A district dedicated to innovation
The QI is located just steps away from downtown Montreal, in an area that includes mainly Griffintown, Pointe-St-Charles, and St-Henri/Little Burgundy.
脡TS and UU直播 have been developing this project since 2009. The QI is designed to be a real living laboratory, where organizations, researchers, citizens, companies and students will work together to enhance Montreal鈥檚 potential for creativity and innovation. The two universities will draw upon their resources, acting as catalysts with all the key players involved in promising and innovative projects. 聽 聽
A long-term commitment
The QI will build on UU直播鈥檚 strong leadership in basic research and its international network, and on 脡TS鈥檚 successful track record in applied research, technology transfer and close relationships with the small- and medium-sized business community in Quebec. The two institutions have signed a formal partnership agreement that spans 25 years and covers many research and teaching projects. 聽
鈥淚nnovation is essential to ensuring the economic, social and cultural prosperity of our society. The objective of the QI is nothing less than to make Montreal a hub for innovation,鈥� said Yves Beauchamp, Director General of 脡TS, at the event. 鈥溍塗S, located in the heart of the district, will be an active partner in setting up a real ecosystem for creativity, forming organic links among our students, our researchers, and their communities.鈥�
鈥淭he QI will make Montreal an international leader in innovative cities, building on the experiences聽of other visionary cities such as Barcelona, Manchester and Boston,鈥� said Prof.聽Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UU直播. 鈥淢ontreal鈥檚 Quartier de l鈥檌nnovation is truly one-of-a-kind as it embraces all aspects of innovation: from the social, cultural and urban dimensions to education, research and industry.鈥�
Universities with deep community roots
In close collaboration with organizations working in the district, the QI will serve as a catalyst for transforming the community, deeply rooted in the urban fabric and the social and cultural life of the city. Projects in the QI will help create an environment respectful of the mixed-use character and mixed social and cultural heritage of the sector while at the same time fostering innovative practices.
The QI will give 脡TS and UU直播 the opportunity to broaden their commitment to the community around them. The founding institutions regard the project as a major lever for economic development and job creation in the sector.
Invaluable partners聽聽
Yves Beauchamp and Heather Munroe-Blum thanked the many partners who have endorsed or provided financial support for the QI, starting with the governments of Quebec, Canada, and the City of Montreal. The City has also made a generous donation to 脡TS 鈥� the Dow Planetarium, which will be turned into a Hub of Creativity, one of the many that will call the QI home.
The QI also relies on a group of 14 public figures from the Montreal community, who will serve as for the project.
The team from 鈥� the first major creative event to be held in the Quartier de l鈥檌nnovation 鈥� also gave guests a sneak peek at the 2013 edition of C2-MTL, coming up on May 21, 22 and 23.
Twitter @QImontreal
