Newsletter- February 2020

Congratulations to ABB, resident company of the Technoparc de Montréal. It is in the Top 20 list of the best employers in Canada, according to Forbes magazine. This is the 4th consecutive year on this list. In addition, this year ABB is in 14th place compared to 26th in 2019. Quite an achievement for this dynamic company and its very friendly team. We are very proud to have you with us at Technoparc! For more information on this nomination, please click on this link.

Congratulations too to Genetec, a resident company of Technoparc de Montréal. For the 14th year in a row, Genetec is on the list of the best employers in Montreal, according to Mediacorp Inc. which publishes the list of the 100 best employers in Canada. This award underlines the success of the company, which has been committed for over 20 years to an open and collaborative culture centered on people, and which also has recorded a compound annual growth rate of 30% over ten years. Congratulations to the whole team, you are an inspiration!Please click this link to get more information in this news.

The project led by Michel Bouvier from the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal and Domain Therapeutics, with the support of CQDM, was awarded the Regroupements Sectoriels de Recherche Industrielle (RSRI) Recognition Award at the ADRIQ Innovation Prize Gala held in late 2019. Domain Therapeutics is proud and honored to be associated with this award through its collaboration with the consortia of laboratories involved in research targeting G Protein-coupled Receptors (GPCRs).
To learn more about the Prix Innovation, please click this link.

The company, resident of the Alfred-Nobel innovation center, receives FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval to start the ACTIVE Clinical Study with the SoundBite Crossing System – Coronary in the USA, a unique and novel active guidewire technology for use in the treatment of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs). FDA IDE Approval indicates that SBMS has provided sufficient data to support initiating an IDE to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the SoundBite Crossing System – Coronary through a multi-center study in the US as well as Canada, where the study has already started. More information through their press release.

In February at the Technoparc de Montréal, we had the honor of welcoming the Consul General of Israel, Mr. David Levy, accompanied by Ms. Julia Sutera Sardo, Director of Economics and Business Development. We presented our park, its history, its residents, its quality of life and its objectives for the future. We also had the opportunity to visit two of our resident companies, the NEOMED Innovation Center of adMare BioInnovations (LSHT) and Genetec (ITC). The delegation was thrilled with the opportunities that can arise between the two countries, especially in terms of information technology and LSHT. A second meeting with other Technoparc companies is already planned and we will be able to collaborate on information sessions aimed at promoting trade with Israel. We were very pleased to welcome them, and we look forward to collaborating with them on several structuring projects
Your delegation wants to meet us to discuss collaboration and investment projects? Please contact us by email at info@technoparc.com right away!

Technoparc Montréal is proud to participate as animators of the Gala Evening “Hope for Dementia”, taking place on Saturday March 28, 2020 at the Plaza Volare of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. You are cordially invited to attend an incredible evening full of inspiration and entertainment to support the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dementia and other cognitive disorders as well as the important work carried out by the Alzheimer Society of Montreal. Cocktails followed by a full meal with wine service, DJ and dance! The Honorable Deb Shulte, Minister of Seniors, will be a keynote speaker! You can buy your tickets via this link.

Notice to Technoparc Montréal compagnies: the nomination period is now open for the 2020 Prix Innovation from the Association pour le Développement de la Recherche et de l’Innovation du Québec (ADRIQ). Do not miss this great opportunity to stand out and promote your organization within the Quebec business community! Are you innovative? Let people know by applying in the category that suits you. The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, May 4, 2020, but don’t delay. It will take you a few minutes to complete the nomination form. Please click this link to fill it out.

The contest is open to SMEs from Saint-Laurent, Ahunstic-Cartierville, Mont-Royal…and Technoparc de Montréal! You have taken some good steps and realized some major successes in 2019 in various areas (administrative, human resources or in energy management, marketing or research). You have stood out in your field of business. Register for the Alpha Contest which recognizes the excellence and dynamism of businesses for more than 35 years. Your firm or your branch is not required to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Saint-Laurent – Mount Royal. You can register your company via this link.

Notice to all interested companies, get an attractive discount for the AI world summit which will be back in Montreal on March 25 and 26, 2020. TechnoMontréal is proud to announce that they are again a partner in 2020 for this summit. Come attend brand new conferences, workshops and more to broaden your perspective and network in AI. Take advantage of a 50% discount, thanks to TechnoMontréal, by using the code TECH50. You simply have to click on this link to take advantage of it.

Congratulations to Repare Therapeutics, a “unicorn” established at the heart of the Life Sciences and Health Technologies HUB of the Technoparc de Montréal. Excellent performance in an industry that is growing rapidly in Montreal. Read the La Presse article to find out more and to discover 3 other Montreal companies that also stood out.

