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 for the deployment of a new service offering for innovative entrepreneurship in the Cité de l'innovation agroalimentaire and the greater Saint-Hyacinthe region.

This project, entitled Continuum agroalimentaire, will provide personalized support for ten startups- young companies with high growth potential - in the Maskoutain region. Companies identified by the Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole team will be supported and offered free referral services by MAIN. These services are designed to meet the needs of companies at all stages of their innovative entrepreneurial journey, and to put them in touch with the incubation andacceleration resources best suited to their growth.

Although aimed specifically at entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector, the program is also open to any innovative company that qualifies as a startup, whatever its sector of activity. Set up as a pilot project, it will be available until September 30, 2025, subject to availability.

"This partnership with MAIN allows us to reinforce our mission of supporting local entrepreneurs, giving them access to caliber resources to stimulate their growth. By setting up this program, we also hope to be able to add to our agri-food innovation ecosystem, an even stronger offering of services to support companies' innovation activities," emphasizes Karine Guilbault, General Manager of Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole.

"The collaboration between Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole and MAIN was an intuitive one, since we network just as they do to optimize resources in the agri-food sector. In our ambition to give entrepreneurs access to the best resources, the creation of a continuum of specialized activities will give those with the courage to take risks in the agri-food sector every opportunity to succeed," said Louis-Félix Binette, MAIN's General Manager.

MAIN is committed to building an inclusive and resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem, designed by and for entrepreneurs. Its renewed mission is to give entrepreneurs the courage to take risks by promoting simplified, relevant and timely access to support resources, strengthening collaboration between ecosystem players and developing tools that support their long-term impact.

Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole is the organization responsible for economic development in the Maskoutains RCM. Its mandate is to attract new industrial and commercial companies to the region. In particular, it oversees the development of the largest agri-food innovation cluster in Quebec, and coordinates the establishment of the Saint-Hyacinthe agri-food innovation zone. It also promotes and develops tourism, especially business tourism, agri-food activities and immigration.