Nouvelles

by Sandra Erwin In response to the SBIR solicitation, a space startup is developing a geospatial intelligence-based tool that can help governments identify infected areas. WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force Small Business Innovation Research office has posted a new solicitation that includes COVID-19 countermeasures as an area of interest. The March 30 Small Business Innovation Research solicitation, like most SBIR calls, is open to proposals on any topic that addresses a defense-focused need. But this is the first one that includes COVID-19 “defeat and mitigation related to Air Force operations and activities” as an area of interest. Proposals are due April 30. This SBIR is for “direct to Phase 2” contracts of up to $1 million over 27 months. Phase 1 awards are for early research work whereas Phase 2 are for technologies that are relevant to defense needs but also have commercialization potential. Some Air Force SBIR programs require matching funds from private investors. According to the March 30 solicitation, companies can compete for $1 million Air Force awards but private matching funds are not a requirement. The SBIR solicitation is an opportunity for startups in space and defense to adapt technologies for COVID-19 response, Shawn Usman, an astrophysicist with Rhea Space Activity, told SpaceNews. Usman said Rhea Space Activity has partnered with Illumina Consulting Group and Dynamic Graphics to offer a geospatial intelligence-based tool that can help governments identify infected areas much faster than is currently possible. “We can provide operational, real-time data analysis and alerting capabilities to federal, state, and military emergency operations centers,” he said. “Our solution will collect publicly available information, including social media and adware data, and correlate it with other data sets from public health organizations to create alerts detailing the emergence of COVID-19 hotspots.” Using open-source analytics and satellite collected geospatial information it would be possible to “readily confirm COVID-19 infected population areas, and will provide first responders with much more detailed, real time information to formulate their own reaction plans,” Usman said. https://spacenews.com/air-force-small-business-program-seeks-technologies-to-help-counter-covid-19/

Aaron Mehta A congressionally mandated panel of technology experts has issued its first set of recommendations for the government, including doubling the amount of money spent on artificial intelligence outside the defense department and elevating a key Pentagon office to report directly to the Secretary of Defense. Created by the National Defense Authorization Act in 2018, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence is tasked with reviewing “advances in artificial intelligence, related machine learning developments, and associated technologies,” for the express purpose of addressing “the national and economic security needs of the United States, including economic risk, and any other associated issues.” The commission issued an initial report in November, at the time pledging to slowly roll out its actual policy recommendations over the course of the next year. Today's report represents the first of those conclusions — 43 of them in fact, tied to legislative language that can easily be inserted by Congress during the fiscal year 2021 budget process. Bob Work, the former deputy secretary of defense who is the vice-chairman of the commission, said the report is tied into a broader effort to move DoD away from a focus on large platforms. “What you're seeing is a transformation to a digital enterprise, where everyone is intent on making the DoD more like a software company. Because in the future, algorithmic warfare, relying on AI and AI enabled autonomy, is the thing that will provide us with the greatest military competitive advantage,” he said during a Wednesday call with reporters. Among the key recommendations: The government should “immediately double non-defense AI R&D funding” to $2 billion for FY21, a quick cash infusion which should work to strengthen academic center and national labs working on AI issues. The funding should “increase agency topline levels, not repurpose funds from within existing agency budgets, and be used by agencies to fund new research and initiatives, not to support re-labeled existing efforts.” Work noted that he recommends this R&D to double again in FY22. The commission leaves open the possibility of recommendations for increasing DoD's AI investments as well, but said it wants to study the issue more before making such a request. In FY21, the department requested roughly $800 million in AI developmental funding and another $1.7 billion in AI enabled autonomy, which Work said is the right ratio going forward. “We're really focused on non-defense R&D in this first quarter, because that's where we felt we were falling further behind,” he said. “We expect DoD AI R&D spending also to increase” going forward. The Director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) should report directly to the Secretary of Defense, and should continue to be led by a three-star officer or someone with “significant operational