The construction of the REM continues this winter, while announcing the choice of the names of some of the stations of the network. For the station planned at the Technoparc de Montréal, the station will be named Marie-Curie (as one of the streets of the Technoparc de Montréal). The project deadlines will be respected, with the first portion of the REM being functional in 2021, as planned. For more information and to know the names of the other REM stations, please read this article of La Presse (in French).

The NEOMED Innovation Center and adMare BioInnovations make the news! An excellent article (in French) to read in the Journal Les Affaires. It describes the objectives and challenges of the new entity. Click this link to read the article.

The Coolest Hotspot is an umbrella initiative led by Quebec Life Sciences and Health Technologies (LSHT) sector players aiming to represent the ecosystem with an outlook toward regional promotion for investment attraction. The initiative brings together industry partners, local economic development and investment promotion agencies, as well as research organizations committed to advancing the LSHT area, increasing its international reach, visibility, and competitiveness. You can also follow them on Twitter under @CoolestHotspot and Linkedin under The Coolest Hotspot. Please see their Website to get all the information.

Many companies specialized in Life Sciences and Health Technologies (LSHT), information technology and miscellaneous technologies have immediate job openings. Interested? Or, you have colleagues and friends looking for a new challenge in a park setting? Please click the following links to see the available positions.
Repare Therapeutics: http://www.reparerx.com/careers/
adMare BioInnovations: https://www.admarebio.com/about/careers/
Paraza Pharma: http://parazapharma.com/careers/
Amplia PharmaTek: https://www.ampliapharmatek.com/career.html
Exfo: https://www.exfo.com/en/careers/
Genetec: https://www.genetec.com/about-us/careers/why-us
ABB: https://new.abb.com/ca/careers
SoundBite Medical Solutions : https://soundbitemedical.com/careers/
Haivision : https://www.haivision.com/about/careers/
You are a Technoparc company and have jobs to fill? It will be our pleasure to share them. Just send us the postings directly at: info@technoparc.com

BioTalent Canada can help offset the costs of hiring of young talent or co-op students through one of its programs. They enable employers to hire talent for a co-op or career placement – employers then end up with a skilled employee already oriented to their company for future recruiting needs. BioTalent Canada works with all Canadian post-secondary institutions plus has a partnership network including Université de Sherbroke, Polytechnique Montreal and University of Ottawa. For more informaiton, please visit their Website.

Did you know that there are two innovation centers in the heart of the Technoparc? They are open to all sizes of businesses, from start-ups to SMEs, who wish to establish themselves in the largest science and high technology park in Canada. These two centers of innovation already have more than forty companies, which encourages easy exchanges, which ultimately can become commercial collaborations. There are still some spaces available in the two centers: open offices, private offices and one team office. Domiciliation services are also available. Contact us right away at info@technoparc.com. More info on our 2 innovation centers are available through our Website.

The brand new Home2 Suites par Hilton Montréal Dorval is an all-suites extended stay hotel conveniently located at 1855 Trans Canada – a quick 5 minutes drive from the Technoparc de Montréal. Their spacious suites include a living room area, full kitchen and Working Wall. Their rates include daily continental buffet breakfast, WiFi, local/long distance calls, indoor/outdoor parking, access to the gym and indoor swimming pool and outdoor fire pit and BBQ grills. Exclusive offer to Technoparc Montréal Residents: 10% rebate off their rates. Simply call and ask for the Technoparc Montreal rate or book directly online using corporate code: 0003200995. An ID will be required upon arrival. Don’t forget to also share with your visitors. Enjoy your “Techno” stay!

Did you know that K.I.D.S. Daycare offers high quality day care at the Technoparc? They include monthly themes, such as arts and music, and offer music, dance, physical education and yoga classes to the children. Their meals are fresh and homemade daily. They have two spacious outdoor courtyards plus an indoor gymnasium and special events are offered throughout the year. For more information, visit their Website or contact Susan at 514-332-8295.

Would you like to make your team meeting or presentation in a modern setting, surrounded by the abundant nature of the Technoparc? We have 4 beautiful rooms available for all kinds of meetings. The two large rooms can accommodate up to 25 people while the two smaller rooms can accommodate up to 8 people. The rooms are equipped with high-performance audiovisual equipment, projection, speakers, audio-conference system and more. Food services available ($) for either coffee breaks, refreshments or full meals. Rates are $ 30 an hour for small rooms and $ 60 an hour for large rooms. Contact us to reserve your space!

