Press release

NOVARIUM AND PORT OF QUÉBEC JOIN FORCES TO STIMULATE INNOVATION

Rimouski, November 1, 2023 – Novarium, the innovation campus dedicated to the blue economy, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with the Port of Québec, one of the five largest ports in Canada. This collaboration will create a dynamic ecosystem favouring innovation, research, and sustainable development in the maritime sector, while also enjoying the unique advantages provided by the Port of Québec’s location.

As part of its strategic vision, the Port of Québec is committed to providing companies with some of Canada’s top solid and liquid bulk infrastructures. In addition, as the biggest cruise ship port on the Saint Lawrence, it offers unparalleled access to a UNESCO-recognized historic city.

The Port of Québec acts as the hub of a vital river corridor that is also a strategic transhipment port that supports intermodality. This broad connectivity will provide start-ups with new opportunities to benefit economically from the blue economy and will strengthen the Port of Québec’s position as a leader in the maritime sector.

Novarium and the Port of Québec are committed to promoting research and development that supports innovation in the maritime sector and contributes to Québec City’s standing as a pillar of excellence in the blue economy. This partnership fits perfectly within the province’s goal of being a leader in the transition to a more sustainable and responsible economy. It will allow companies to take on the complex challenges faced by the Port of Québec and contribute to its growth, while opening up its spaces as a testing ground for start-ups wishing to innovate in the blue economy.

Quotes
“This collaboration with Novarium follows similar ones with other Québec organizations and represents another step in creating tighter bonds with Québec’s innovation sector. We are delighted to work with Québec’s key players to stimulate innovation, attract world-calibre companies and talent, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the blue economy in the Québec City region.”
–    Mario Girard, CEO, Port of Québec

“The Port of Québec represents a unique opportunity for blue economy companies to grow and prosper. This collaboration will provide resources adapted to a demanding winter environment that will strengthen an innovative culture and a dynamic city-port interface. The Port of Québec is a natural ally for prototyping solutions within the blue economy. We have already made headway in open innovation and are pleased to continue this long-term collaboration.”
–    Martin Beaulieu, CEO, La Zone Bleue

“The Port of Québec collaboration provides an excellent opportunity to showcase Québec’s new technologies within the blue economy – which has a promising future in the world economy. Québec City fits within our strategy to create home ports for developing innovative companies worldwide, as we have begun in Los Angeles and Portugal.”
–    Amélie Desrochers, Executive Director, Novarium

About Port of Québec
The Québec Port Authority, a non-profit organization, manages the Port of Québec which is strategically located to serve North America’s industrial and agricultural heartland. This Canadian hub for international trade for both the import and export of goods is the only port in the province of Québec with a fifteen-meter depth of water at low tide and a comprehensive intermodal infrastructure. The port facilities generate 12,000 jobs and about two billion dollars in economic activity.

The Port of Québec’s Vision 2035 underlines its desire for citizens to recognize it for its responsible management of the territory, respect for the environment, and protection of biodiversity, as it positions itself as a world leader in the development of sustainable supply chains serving a more resilient economy.

About Novarium
Novarium is an innovation campus dedicated to the blue economy and that is generating synergies between Québec entrepreneurs, research centres, investors and industry. Its vertically-integrated accelerator FLOTS supports startups and industrial partners in the development and commercialization of sustainable solutions that tackle the most pressing climate challenges, such as ocean preservation. Founded by Martin Beaulieu, PhD, entrepreneur and CEO of La Zone Bleue, Novarium is also part of an international blue economy innovation network and acts as a major catalyst for maritime knowledge with more than a hundred researchers involved in the fields of oceanography, marine biotechnology, marine engineering, data management and marine biology. For more information, visit novarium.co.

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For information:
Guillaume Lajoie, Public Relations – Novarium
[email protected]m – 514 758-1109

Frédéric Lagacé, Communications Director – Port of Québec
[email protected] – 418 929-5031