experience.” The first head of the JAIC, Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, is retiring this summer; currently the JAIC falls under the office of the Chief Information Officer, who in turn reporters to the secretary. Work said the commission views the move as necessary in order to make sure leadership in the department is “driving" investment in AI, given all the competing budgetary requirements. The DoD and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) should establish a steering committee on emerging technology, tri-chaired by the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Principal Deputy Director of ODNI, in order to “drive action on emerging technologies that otherwise may not be prioritized” across the national security sphere. Government microelectronics programs related to AI should be expanded in order to “develop novel and resilient sources for producing, integrating, assembling, and testing AI-enabling microelectronics.” In addition, the commission calls for articulating a “national for microelectronics and associated infrastructure.” Funding for DARPA's microelectronics program should be increased to $500 million. The commission also recommends the establishment of a $20 million pilot microelectronics program to be run by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), focused on AI hardware. The establishment of a new office, tentatively called the National Security Point of Contact for AI, and encourage allied government to do the same in order to strengthen coordination at an international level. The first goal for that office would be to develop an assessment of allied AI research and applications, starting with the Five Eyes nations and then expanding to NATO. One issue identified early by the commission is the question of ethical AI. The commission recommends mandatory training on the limits of artificial intelligence in the AI workforce, which should include discussions around ethical issues. The group also calls for the Secretary of Homeland Security and the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to “share their ethical and responsible AI training programs with state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement officials,” and track which jurisdictions take advantage of those programs over a five year period. Missing from the report: any mention of the Pentagon's Directive 3000.09, a 2012 order laying out the rules about how AI can be used on the battlefield. Last year C4ISRNet revealed that there was an ongoing debate among AI leaders, including Work, on whether that directive was still relevant. While not reflected in the recommendations, Eric Schmidt, the former Google executive who chairs the commission, noted that his team is starting to look at how AI can help with the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, saying "“We're in an extraordinary time... we're all looking forward to working hard to help anyway that we can.” The full report can be read here. https://www.c4isrnet.com/artificial-intelligence/2020/04/01/panel-wants-to-double-federal-spending-on-ai/

COVID-19 is the most disruptive event to hit the world's economy and nations since World War II, and the end is nowhere in sight. So how will the mix of business shutdowns, self-isolation, and plummeting government tax revenues (further depleted by COVID-19 relief spending) affect the Canadian defence industry? At this early stage, it is impossible to provide a definitive answer. That said, the companies and experts contacted by CDR provided some insights into the problem; based on their best assessments of what is going on. EXPECT DELAYS IN PROCUREMENT DECISIONS COVID-19 is bad news for Canada's defence procurement process. It has already resulted in delays to current projects, such as Irving Shipyards closing down work on the Canadian Surface Combatant in mid-March. It could also delay ongoing procurements such as the Future Fighter Capability Project, which is due to receive proposals from Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, and Saab by June 30, 2020. “In a situation like this, the key decisions are put off in government,” said Alan Williams, (During his 33 years in the federal civil service, Williams was Assistant Deputy Minister, Supply Operations Service in Public Works and Government Services Canada for five years; followed by fives years as DND's Assistant Deputy Minister of Materiel.) “Now you can do a lot of the paperwork associated with the procurement; including reviews and evaluations. But until things get back to normal, the key decisions will be put off.” AIRBUS HELICOPTERS REMAINS OPEN Canadian Airbus Helicopter operators can count on getting service during the COVID-19 shutdown. The reason: “Airbus Helicopters Canada qualifies as an essential workplace in the Province of Ontario,” said Dwayne Charette, the company's President/COO. “This allows us to continue to support our customers operating their helicopters to save lives, protect people and maintain critical infrastructure both in Canada and around the world. Our customers, including law enforcement agencies, militaries, emergency air medical service operators, and utility companies, are all relying on us to ensure they can