Ground transportation
Cutting-edge centres of excellence
Because research and innovation are the keys to the future, a wide range of measures have been introduced in Québec to foster R&D. Reflecting a long-standing commitment to strengthening the various facets of the economy, these measures have been in place for more than 25 years!
- Foreign researchers can benefit from a five-year provincial income tax exemption.
- Thanks to the tax incentives offered by the governments of Québec and Canada, Québec is recognized as one of the most favourable locations for R&D activities.
- What’s more, its generous tax incentives can help businesses cut their R&D expenses.
Supporting the industry of tomorrow
Québec boasts a number of centres of excellence, especially in the advanced ground transportation sector. The main centres are the following:
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InnovÉÉ
(french website)
Innovation in the field of electric power is the core of the InnovÉÉ research centre’s mission. Thanks to its many support and funding measures, InnovÉÉ is contributing to the realization of numerous collaborative projects related to the electricity sector and transportation electrification. It also provides an opportunity for industry partners and research establishments to pool their expertise and resources to advance this promising domain. -
Hydro-Québec's research institute (IREQ)
IREQ, which has been investing in R&D for 40 years and holds over 1100 patents and 100 licences with international partners has developed world-renowned expertise in the field of lithium and lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery materials. In collaboration with its partners, IREQ has filed North American, European, and Asian patents on a lithium iron phosphate cathode material used to increase the stability and safety of lithium-ion batteries and reduce their cost.
To ensure large-scale, high-quality production, Hydro-Québec licenses various partners to manufacture the advanced materials IREQ has developed.
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Innovative Vehicle Institute
The mission of the Innovative Vehicle Institute is to reduce transportation’s environmental footprint through technological solutions. IVI supports businesses and organizations in applied research and the development, testing and implementation of innovative transportation technologies. The IVI team is currently taking part in development of the eLion electric school bus and in technical aspects of the TÉO electric taxi project. The Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec awarded the 2016 Prix Génie innovation to IVI for its assistance to The Lion Electric Co. in designing the eLion electric school bus.
A passion for lithium batteries!
Karim Zaghib, a researcher and Director, Energy Storage and Conversion at IREQ, is internationally recognized. In 2009, his work led to a remarkable achievement: fully discharging and recharging a 1 Ah battery 30,000 times in one minute, which is quite impressive considering that it takes at least three hours to fully recharge an electric car!
In 2013, Zaghib received the Electrochemical Society’s Battery Division Technology Award for his contribution to developing safe and effective battery materials.
NSERC/Phostech Lithium Industrial Research Chair in Energy Storage and ConversionExpand/Collapse
The Chair specializes in the synthesis and characterization of materials used for energy storage and conversion. Its goal is begin the process of identifying new energy storage materials and pave the way for large-scale production and application.
