Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole and MAIN Join Forces to Support Agri-Food Innovation

Saint-Hyacinthe, December 5, 2024 – Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with MAIN aimed at rolling out a new suite of services to support innovative entrepreneurship in the Agri-Food Innovation Hub and the greater Saint-Hyacinthe region.

This project, titled “Agri-Food Continuum,” will provide personalized support to ten startups—that is, young companies with high growth potential—in the Maskoutain region. As a result, the companies identified by the Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole team will receive support and will be able to benefit, completely free of charge, from the referral services offered by MAIN. These services address the needs at every stage of the innovative entrepreneurial journey and connect participating companies with the incubation andacceleration resourcesacceleration suited to their growth.

Although the program is specifically aimed at entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector, it is also open to all innovative companies that qualify as startups, regardless of their industry. Launched as a pilot project, it will be available through September 30, 2025, subject to availability.

“This partnership with MAIN allows us to strengthen our mission of supporting local entrepreneurs by giving them access to high-quality resources to drive their growth. By launching this program, we also hope to add an even stronger suite of support services for business innovation to our agri-food innovation ecosystem,” said Karine Guilbault, Executive Director of Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole.

“The collaboration between Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole and MAIN was a natural fit, since we operate as a network—just as they do—to optimize resources in the agri-food sector. As part of our goal to give entrepreneurs access to the best resources, creating a continuum of specialized activities will ensure that those willing to take risks in the agri-food sector have every opportunity to succeed,” said Louis-Félix Binette, Executive Director of MAIN.

MAIN is committed to building an inclusive and resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem, designed by and for entrepreneurs. Its renewed mission is to empower entrepreneurs to take risks by providing simplified, relevant, and timely access to support resources, strengthening collaboration among ecosystem stakeholders, and developing tools that support their long-term impact.

Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole is the organization responsible for economic development within the MRC des Maskoutains. Its mandate is to attract new businesses—both industrial and commercial—to the region. In particular, it oversees the operation and development of Quebec’s largest agri-food innovation hub and coordinates the establishment of the Saint-Hyacinthe agri-food innovation zone. It also promotes and develops tourism—particularly business tourism—as well as the agri-food sector and immigration.