continue to perform their critical missions and we have a responsibility to support them.” (In maintaining operations, Airbus is following approved COVID-19 infection-prevention procedures.) When it comes to Airbus Defence and Space Canada's contracts with the Canadian Armed Forces for CC-295 fixed-wing search and rescue (FWSAR) aircraft, “We are closely monitoring the situation and are in close contact with our customers,” said company President Simon Jacques. “We will review the situation once operations resume.” (Airbus delivered the first of 16 CC-295s to the RCAF in January 2020.) Airbus is also looking into producing critical medical equipment, in line with the federal government's plea to industry. MV ASTERIX READY TO HELP, DAVIE STILL RUNNING The Canadian Armed Forces are primed and ready to help with COVID-19 relief across Canada. So is Federal Fleet Services, which owns and operates the MV Asterix supply ship on behalf of the Royal Canadian Navy. At the moment, it is sitting crewed and ready for action in Halifax. “When we first designed the MV Asterix, we did a lot to ensure that it was ready for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” said Alex Vicefield, chairman and CEO of Inocea Group; the parent company for Federal Fleet Services and Davie Shipbuilding. This is why the MV Asterix has an operating theatre, Intensive Care Unit, and other medical facilities onboard; ready to sail to whatever accessible port the federal government sends it to. “The Asterix is ready to serve as a scaled-down hospital ship; if it were needed for that,” said Vicefield. The ship's hospital even has its own separate HVAC system that would keep the air breathed by COVID-19 patients separate from the rest of the air circulating throughout the ship. Meanwhile, Davie Shipbuilding is continuing to convert three Swedish oil and gas icebreakers to serve with the Canadian Coast Guard. “We're not going to stop this project, obviously, because those are important national security assets for Canada,” said Vicefield. He explained the need to boost Canada's icebreaking capacity without delay in terms COVID-19's possible impact on US food exports to Canada. If this year's US crop yields are slashed due to pandemic deaths and social isolation, “the potential for that food supply to stop coming over the border would make Canada more reliant on foreign ships coming from Europe and so on,” Vicefield told CDR. “So the need for icebreakers is even more pressing.” TERRANOVA PITCHES IN Before COVID-19 hit, Terranova Defense Solutions was focussed on providing drones for air, land, and water applications; including its remotely-controlled Dolphin One water rescue drone. Now that COVID-19 is here, the company intends to answer Ottawa's call for help by adding much-needed medical supplies to its product roster. “Terranova Defense Solutions has already engaged with other companies to global source medical supplies for Canada,” said company President/Founder James Castle. “We are currently waiting for a response from the Canadian government to the next steps and we are prepared to help Canada in whatever way we can for no profit to best serve our Canadian family.” Thanks to its mainstream drone business, Terranova Defense Solutions already has procurement relationships with international partners. “These groups have been working with us as one united front -- helping Canadians through our Call to Arms against COVID-19 – to help us in sourcing new Europe CE and US FDA Certified medical supplies and ventilators for those in need,” said Castle. This said, “Finding transportation and funding to purchase and ship these items has been a challenge.” Looking ahead, “The main challenge facing us at this time is the uncertainty of what the landscape will look like following the pandemic,” Castle told CDR. “We believe that, while there will be negative impacts to the industry, there are and will be opportunities for companies that provide fresh and innovative solutions to the country going forward.” CAE TAKES TOUGH STEPS As detailed in a March 23, 2020 webcast to investors, CAE sees COVID-19 as “a crisis of unprecedented speed and magnitude,” said Marc Parent, CAE's President and Chief Executive Officer. To manage its way through the pandemic's economic impact, CAE farsightedly formed a crisis committee in January 2020. As of March 23rd, “we're taking immediate steps to preserve cash by cutting capital expenditures and reducing operating expenses, including temporary layoffs and salary cuts across the board,” Parent said. In response to a CDR question about the impact of COVID-19 on CAE's defence projects, Parent noted that the company's defence training programs are service level agreements with government clients. This means that payments associated with these defence agreements are not reliant upon actual usage by clients, which is the case with CAE's civil aviation training programs. “We're providing critical services here too, and the US government has recently articulated the absolute necessity of this activity,” said Parent. This said, some US bases have restricted access to their facilities; specifically by imposing 14-day quarantine pre-entry requirements on people from 100 miles outside of these