Québec does very well in the research & development of light metals, among other things, that are essential to the ground transportation equipment industry.
Major Public Research Centres in Québec, Automotive Sector
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Federal government centres
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Specialty
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Location
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Industrial Materials Institute (IMI)
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Manufacturing technologies relating to materials, polymers, ceramics, etc.
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Boucherville
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Aluminum Technology Centre (ATC)
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Development of aluminum-based technologies, products and value-added services
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Saguenay
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Québec government centres
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Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec (CRIQ)
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Applied research on materials
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Montréal and Québec City
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University centres
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Centre de recherche en plasturgie et en composites (CREPEC) - École Polytechnique
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Development of new polymer materials, material characterization, simulation and calculation
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Montréal
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Concordia Centre for Advanced Vehicle Engineering (CONCAVE)
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Expertise in mechanical, electrical and computer engineering. Vehicle design and testing
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Montréal
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Centre for Composites, Concordia University
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Basic research on light metals, ceramics, polymers
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Montréal
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Groupe sur les procédés et les systèmes industriels intelligents (PSI2-GIQ, at Université Laval).
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Development of innovative technologies. Testing of products for the automotive sector (inspection systems for parts)
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Québec City
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Intelligent Materials and Systems Institute
(IMSI) at Université de Sherbrooke
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Multidisciplinary research on materials, structures and intelligent systems. Member of the Canadian Network of Centres of Excellence—AUTO21
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Sherbrooke
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McGill Metals Processing Centre
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Study of metallurgical processes and materials
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Montréal
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Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC)
Three industrial chairs and the Centre universitaire de recherche sur l'aluminium (CURAL)
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Process engineering, use of aluminum in automobiles, aluminum metallurgy
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Saguenay
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News of Interest
Volvo to invest $176 million in Québec
The investment, over five years, is aimed at two of its key divisions, Prevost and Nova Bus, which will allow the company to drive R&D efforts, develop and market new products, and increase production capacity.
Inauguration of the Centre de technologies avancées BRP - Université de Sherbrooke
The new centre will require a total investment of $36.1 million, including $8.5 million to be allocated by the ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation for construction of the building and service infrastructures. BRP and the Université de Sherbrooke are contributing $15.6 million and $2.1 million respectively. Lastly, Economic Development Canada will provide financial assistance of $9.9 million.
BRP Corporation and the Université de Sherbrooke inaugurated an advanced technology centre in June 2008. The centre will develop new technologies in the field of motorized recreational vehicles. Within five years, the centre is expected to employ fifty people, mainly researchers and engineers.
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Other Areas of Interest to Researchers Include
New Propulsion Methods
- Centre national du transport avancé (CNTA)
The electric vehicle experimentation centre aims to promote the development of advanced transport, especially of electric cars.
- Institut du transport avancé du Québec (ITAQ)
The Québec institute for advanced transportation mainly focuses on energy efficiency in motor vehicles and new propulsion methods.
- TM4, a member of the Hydro-Québec group, designs and markets high-density and energy-efficient electrodynamic solutions, and has developed the electric motor-wheel, among other innovations.
- Hydro-Québec's Research Institute (IREQ) supports Hydro-Québec's various divisions by carrying out technological innovation projects in cooperation with universities, research centres and industry.
Intelligent Systems
The Intelligent Materials and Systems Institute (IMSI), affiliated with Université de Sherbrooke and a member of the AUTO21 network, focuses on intelligent systems and sensors. A team has, for example, worked on a GPS tracking system for motorists.
New Fuels
- Institut de recherche sur l'hydrogène
The institute of research on hydrogen, at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, pursues R&D activities in hydrogen storage, safety and use. The institute also has a Centre for Inspection with Ultrasonics (CIUS).
- HERA, a joint venture of Hydro-Québec, GfE and Shell Hydrogen, develops and markets hydrogen safety storage solutions.
- The Institut de recherche d'Hydro-Québec is focused on the development of safe, efficient methods of storing hydrogen.
Testing
PMG Technologies' testing and research centre boasts 25 kilometres of test tracks and proving grounds, as well as laboratories. Unique in Canada, the Centre is equipped to conduct many transport vehicle or equipment tests and evaluations.
AUTO21: A Network of Centres of Excellence
AUTO21 is a national research initiative supported by the Government of Canada. It is a network consisting of universities, companies, government departments and agencies that promote research in various automotive industry-related sectors.
AUTO21 supports more than 230 researchers in 35 universities, government research facilities and private research laboratories. More than 120 participating researchers and fellows in Québec take part, at the following schools:
- Université de Sherbrooke (intelligent systems and sensors);
- McGill University (next-generation steels, manufacturing and inspection);
- École Polytechnique (polymer composites);
- Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (hydrogen safety and infrastructure).
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