Did you know that there are six restos at the Technoparc and that they are open to the public? They are in the building of the NEOMED innovation center, Place Innovation (Bombardier building), 2600 Alfred-Nobel and Novotel. Did you know that in Place Innovation, there is a large food court offering different dishes, including vegetarian dishes and Tim Hortons and Bento Sushi counters? Take a tour to discover the complete offer of the food fair and, a little further, the Van Houtte counter with cafes, pastries and sandwiches! It’s open to all, so don’t feel shy to walk into the building and follow the pictograms. To help you get there, click this Google Maps link.

Domain Therapeutics NA is the Canadian subsidiary of Domain Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company located in Strasbourg, France, dedicated to the discovery and early development of small molecules targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), one of the most important classes of drug targets. Domain Therapeutics discovers GPCR drugs by exploiting its innovative and differentiated technologies. The company’s pipeline is composed of new chemical entities, ranging from hits to preclinical candidates for significant CNS and metabolic disorders. Establishing a presence in Montreal is part of the company’s strategy for bringing to market a new GPCR-specific biosensor technology, BioSens-All, developed at the Institute of Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the University of Montreal in the team of Professor Michel Bouvier. BioSens-All technology enables a deeper understanding of the GPCR signaling pathways that are activated by each candidate molecule and thus predict its pharmacological profile. Get more information through their Website.

Did you know that Montreal is headquarters to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), a multi-national organization established between Canada, Mexico, and the United States? CEC implements the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), with the mission to foster conservation, protection and enhancement of the environment through joint efforts between the three nations.
One of the main tools used by the CEC is the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR), a publicly accessible database of chemicals and pollutants released to air, water, and in the form of waste, and is used by countries across the globe. This month, CEC is hosting in the Delta Hotel, Montreal, a Public Workshop of the North American PRTR initiative, on February 25^th and 26^th. Anyone from the public is invited, and you can learn more here.
ERA Environmental will be presenting at this event, specifically focusing on the North American automotive industry and the growing topic of electric vehicle batteries’ and their impact on the environment. There will also be talks on how the public can use PRTR data to understand manufacturing in their community and country and help them make informed choices about their buying choices. To learn more about the event check out the aforementioned link.
Questions about this tip? For more information, please send an email to ERA at info@era-ehs.com or see their Website.

“The global AI in drug discovery market is projected to reach USD 1,434 million by 2024 from USD 259 million in 2019, at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 40.8% during the forecast period (2019–2024). The growth of the artificial intelligence in drug discovery market is primarily driven by factors such as the growing number of cross-industry collaborations and partnerships, the increasing need to control drug discovery & development costs and reduce the overall time taken in this process, the rising adoption of cloud-based applications & services, and the impending patent expiry of blockbuster drugs.” – Market-Reports, AI in drug discovery market
While there is a lot of buzz and numerous discussions and conferences around AI’s power to disrupt the pharma sector, there is even more buzz when discussing who, when and what will be the first successfully commercialized AI-generated drug. New research on Digital Transformations and Emerging Technologies in the Healthcare Industry has shown that the global pharmaceutical industry spends a significant amount of revenue on research and development (R&D) activities that are failing to deliver projected returns. At least 40 major pharma companies are using AI in their drug discovery process as the digital transformation with artificial intelligence (AI) is seen as a major step forward towards enhancing R&D productivity and effectiveness. In 2018, there were 86 AI Pharma partnerships created, with a total investment of almost 2.5B$ USD.The research from GlobalData highlights that 48 percent of surveyed pharma professionals believe that R&D will see the most benefit from digital transformation, as compared to other activities. The survey also showed that AI (39 percent) and big data (23 percent) are expected to disrupt and transform the pharma sector the most over the next two years. According to survey results, these two technologies will also continue to dominate as investment targets in the near future.
The participants also highlighted that the need to optimize ROI is forcing many pharma collaborators to rethink their strategies, adopt innovative ways and chose proven technology providers to collaborate with. Since developing a drug from bench to patient can cost upwards of $2.5bn USD, (Tufts University Center for the Study of Drug Development), and take up to 14 years to accomplish, any opportunity to decrease time, if not cost, is a welcome step.
For now, the adoption of AI in pharma is still at its very early stages and it will require more time before tangible outcomes will be put forward as there is still a mastery to be developed, and we are still in the experimentation phase of trial and error. While it is true that no AI generated drugs have reached the market, in the fields of diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy, giant steps have been taking, with success as close as McGill research teams. In speaking to Dr. Tom Duncan of McGill University, I asked him why the leaps in the fundamental research of linking AI to diagnostics is not replicated in pharmaceutical. His answer he tells me may be incomplete, but is in large part, due to a lack of protocol and rigor in the research, which is needed to create a robust baseline that will transform into a valid algorithm. In his words, you need to have a quality input: using GMP grade excipients in the lab, same that would be used for the commercial grade product, following a robust protocol in terms of methodology, and test timings to ensure traceability and reproducibility. The quality of your data will allow the application of AI to identify a possible fast track and potentially the success of your molecule.
So, what is the best thing you can do to ensure you can start to benefit from a collaboration with AI and available grants? Work in a GLP (Good Lab Practices) manner with GMP-grade (Good Manufacturing Practices) products, following an established protocol to ensure precision and reproducibility. Still not sure how this will help make your start-up AI ready? Then remember that in computer science, they follow GIGO: garbage in, garbage out; an incorrect or poor-quality input will always produce faulty output.
The CERASP is a CCTT (College Center for Technical Transfer), dedicated to helping pharmaceutical start-ups and SMEs, through assisting in applied research, equipment grants and training, business development services and training and developing staff. Christina Aon is the Technical Lead. She can be reached at christina.aon@cerasp.ca . You can also consult their Website for more information.

