ecofuel Accelerator will help raise the quality of projects and increase their chances of success when the time comes to move from idea to market," says Patrick Gagné, President and CEO of the Ecofuel Accelerator. In this way, sooner rather than later, Quebec's agricultural sector will be able to make an innovative ecological transition that is consistent with global realities."
"This collaboration with Zone Agtech and the Ecofuel Accelerator represents a major expansion of Canada's foodtech and agtech network. It also enables us to make our know-how and resources available to Quebec companies and organizations," says Dave Smardon, President and CEO of Bioenterprise Corporation. At the same time, we'll have the opportunity to help support the export of promising foodtech and agtech innovations from Quebec to the rest of Canada, and to establish new regional and national funding partnerships and collaborations."
About Zone Agtech
An incubator of knowledge, entrepreneurship and innovation, the Zone Agtech, located in Quebec's L'Assomption RCM, is a dedicated, geolocated zone that brings together the entire ecosystem needed to drive the new agriculture. The Zone helps to position the associated companies (SMEs and large corporations alike) favorably, and gives them unique competitive advantages. Strategically located within the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), the Zone provides access to the greater Montreal logistics hub and, in a single location, to research teams, a business network, advisors, training, research facilities and visibility platforms.
Since its launch by the MRC de L'Assomption in 2020, the Zone Agtech has been a key player in the development of the agtech and plant bioproducts industry in Quebec. Since then, the Zone Agtech has forged several links, developed international partnerships, set up four consortiums and reached over a thousand industry players with its events. Some forty companies are also setting up in the geolocated zone. In less than a year, it has brought together more than 175 Quebec companies and organizations within the Agtech Community, over 1,600 scientists representing 24 complementary areas of expertise, ten financial partners and three acceleration partners.
For more information: www.zoneagtech.ca
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About the Ecofuel Accelerator
The Ecofuel Accelerator offers a specialized, customized program for cleantech companies. Founded by Cycle Capital, the Ecofuel Accelerator works with entrepreneurs who are developing and commercializing clean technologies, and offers support in starting up companies that will compete internationally. It provides entrepreneurs with training workshops, networking sessions and mentoring, and investors with access to the most promising start-ups in the Canadian cleantech ecosystem.
In addition to the financial support provided by the Quebec government, the Ecofuel Accelerator can count on the support of Cycle Capital, Écotech Québec, Fasken and the City of Montreal.
For more information: www.ecofuelaccelerate.com
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About Bioenterprise Corporation
Bioenterprise is Canada's foodtech and agtech network. With over 15 years of industry experience and a national and international network of research and academic institutions, mentors, experts, government and industry representatives, Bioenterprise helps small and medium-sized agribusinesses connect, innovate and grow. Through its network of knowledgeable service partners, Bioenterprise offers a wide range of business expertise, customer support, partnerships with other industries, and help in opening doors to new technologies and platforms. In this way, it helps the field of agricultural and agri-food technology to innovate and grow.
For more information: www.bioenterprise.ca
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For information :
Agtech zone
Kassandra Martel
kmartel@zoneagtech.ca
514 816-2692
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Ecofuel Accelerator
Catherine Bérubé
cberube@ecofuelaccelerate.com
514 629-1022
