Mission and objectives
Stimulating university-industry Research and Development (R&D) partnerships that increase the competitiveness of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) industry.
ICTs – our field of activity
Prompt is active throughout the ICT sector, from hardware to software, as well as in components, networks and applications. This makes it possible for Prompt to build critical masses of projects within specific vertical markets (i.e.: health, security, transport, etc.) upon which industrial value chains increasingly rely.
Main ICT subsectors that stand out in terms of R & D projects:
- Wireless and 5G
- Artificial Intelligence
- Big Data
- Advanced analytics
- Intelligent cities and transport
- Digital aircraft
- Health IT
- Photonics Optics
- Cyber security
- Microelectronics
- 3D simulation and virtual reality
History
2003
Prompt is created
Establishment of Prompt, a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating partnerships and R & D financing between businesses and the public research sector. In its early days, Prompt focused primarily on research in microelectronics, photonics and telecommunications.
Prompt’s mandate included:
- Promoting cooperation among researchers to develop large-scale research projects in their field of activity, including pooling of human resources and of existing infrastructure.
- Building support for existing industry through precompetitive research or through research aimed at product development.
- Creating an optimal scientific and technological environment to attract new businesses and highly-qualified personnel.
- Fostering the emergence of spin-off companies.
2005
First annual R&D symposium
Prompt organizes the first “annual R&D symposium” – original to Québec. The event showcases and promotes the end-result of collaborative R&D projects supported by Prompt and facilitates the establishment of working relationships within the ICT community.
2008
Remote Research Collaboration Facility – a virtual Canada-China lab
Prompt launches the “Remote Research Collaboration Facility” (RRCF), a virtual transcontinental laboratory that gives researchers and developers in Montreal and Shanghai remote access to microelectronic and telecommunications equipment located on opposite sides of the world. The RRCF supports a partnership between École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) and the Shanghai Research Center for Wireless Communications (WiCo), as well as industry partners, Wavesat (Montreal) and ZTE (China). This laboratory provides a platform for Canadian and Chinese companies to partner on R&D projects and tap new global markets.
2010
Équation – a major Green ICT initiative
As part of the launch of the 2010-2013 Quebec Research and Innovation Strategy (SQRI), the Ministère de l’Économie – Innovation – Exportation (MDEIE) directed Prompt to develop and coordinate the establishment of the major Green ICT initiative, “Équation”.
With $70 million in funding over four years (including $40 million in private money) Équation brought together a research and innovation ecosystem that marshalled six major industry partners, about twenty SMEs and ten or so public research institutions (universities, CCTTs, research centers).
2014
Merger with CINQ
Prompt and the Québec Consortium for Digital Innovation (CINQ) merge, allowing Prompt to consolidate its presence in the media technology sector.
Team
Luc Sirois
Executive Director
With a degree in electrical engineering from McGill University and another in business administration from Harvard University, Mr. Sirois is a manager and entrepreneur known for his creative approach to innovation and for his involvement in the field of digital technology in Quebec and around the world. His wealth of professional experience includes working at McKinsey & Company as a strategic advisor, being an experienced medical technology entrepreneur at Resonant Medical (now Elekta Canada), and working in the corporate sector, notably for Telus, as a senior executive.
He recently brought Quebec expertise into the limelight as the co-founder of Hacking Health, an international health innovation movement present in more than 20 countries, and as the founder of the Hacking Health Accelerator. Mr. Sirois works with many start-ups and non-profit organizations focusing on youth, health, science and education, including the YMCAs of Quebec and INRS University.
Madeleine Jean
Vice-President, Operations and Business Development
Madeleine Jean has over 20 years of experience in R&D management and 3D product development. She has worked at Autodesk Canada, where she led the development of 3ds Max® – 3D modeling, animation and rendering software – and was in charge of annual deliveries of the product. She also worked for seven years at Toon Boom Technologies where, as Vice President, R&D, she led the company’s product development teams in Los Angeles, Paris and Montreal. She participated as R&D team leader in the Cirque du Soleil production, KÀ, and carried out various product management consulting projects in the area of multimedia technology.
She also serves as vice-chair of the board of directors of the Montreal office of ACM SIGGRAPH, the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques – a non-profit scientific and professional society serving researchers, professionals and artists active in infographics and interactive techniques.
She earned a BSc in computer science from Université de Montréal and undertook an MBA at McGill University. She directed the Québec Consortium for Digital Innovation (CINQ) until September, 2014, when CINQ and Prompt were merged.
François Borrelli
Business Development Manager
François Borrelli is in charge of the organization’s business development. He plays a major role with Prompt’s future business partners who are seeking financing for their R&D projects. He has been a part of Prompt’s team since its beginning.
Maxime-R. Clerk
Senior Director, Partnerships and Communications
A graduate of UQAM in business administration, Mr. Clerk is noted for his involvement in Quebec’s ICT and innovation sector. He was Director of Communications, as well as General Manager of the Training & Transfer Center, at CRIM, until 2014. Mr. Clerk is a creative leader, focused on collaboration. He has had the opportunity to work closely with many key players in the ICT sector and has contributed directly to several mobilizing and structuring projects in our industry.
Mr. Clerk has also served as VP, Strategic Communications, at Vortex Conseils – a firm specialized in organizational performance and which markets technology to assist in quality management. Mr. Clerk has worked with different ITC management teams to assist them with their strategic planning exercise and develop and implement marketing and communication strategies.
Jinny Plourde
Partnership Development and Program Manager
jplourde@promptinnov.com, ext. 14
Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Geomatics, management option from Laval University, Jinny Plourde has over a dozen years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships and communications. During this period, she was at the head of her company and held positions as project manager, public relations, trainer in many provincial mandates in science and technology.
More recently, she has been involved in R&D outreach and valorisation, as well as researching R&D funding at a college technology transfer center. With this background, she joined the Prompt team in 2016 to support the implementation of new industry/research partnerships in information and communications technology as part as the research support program.
Diane Robert
Administrative Assistant
Diane Robert holds a diploma in tourism development and management from Université Laval and has more than thirty years of experience in human resources, communication, event organization and project management. She has worked in a variety of other sectors, including civil engineering, information technology and tourism.
Drawing on her experience, Diane works closely with the management team on administrative matters while also monitoring projects and ensuring the conformity of grant applications. As such, she plays a vital role on our team, as well as for our clients.
