In a column published in Les Affaires, Guillaume Lajoie offers an interesting perspective on the evolution of Quebec’s innovation ecosystem. Axelys is pleased to be mentioned in the column among the initiatives contributing to this evolution.

Recent years have seen significant progress and the implementation of new measures to support innovation in Quebec. The column highlights, in particular, the impact of the Quebec Strategy for Research and Investment in Innovation (SQRI2), Axelys’ role in technology transfer, the creation of the Montreal hub ax.c—which brings together startups and investors—as well as Québec Tech’s work in the area of internationalization.

This work continues, but several findings call for vigilance:

• There are currently 2,565 tech startups in Quebec;
• Quebec has seen 60% to 70% fewer startup launches over the past five years compared to the pre-pandemic period;
• Only 32.4% of high-potential Canadian startups founded in 2024 established their headquarters in the country, compared to more than 67% between 2015 and 2019;
• Quebec has approximately 123,000 entrepreneurs, the lowest number since 1980.

To take this further, we must continue to bring stakeholders together, better integrate areas of expertise, and create greater continuity between research, commercialization, entrepreneurship, and end-user communities. It is only through collective effort that the innovation process can be accelerated and its benefits maximized.