Recently designated by the Quebec government as one of the first two innovation zones, the City of Sherbrooke is firmly committed to large-scale projects. Quantum sciences and their applications as well as digital health are developing and generating their share of economic spinoffs.
The Sherbrooke Science Park: A Pool of Innovation
The Sherbrooke Science Park, located in the borough of Fleurimont, is a dynamic place. It is home to nearly a dozen companies:
- 2 university faculties
- 1 university hospital centre
- 1 pharmacology institute
- 1 centre for preclinical research
- 1 centre for clinical research
- 1 scientific multi-tenant centre
Espace LABz is a multi-tenant science centre that brings together companies in the life sciences and cleantech sector. Foreign companies that want to establish themselves in North America also find a place of choice.
Launch of the University Pole of Health
The use of digital technology in healthcare is a considerable asset for optimizing medical work and the quality of care provided. This is one of the reasons why the Université de Sherbrooke and the integrated health and social services centre for the Estrie region (CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS) have joined forces to form a group that will bring together the health sector and the scientific community.
The university pole brings together resources from the Université de Sherbrooke, including:
- The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- The Faculty of Science
- The Centre of statistics consultation
The CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS and the CHUS Research Centre are also among the partners, as is the Research Centre on Aging. These key resources, as well as regional clinical and scientific departments, will join forces to develop innovative artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
Backed with these partnerships, Sherbrooke will become a central player in the integration of research into health care. Access to a vast network of digitized data will promote faster and more accurate real-time analysis, making it easier for health professionals to do their jobs.
The Quantum Sherbrooke Innovation Zone: A Large-Scale Project for Economic Development
Sherbrooke fosters a number of key players in the quantum science and technology sector, six of whom have joined forces to form an innovation zone:
- The City of Sherbrooke
- Sherbrooke Innopole
- The Université de Sherbrooke
- The Cégep de Sherbrooke
- Productique Québec
- The Centre 24-juin de formation professionnelle of the Centre de services scolaires de la Région-de-Sherbrooke
Scientific advances are of course at the core of the strategies, but not only: economic and social development and the creation of a quality living environment for Sherbrooke residents are at the top of the concerns. In the heart of downtown, in the new Entrepreneurship Headquarters, the innovation zone benefits from a booming place.
Numerous public and private investments are already planned, notably from major investors. The creation of wealth and jobs will allow Quantum Sherbrooke to grow considerably:
- Scientific infrastructures
- Research chairs
- Internship program in companies
- Support for innovation projects by partners of the Université de Sherbrooke’s research teams
- Technological projects of companies in the field of quantum computing and communications
- Interior design of the HQ
- The creation of Quantum Sherbrooke, an organization that supports the partners
Several investors are involved:
Quantum technology is a sector of the future that is generating wealth and jobs in Sherbrooke, and this is not about to stop thanks to the activities of organizations such as Sherbrooke Innopole, which is attracting many companies and investments.
Moreover, the organization contributes to the creation of new innovative companies and supports local businesses.
A Promising Future
19,374 jobs in 676 companies are the extent of what has been generated by key sectors in Sherbrooke, including:
- The manufacturing sector
- Information technology
- Clean technologies
- Micronanotechnology
- Life sciences
Since 2010, more than $2.5 billion has been invested in these sectors, with net gains for 181 companies and 6,244 new jobs.
These gains, combined with recent developments and partnerships, point to a bright future for Sherbrooke’s quantum, technology, and digital health sector. These are just a few of the innovative successes in a region that is in full swing!
For more information, please contact:
Martine Courtemanche
Director, Business Services – Life Sciences and Micro-Nanotechnologies
mcourtemanche@sherbrooke-innopole.com
+1 819 821-5577 ext. 131