installations. “Anything and everything that has to do with the movement and cooperation of people is more challenging in this environment,” Parent said. “So we've been impacted in terms of getting orders fulfilled, just because of that; getting access to the people, meeting face-to-face ... As well, the general preoccupation with the crisis clearly has an impact on the speed of the procurement processes.” The only good news for CAE in the COVID-19 crisis is that “we have approximately a $4 billion backlog in defence, which provides us with a good source of diversification and visibility,” said Parent. “Longer term, we don't see an obvious structural impact on defence. But I think we can anticipate some short-term friction as we move through this period.” AFTER CANCELLING CANSEC, CADSI TAKES UPBEAT APPROACH COVID-19 is proving to be difficult for the Canadian Association for Defence and Security Industries (CADSI); most notably because it has cancelled plans to stage the CANSEC 2020 global defence and security trade show in Ottawa May 27-28, 2020. The bad news was announced on March 31, 2020, during CADSI's Annual General Meeting (which, due to COVID-19, was held as a teleconference.) “As you can imagine, the decision was not made lightly,” said CADSI President and CEO Christyn Cianafarani. The reason CADSI took so long to cancel this year's CANSEC – compared to other COVID-19 related event cancellations – is because “it has a $10 million impact on the local Ottawa economy,” she explained. “We took the time necessary to explore every possible option with the City of Ottawa, our partners, contractors and suppliers to mitigate the losses to our community, in order to secure the long-term viability of CANSEC.” Despite the loss of CANSEC 2020, Cianafarani is taking an upbeat approach to the pandemic, by focussing on the good things her members are doing for Canada. “Throughout this crisis, the Canadian defence and security sectors have stepped up to support where help is most needed,” Cianafarani told CDR. “Companies from coast-to-coast have refocused their attention to produce in-demand equipment like N95 masks, gloves, testing kits, shelters and ventilators needed to protect health care workers, patients, and the public. With the rise in online activity, cyber defence and security companies have offered free cyber protection services to hospitals, medical supply chains and other essential service providers.” “These are just some examples,” she continued. “At the Association level, we are working hard to ensure companies facing hardships and challenges are connected to the government programs best placed to help them get through these exceptional economic times.” AIAC SEEKS ‘ESSENTIAL SERVICE' STATUS In an emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic, access to aviation is vital. This is why the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) – in association with AIAC member companies and regional aerospace industry associations – “has been calling for action from the Prime Minister and Premiers to designate the aerospace, defence and space sectors an essential service in all of Canada's provinces and territories,” said AIAC President and CEO Jim Quick. “Canada's aerospace industry is doing vital work -- providing products, services and solutions for a variety of purposes including emergency medical services and the transportation of vital medical equipment, domestic and international transportation, firefighting, search and rescue, telecommunications, border and maritime patrol and security, law enforcement, and military operations and support -- and it needs a consistent approach across the country. Not surprisingly, the global shutdown is seriously affecting AIAC member companies. To help them weather the storm, “we've been actively reaching out to our members, letting them know we are here to assist in any way we can during this crisis,” said Quick. To achieve this the AIAC is sending out a daily ‘News You Can Use' COVID-19 update that outlines the latest aerospace industry related news and announcements. The association has also launched a specialized 'COVID-19 Updates and Resources' website page for the latest on government resources on stimulus, subsidies, webinars and more; plus holding briefings with federal cabinet members. As well, “Aerospace is responding to the government's call for retooling to convert operations to deliver on needed supplies such as ventilators, masks and other essential supplies and equipment,” Quick told CDR. CDAI POLLS SHOWS SOLID SUPPORT FOR CAF INTERVENTION 88% of Canadians believe that the Canadian Armed Forces have a role to play in supporting civilian authorities manage and mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a survey conducted by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute (CDAI) and Ipsos Canada. Based on a March 20-23, 2020 online survey of 2,000 Canadians aged 18+, the poll foreshadowed Ottawa's decision to publicly commit the CAF to COVID-19 relief on March 30, 2020. Among the CDAI/Ipsos Canada poll findings: 65% supported the CAF helping to deliver medical and other supplies to service providers and the Canadian public; 64% were okay with the CAF supporting Canadian law enforcement agencies; 58% supported the continued use of CFB Trenton to quarantine at-risk or infected travellers/evacuees; 54% wants the CAF to help with evacuating and medical transporting infected Canadians. "I am not surprised by these survey results,” said LGen (Ret'd) Guy Thibault, CDAI Chair and former Vice-Chief of Defence Staff. “Time and again Canadians have seen the outstanding professionalism and critical contributions of the men and women of the Canadian Forces in humanitarian missions and natural disaster relief operations abroad and at home. There is no more important mission for the Forces than protecting Canadians in times of great need, and they are a highly respected and trusted national institution.” http://www.canadiandefencereview.com/Featured_content?blog/168