You may have or may not have heard about this new trending social media platform called Tik Tok. In the last 12 months, it has become increasingly popular with a large database of over 500 million users worldwide. TikTok is a video-sharing social networking service owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-based company founded in 2012. Widely used for creating videos, it has become increasingly popular in 2020. The average user is between the ages of 16 – 24 says GlobalWebIndex, a global consumer data research firm. The platform is widely used for lip singing, comedy and dance. In 2018 the app was the most downloaded app in 2018 in the U.S.
So what is Tik Tok exactly? The app allows users to create short videos with music in the background. Users can edit their videos by adding music, special effects and filters. The platform also allows you to upload it on other platforms making it great for Instagram stories use. The greatest advantage so far about this platform and why so many teens are loving it is due to the amazing organic reach.
As you may already know, Facebook in 2018, completely cut organic reach on Instagram and Facebook. Whereas, Tik Tok on the other hand, has not and has the best organic reach making it extremely addictive for people to upload their video in hopes of it going viral. Nowadays, every kid wants to be famous or have a strong following online. And with Tik Tok’s amazing organic reach, it allows opportunities for all the kids that missed their chance on Instagram, to be the next big hit on Tik Tok. The next big question is will Tik Tok be able to maintain this organic reach? What will happen if the apps organic reach takes a cut like on Facebook?
These are the great questions that people are asking themselves in terms of seeing if Tik Tok will be able to survive in the long run. In the meantime, it’s definitely a great app and you should keep an eye for potential use.
To learn more about the best practices discussed here, get in contact with Expandify Marketing which offers you a free strategic planning session! You can contact their team: by phone (514) 973-2083 or email contact@expandify.ca. You can also visit their Website.

In October 2019, we provided a list of considerations when contracting in silico research services. In the coming months, we will discuss the common options, importance, and implications of each issue. This month: “What data do you get and in what form?” Scientific research involves hypotheses and follow-up experimental validation; there tends to be an iterative cycling of ideas and proposals. When contracting in-silico research, you are generally looking to kick-off or support ongoing projects. With that in mind, it is important to consider your access to the data that has been used to drive your projects forward. We recommend having discussions up front about data access and reporting. Will you need your own computational expert to interpret the data being provided or will the reporting be accessible to your experimental scientists? Is a data package provided to you for your constant use or is there only temporary access as it remains stored with the CRO? Since computational chemistry is but one tool in the drug discovery toolbox, it is not always a viable approach for a project. We recommend that you challenge any claims of guaranteed success to probe the transparency and honesty of your prospective partner.
If you’d like to learn more or inquire about their software and services, please don’t hesitate to reach out. E-mail them at info@molecularforecaster.com, or visit their Website.

We live in an age of connectivity, yet in most organizations business units plan in silos. This fragmented approach is often the result of spreadsheet-driven planning which impedes collaboration. If your organization uses spreadsheets for planning, budgeting and forecasting, you’re spending too many hours collecting, validating and aggregating your data, as well as reconciling updates from multiple versions. According to Forrester, Planning Analytics delivers:
Completing annual budget cycles – savings of up to 63%
Planning processes – 80% faster
Completing forecasts: 20% time-savings in completing forecasts.
And that’s just scratching the surface. Here are 3 benefits of migrating to Planning Analytics:

1. Streamlined Planning, Budgeting, Forecasting processes
2. Enterprise Planning – linking all operations with Finance
3. Increased collaboration & ScalabilityLet us show you how integrated planning can help you grow revenue!
   Interested to know more about this topic? Contact Lori Cohen, Vice President Marketing KPI Digital, at 514-426-9467 ext. 117, by email Lori.Cohen@KPIDigital.com or consult their Website.