
Longueuil, Wednesday, May 1, 2024 – IVÉO is proud to unveil the 14 selected projects under the “Innovation Challenges / Smart and Sustainable Cities” program, which encourages experimental projects carried out in collaboration with innovative companies within participating cities.
IVÉO aims to propel new solutions that will enable cities to optimize their operations, reduce their ecological footprint, and improve the quality of services offered to their citizens. Funding granted by IVÉO will be provided to the company so it can finalize its solution and make it available to the partner city as part of a pilot project lasting a maximum of 12 months. The funding will cover 50% of the expenses for the projects selected by the evaluation committee. The counterpart must be covered by the company, either directly or through other government programs it has managed to mobilize.
IVÉO is one of seven organizations chosen to support the implementation of projects related to the Innovation Challenges in Quebec. These challenges are part of the Quebec Strategy for Research and Innovation Investment 2022-2027. The Innovation Challenges allow Quebec companies to accelerate the commercialization of their innovative solutions by addressing the specific procurement challenges of ministries and public organizations.
“We are excited to unveil today 14 innovative projects that will enable cities, municipalities, and a Quebec MRC to address challenges related to reducing their ecological footprint and improving citizen services, while positioning them as leaders in sustainable development. Thanks to grants totaling $2 million, Quebec companies will see their innovative solutions propelled to market. IVÉO is very proud to contribute to the growth of cities and municipalities that are both more ecological and smarter,” said Benoit Balmana, Executive Director of IVÉO.
Here are the details of the 14 innovation projects selected for funding:
SAINT-SULPICE in partnership with Ecotime
Challenge: The municipality of Saint-Sulpice is facing issues with the availability of drinking water. It seeks to reduce its use through technologies for recovering all available water sources (gray water and rainwater).
Innovative Solution: Reduction of the water footprint of the town hall and fire station.
Total Project Cost: $400,000 Granted Subsidy: $200,000
VARENNES in partnership with Jakarto
Challenge: The City of Varennes is pioneering urban forestry by proposing a significant challenge: analyzing its digital twin to optimize the management of its trees and necessary plantings. This challenge will help the city ensure compliance with its municipal regulations and improve the quality of life for its citizens.
Innovative Solution: Smart tool for tree planting.
Total Project Cost: $346,000 Granted Subsidy: $170,000
L’ASSOMPTION in partnership with X-Telia
Challenge: The project consists of implementing an innovation aimed at facilitating dynamic pricing of drinking water and raising citizen awareness to change their behavior regarding drinking water consumption. The project will rely on X-TELIA’s X-O solution for remote water meter reading and its new Aqua Citizen Portal.
Innovative Solution: Valorization of water consumption data.
Total Project Cost: $300,000 Granted Subsidy: $150,000
VICTORIAVILLE in partnership with Exo Tactik
Challenge: Introduction and commissioning of a precision mapping, inspection, and retransmission solution using drones and specialized sensors, serving all departments of the City of Victoriaville.
Innovative Solution: Technical verification rounds using drones.
Total Project Cost: $300,000 Granted Subsidy: $150,000
SAINT-AMABLE in partnership with GDG Environnement
Challenge: The project includes the biological characterization of territories targeted by the municipality, as well as the experimental deployment of measures to mitigate the nuisance caused by mosquito populations.
Innovative Solution: Sustainable control of mosquito nuisance.
Total Project Cost: $107,400 Granted Subsidy: $53,000
SAINT-HIPPOLYTE in partnership with Smartrek
Challenge: Real-time monitoring project of groundwater level fluctuations as part of hydrogeological studies to measure the groundwater supply capacity for potential real estate development projects in the City of Saint-Hippolyte.
Innovative Solution: Groundwater monitoring.
Total Project Cost: $289,165 Granted Subsidy: $144,000
SAINTE-THÉRÈSE & SAINTE-JULIE in partnership with BusPas
Challenge: An innovative, structured, and scalable technology deployed at bus stops to support the development of integrated, intelligent, and shared mobility. The SCiNe deployed at bus stops is both a Traveler Information Terminal (TIT) and a data hub that transforms the existing infrastructure of bus stops (shelters, poles, posts) into smart, connected environments.
Innovative Solution: Smarter public transport equipment for users and municipalities.
Total Project Cost: $259,950 Granted Subsidy: $129,000
SAINT-LIN in partnership with Phista
Challenge: Creation of an innovative parking space sharing solution in Saint-Lin-Laurentides, simplifying the search and reservation process. This initiative reinforces the city’s position as a leader in sustainable development by optimizing the use of existing urban spaces.
Innovative Solution: Parking space sharing.
Total Project Cost: $150,000 Granted Subsidy: $75,000
VICTORIAVILLE in partnership with Cléo
Challenge: Cléo offers tailored solutions to optimize the electrification of vehicle fleets. Cléo provides impartial expertise and personalized, innovative support to ensure reliable charging operations and a successful, sustainable energy transition.
Innovative Solution: V2X Hub for buildings.
Total Project Cost: $356,200 Granted Subsidy: $178,000
MIRABEL in partnership with Ekilab
Challenge: We propose an innovative and replicable project integrating two combined technologies. The application of an eco-friendly bacterial and enzymatic formulation on biosolids to reduce proven odor nuisances during spreading and storage periods, and the automation of this process through the adaptation of mechanical and programmable equipment.
Innovative Solution: Reducing odor load from municipal biosolids stored and spread on agricultural lands.
Total Project Cost: $137,630 Granted Subsidy: $68,000
MRC DES PAYS-D’EN-HAUT in partnership with Blanko
Challenge: The proposed solution for this project exceeds the concept of a conversational robot. While such an AI-powered robot is at the heart of the solution, it also includes an innovative decision-support approach that will benefit both the MRC and the requesting citizens.
Innovative Solution: AI-integrated conversational robot for citizen requests to the MRC.
Total Project Cost: $29,200 Granted Subsidy: $14,000
LONGUEUIL in partnership with CANN Forecast
Challenge: Our solution combines a real-time updated geospatial database with several modules that not only react in real-time to flood risks but also prepare better for future events through, among other things, a dynamic map and alert system.
Innovative Solution: Real-time overview of municipal infrastructure performance in the face of heavy rainfall.
Total Project Cost: $386,000 Granted Subsidy: $193,000
SAINT-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU in partnership with TBmaestro
Challenge: The proposed solution for the City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu will allow for estimating the budgets necessary for maintenance/preventive upkeep and asset maintenance based on the physical parameters of the buildings (current state of obsolescence and the strategic intentions of the City).
Innovative Solution: Optimizing asset maintenance relationships/maintenance throughout a building’s lifecycle.
Total Project Cost: $200,000 Granted Subsidy: $100,000
LAVALTRIE in partnership with Nuvac & Drone Des Champs
Challenge: We propose an innovative project that includes two disruptive technologies: a system for measuring and sampling aerated pond sludge via drone and treatment using bioaugmentation technology to reduce and degrade sludge from municipal wastewater treatment ponds.
Innovative Solution: Faster treatment of wastewater.
Total Project Cost: $257,828 Granted Subsidy: $126,000
Original Publication on IVÉO in French.