At Skies, we've heard from a number of Canadian aviation product, support and services businesses that are doing their best to keep our industry moving during this global pandemic. To ensure that operators can still access the support they need, here is a non-exhaustive list of companies who are still open for business in some capacity. This list will be updated regularly. If you would like your company to be added to the list, please email news@skiesmag.com. Airbus Helicopters Canada Air Georgian AirSuite Inc. Alpine Aerotech Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing Corp. Apex Industries Inc. ARTEX Atlantic Avionics Aurora Jet Partners Aviation Business Support Inc. Avmax AvroTecknik Aviation B.C. Aviation Council Boeing Distribution Inc. Cadorath Calm Air International Canadian Airports Council Canadian Air Parts, Ltd. Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace CanRep Inc. CanWest Aerospace Inc. CarteNav Solutions (Mission systems) Custom Helicopters DART Aerospace Eagle Copters Essential Turbines, Inc. EuroTec Canada Exchange Petroleum Execaire Fast Air – Air Charter Services Fast Air Jet Centre (FBO) Flight Data Systems FlightPath International FlightSafety Canada (Toronto and Montreal) Flying Colours Corp. FreeFlight Systems Global Airparts Inc. Heli-One Helitowcart Helitrades Heliwelders Canada Ltd. HM Aero Aviation Consulting ICARUS Aero, Inc. Image Air Innotech Aviation KADEX Aero Supply Ltd. Keewatin Air (Aircraft maintenance and hangarage) KF Aerospace Latitude Technologies Levaero Aviation Maxcraft Avionics Ltd. Mid-Canada Mod Center Moncton Flight College Morningstar Air Express National Airlines Council of Canada National Helicopters Inc. Nav Canada Pacific Coastal Airlines (Emergency charter services and reduced WestJet Link flights) PAL Aerospace PAL Aviation Services (Full-service FBO) Passport Helico (Commercial 702/703 and AMO) Perimeter Aviation Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Precision Aero Components Premier Aviation Québec Inc. Rocky Mountain Aircraft Rotor Services Ltd. Sander Geophysics Limited (Air cargo) SEI Industries Select Helicopter Services Ltd. Signature Flight Support – Edmonton Skyservice Business Aviation SKYTRAC Systems StandardAero Sunwest Aviation Szabo Aviation International TEAAM Aeromedical Technisonic Industries Ltd. Tradewind International, LLC TSL Aerospace Technologies Ltd. Turbolyft Aerospace Upper Valley Aviation Ltd. Vanguard Air Care Vmo Solutions Voyageur Aviation Corp. Wasaya Airways Western Propeller Wilderness Helicopters WinAir We're all in this together! #CanadianAviation https://www.skiesmag.com/news/canadian-aviation-product-support-services-businesses-that-are-remaining-open-during-the-covid-19-crisis/

Nouvelles Montréal inc. Infolettre écosystème | 30 mars 2020 Voir ce courriel dans votre navigateur Read this email in English Chaque lundi, on vous accompagne dans cette infolettre conjointe de Montréal inc., Bonjour Startup Montréal, Maison Notman et OSMO ! Découvrez nos initiatives, celles de l'écosystème, ainsi que des articles qui font du bien. Nos initiatives conjointes Nos webinaires Retour sur le webinaire - COVID-19 : L'exemple de la Chine, la gestion et la sortie de la crise Mardi dernier, Liette Lamonde, directrice générale de Montréal inc. et co-fondatrice de Bonjour Startup Montréal, a animé un webinaire organisé par Zù présentant Jean-Luc Hébert, vice-président de Saimen. Au coeur de la crise en Chine, puis au Québec, l'entrepreneur québecois a délivré un témoignage précieux et plein de positivisme. “Là-bas, c'était un choc terrible, une stupeur. Ils n'avaient aucune idée dans quoi on s'en allait. Nous, c'est moins pire, on sait.” “À Shanghai, la vie reprend. Les gens peuvent sortir, certains restaurants ont commencé à rouvrir. Les gens voient cela d'une façon positive et il y a une fierté de l'équipe là-bas de dire “on est passé au travers”. Il y a un esprit communautaire très fort.” Replay du Webinaire Webinaire - COVID-19 : Mercredi 1er avril, 14h Comme tous les mercredis, rejoignez-nous pour le prochain webinaire animé par Patrick Gagné! Pour cette 3e édition, nous proposons un nouveau format en trois segments, avec des témoignages inspirants. Xavier Peich, co-fondateur de SmartHalo, partagera son expérience de la gestion de la crise actuelle Mehdi Mehni présentera la nouvelle startup qu'il fonde au sein de Diagram Ventures qui est en recrutement malgré la crise Patrick Gagné commentera et