Launch of the second edition of Adopte Inc. From left to right: Philippe Walker, Nathalie Bondil, Marie-Claude Boisvert, Anne Marcotte, Nicolas Duvernois, Natalie Quirion and Daniel Germain.
The Chief Scientist of Québec, Rémi Quirion, is pleased to announce a partnership between the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) and Adopte Inc, a program aimed at building connections between successful entrepreneurs ("adopters") and those building early-stage companies ("adoptees"). The FRQ will contribute $150,000 per year for three years to the initiative, the equivalent of a one-year doctoral scholarship for six adoptees. In addition, the Office of the Chief Scientist will name six adopters each year. "The experienced individuals we select every year—two from each sector covered by the Fonds de recherche du Québec—will help young company founders to accomplish their ambitious projects in emerging fields and contribute to the development of an innovative, bold, engaged and prosperous Québec," observed Rémi Quirion.
This initiative is in line with the measures of the recent Québec strategy for research and innovation, under which additional investments are designed to address major societal challenges. For the FRQ, those challenges will be demographic change and the aging population, climate change and sustainable development, and, in the case of this initiative, entrepreneurship and creativity.
During the launch of the second cohort of Adopte Inc, headed by Nicolas Duvernois, founder of PUR Vodka and Romeo's gin, Anne Marcotte, entrepreneur and Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien III, businessman and investor, the Office of the Chief Scientist of Québec announced four of the six adopters for this year. They are:
- Nathalie Bondil, Director General and Chief Curator of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (for the Society and culture sector)
- Daniel Germain, founder of the Breakfast Club of Canada (for the Society and culture sector)
- Natalie Quirion, CEO, Québec Metro High Tech Park (for the Sciences and technology sector)
- Philippe Walker, Chief Scientific Officer, Neomed Institute (for the Health sector)
Two other adopters will be announced shortly.
Young innovators and creators, including student entrepreneurs, are invited to apply for the program on the Adopte Inc. website
Contact
Denise Pérusse
Director, Societal Challenges and Intersectoral Networking
Telephone: 418 643-8560, ext. 3120
