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November 25, 2022
New building: key inauguration for the Innovative Vehicle Institute
Saint-Jérôme, November 25, 2022 – The Cégep de Saint-Jérôme and the Innovative Vehicle Institute (IVI) are inaugurating their new facilities today. With a total investment of $14.3 million, this new building is equipped with cutting-edge research and development instruments and is set to become an essential site for the development of innovative and sustainable technologies in the field of transportation.
Smart Innovation at the Forefront
After 25 years of serving as a catalyst for innovation and electrification of transportation in Quebec, the inauguration of this new building will propel IVI to a higher level.
With manufacturing and assembly workshops, state-of-the-art laboratories, and dynamometer areas suitable for light and heavy vehicles, the center has everything it needs to become a unique hub of innovation in Quebec and Canada. This step is crucial in achieving IVI’s vision for 2025, which aims to establish itself as a prominent leader in vehicle innovation within North America.
The new facilities allow IVI to bring all of its activities under one roof and now undertake research and development projects that were previously only dreams.
Starting today, IVI’s partners and clients will benefit from exceptional support in their responsible vehicle innovation projects, with access to outstanding facilities.
At the center of an Educational Mission in the Laurentians and in Quebec
The CEGEP of Saint-Jérôme, which operates two college technology transfer centers (CCTTs), namely the Innovative Vehicle Institute and the Quebec Composite Development Center, is proud to act as an innovation conduct in these two cutting-edge fields.
The research projects conducted in its two centers contribute to enriching education. This leads to the engagement of both teachers and students in various activities that ignite the enthusiasm of young individuals for pursuing careers in the field of science.
The activities of the CCTTs also have a concrete impact on the economy, thanks to numerous partnerships established with businesses in the Laurentians and throughout Quebec. Leveraging this expertise, the CEGEP of Saint-Jérôme has developed a unique training program, the Attestation of College Studies in Electric Vehicles, and is the only college in Quebec to offer it.
A Modern and Sustainable Building
The Cégep de Saint-Jérôme and IVI are also proud to now occupy spaces that align with their organizational values. Indeed, the building adheres to the highest standards of energy efficiency and sustainable development, including the use of local materials like wood. From energetically passive and ecologically responsible architecture to the integration of bioclimatic solution strategies, everything has been designed to minimize the building’s environmental footprint.
The establishment of this new structure occurred between spring 2021 and autumn 2022 and was made possible by a financial contribution of $12.7 million from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, as well as a non-repayable contribution of $933,365 from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED). The Cégep de Saint-Jérôme and the IVI also received support from the city of Saint-Jérôme, which provided property in the industrial district.
During the inauguration, François Adam, General Director of the Innovative Vehicle Institute, said that this new innovative research center represented the culmination of IVI’s goals: enabling companies with aspirations to innovate, empowering them to pursue their dreams, and equipping them with the ability to bring those dreams to life. It marks a major milestone in IVI’s mission, one that revolves around creating cleaner and safer vehicles for the future, providing intelligent and sustainable transportation solutions to upcoming generations.
During the inauguration, Nadine Le Gal, General Director of the Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, said that the exchange of ideas, sharing of knowledge, and pooling of resources and expertise now found under one roof at IVI, represent a constantly renewable energy that the CEGEP of Saint-Jérôme also aims to pass on to future generations. Together, they contribute to the expansion of knowledge and understanding in the field of electric transportation and vehicular intelligence by promoting education and knowledge transfer. Nadine Le Gal concludes by emphasizing that education remains their greatest wealth.
During the inauguration, Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy said that this new IVI building meets the growing industry needs for applied research and product development. These new facilities will better train our talents and accelerate the development of cleaner and more sustainable options to ensure the success of Quebec’s sustainable mobility industry.
During the inauguration, Benoit Charette, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, said that this announcement was an important achievement for Quebec and its regions. Honored, he underlined the importance these regions have in developing and innovating to reduce the environmental footprint through technological innovation. For him, IVI has stood out for several years due to its growing expertise in electrification of transportation. The institute can contribute to other areas of energy transition by having a high-energy building and leveraging technological innovation. It is now better equipped to support Quebec companies and organizations in developing sustainable solutions, in a key area of expertise for its collective future. The Government of Quebec strongly believes that everyone collectively, needs to contribute to reducing GHG emissions and finding innovative solutions, and the IVI’s inauguration is in line with Quebec’s important shift.
To mark the inauguration, The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Member of Parliament for Brome-Missisquoi, Minister of Sports, and Minister responsible for CED, affirms that the best way to strengthen Quebec’s industrial cluster in the electric and intelligent transportation field, and to position Canada as a dominant role in the electric transportation sector, is to invest in centers like IVI. Through project like this, Quebec’s SMEs will have access to new strategic equipment that will allow them to develop technological solutions aimed at reducing the ecological footprint of transportation. Those investments will also procure a reel support for local companies as well as workers during the green transition of Quebec’s economy.
During the inauguration, Youri Chassin, Member of Parliament for Saint-Jérôme and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Social Services, took pride to see IVI embark on a new stage of development in an adapted and sustainable building, which will propel Saint-Jérôme in the innovative transportation. He saluted the inauguration by qualifying it “remarkable” and pointed out the inspiration IVI procures in defining the future of transport in Quebec.
During the inauguration, Rhéal Fortin, Member of Parliament for Rivière-du-Nord, mentioned that the Laurentians is proud to receive the inauguration of IVI’s new project in its region. He said that, with all the political, institutional, civil and industrial players involved, efforts are continuing to strategically position Rivière-du-Nord as the national capital of transportation electrification. He acknowledged that the inauguration marks an important milestone in the research and development of clean technologies for tomorrow’s transportation, and is a source of pride for the Laurentians and all of Quebec.
During the inauguration, Marc Bourcier, Mayor of Saint-Jérôme, stated that the presence of the IVI in Saint-Jérôme attracts a qualified and highly specialized professionals to the area, thus enabling the realization of promising projects that make it stand out both here and elsewhere, thanks to its cutting-edge expertise. He recognizes that, with the IVI as the gateway to the Industrial Innovation district, Saint-Jérôme is well positioned in future niches such as sustainable mobility, and is reinforcing its status as the national capital of transportation electrification.
Would you like to find out more about our facilities and equipment? Visit our Equipment section.
To find out more about Cégep de Saint-Jérôme: https://www.cstj.qc.ca/
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