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Canada invests over $2 mn to support fashion, clothing SMEs

16
Jul '21

Pic: Shutterstock

Melanie Joly, Canadian minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), and Pablo Rodriguez, member of parliament for Honoré–Mercier, an electoral district in Quebec province, recently announced financial support totaling $2,052,046 for apparel research and innovation centre Vestechpro, technology transfer centre CTT Group and Metropolitan Fashion Cluster mmode.

Montreal and the Monteregie region count several dynamic businesses and organisations with innovative ideas to create a strong local economic fabric. Some organisations have succeeded in adapting to the pandemic and are prospering, while others have had to reduce their operations.

As the government plans for economic recovery, these businesses need support to ensure their communities remain robust. The Canadian government has committed to assisting them as they pursue activities and to fostering their growth and success, according to an official release.

Apparel research and innovation centre Vestechpro is a college centre for technology transfer affiliated with Cegep Marie-Victorin that offers innovation and research and development support, technology transfer, training, professional development and strategic information sharing services to garment businesses and organisations.

The organisation is receiving a non-repayable contribution of $1,251,040 to acquire specialised cutting-edge technology equipment that complements its existing fleet of equipment to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Greater Montreal and Quebec with their applied research and experimental development garment projects.

Located in Saint-Hyacinthe, CTT Group, a multiservice centre supporting textile business development, fosters the development, production, use and commercialization of textiles, geosynthetics and other value-added flexible materials.

It has received $601,006 to acquire and install equipment for an innovation and technology transfer project that will enhance the performance of textile businesses and ensure they remain sustainable.

Metropolitan Fashion Cluster mmode works to create business synergy and stimulate innovation to boost competitiveness and help Quebec’s fashion industry grow. It will receive $200,000, in addition to an initial $600,000 announced in 2018.

This support will enable it to continue to structure the cluster’s network, a project also aimed at raising the Quebec fashion industry’s profile, stimulating innovation, enabling innovative SMEs in the sector to commercialise their products and services internationally and boosting their competitiveness.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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