INNVOVATON SUPPORT PROGRAM

< context >

As the world’s 3rd largest hub in the video game industry, Quebec is recognized for its great creativity and its potential for innovation. In a highly competitive context where new technologies are developing at a very high speed, it is important for independent video game studios to maintain their leading position among world leaders. It is therefore essential to ensure that new projects developed are at the cutting edge of technology.

For several years, the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and other funding programs have supported the gaming industry in Quebec. However, some of these programs require a very high level of innovation from the studios, which are not always equipped to clearly identify the opportunities in this direction.

Thus, La Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec, in partnership with the CDRIN, is proposing an innovation support program through the creation of grants and a committee of innovation experts for the evaluation of projects from independent Quebec video game studios that will be presented as part of funding programs in support of research and innovation at the CMF and other provincial and federal funding programs. The idea is to maximize the studio’s chances of success.

< objectives >

The objectives of this initiative are to promote Quebec’s innovation and research in the video game sector. This approach proposes to guide and challenge the studios in their reflection on the development of their project at the research level, to push back the limits of innovation and to help the marketing of innovative products and services. The committee’s expertise will cover the field of technology, but also the fields of business and finance to enforce strategic development thinking to cover the entire spectrum of evaluation of funding programs.

In addition, as we all know, private financing and the support of specialists from various backgrounds are the cornerstone of an acceptance of a request for financing. This is why La Guilde wishes to offer two grants of $ 30,000 for the projects that will be the most promising, as well as time banks with specialists from various backgrounds who will be able to support the studios in their funding requests.

For the implementation of this program, La Guilde joined forces with CDRIN because of its extensive experience in setting up scientific committees. Indeed, the CDRIN will propose an ethical and scientific framework and will cover the aspect of conflicts of interest, inclusion and management of intellectual property, etc. which will guide the committee throughout the process.

< innovation experts committee >

Five studios (ten in total) will present their project and committee members will be invited to comment.

More specifically, committee members will meet with the studios to:

discuss and exchange ideas for research and the possibility of innovation;
propose avenues of research related to their project;
guide them upstream in writing their request to the CMF.

< list of experts (researchers, professors, innovation experts, etc. >

ALL LA GUILDE MEMBER STUDIOS OF 50 OR LESS EMPLOYEES WHICH GAME OR TECHNOLOGICAL PLATFORMS IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS BY MARCH 12, 2021

Application form

For more information: innovation@laguilde.quebec

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