analysera les dernières mesures économiques annoncées par les instances gouvernementales Inscription Visionnez l'enregistrement du dernier webinaire (25 mars) Webinaire - COVID 19 : 2 avril 2020, 16h Sentiments de stress, anxiété, déprime : comment les identifier, les isoler, les combattre ? Bonjour Startup Montréal et Startup en Résidence Desjardins invitent la communauté des fondateurs de startups et leurs employés à participer à une visioconférence animée par Marie-Pier Boivin, doctorante en psychologie organisationnelle, experte en santé et bien-être au travail. Inscription À VENIR : ateliers virtuels Montréal inc., en collaboration avec Bonjour Startup Montréal, mettra en place une série d'ateliers virtuels. Des entrepreneurs ainsi que des experts prendront la parole pour partager leur expérience et apporter des solutions adaptées aux circonstances actuelles. Ces ateliers traiteront de sujets divers qui changeront au fil des semaines, selon les besoins des entrepreneurs. Plus d'information à venir... restez à l'affût ! Nos ressources Page Web Bonjour Startup Montréal Cette page rassemble les informations relatives aux mesures prises par différentes instances gouvernementales pour assurer la résilience économique en lien avec la COVID-19. Au fur et à mesure que la situation évolue, nous mettons à jour cette section afin que la communauté startup puisse trouver un maximum de réponses aux questions et inquiétudes. Consulter la page Document collaboratif de ressources Consultez et partagez toutes les ressources, questions, inquiétudes que vous avez dans ce document collaboratif ouvert à tout l'écosystème ! Consulter le document Réseau d'experts en soutien aux entrepreneurs Depuis déjà deux semaines, notre groupe d'experts soutient les entrepreneurs gratuitement. À ce jour, ce ne sont pas moins de 70 bénévoles qui ont joint l'initiative et qui continuent d'aider des entrepreneurs sur des questions de type cash-flow, mesures économiques, opportunités, restructuration, RH,... Vous avez besoin d'aide sur ces sujets ? Vous n'êtes pas seuls. Simplement contacter coach@montrealinc.ca en précisant vos besoins. Une équipe de conseillers vous mettra en lien avec la ressource la plus adaptée. *Tous les experts ont signé une entente de confidentialité des informations reçues et sont tenus de déclarer tout conflit d'intérêt. En savoir plus Rejoignez la communauté startup sur Slack Échangez sur la chaîne #covid-19 du slack Bonjour Startup Montréal: Rejoindre la communauté Les initiatives de soutien de l'écosystème MT Lab - Le catalogue des solutions immédiates Solutions proposées par les startups du MT Lab et l'écosystème d'innovation québécois pour répondre à la crise TechnoMontréal TechnoMontréal invite les membres de l'industrie du Québec à contribuer au « Mur des innovations québécoises » Ton Équipier Les entrepreneurs peuvent obtenir sans frais, un rendez-vous de 60 minutes avec les membres de Ton Équipier Réseau M - Webinaire “Rien n'est à craindre, tout est à comprendre”, mardi 31 mars 2020, de 16h à 17h Lightspeed We're in This Together: 13 COVID-19 Relief Plans for Small Businesses Hockeystick Hockeystick creates a list of active funders to make it easier for startups to quickly access funding resources. Shopify Capital Shopify Capital makes additional $200 million available to merchants affected by COVID-19 Swapcard Guide d'événements virtuels L'actualité ALIMENTAIRE L'actualité ALIMENTAIRE et ses partenaires aimeraient connaître l'impact de la crise du COVID-19 sur votre entreprise, pour pouvoir mieux agir et mieux communiquer. Vous avez vu ou lancé des initiatives positives? Envoyez-les nous et nous les partagerons ! ? Ces lectures qui font du bien ? "Finally, here is some inspiration as you work from home. In 1665, the University of Cambridge closed due to an outbreak of the bubonic plague. Isaac Newton had to work from home and he used this time to develop calculus and the theory of gravity. Shakespeare used the times when the theatres were closed due to plague outbreaks to write his sonnet sequence. Our own goals will be more moderate, but there is something to be said for the power of thinking and learning when you find yourself in a period of unexpected isolation." Philip Robb, Chairman of the Board of the Forest and Stream Club, Montreal Doing Better in Times of a Global Crisis - StevenArless.com COVID-19: des entrepreneurs d'ici à l'offensive pour «garder l'argent au Québec» - Le Journal de Montréal La résilience des PME - La Presse 19 encouraging developments in the coronavirus crisis - MaRS Discovery District The Virus Survival Strategy For Your Startup - steveblank.com Estonia created Suve, a state-approved automated chatbot to provide trustworthy information during the COVID-19 situation - investinestonia.com City's Tech Sector Pivots to Tackle Covid-19 - MTL in Tech Un entrepreneur québécois fabriquera du désinfectant plutôt que de la vodka - TVA Nouvelles How we're preparing ourselves to withstand the pandemic and upcoming recession- Medium

No HANNOVER MESSE in 2020 HANNOVER MESSE cannot take place this year due to the increasingly critical situation surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. The Hannover region has issued a decree that prohibits the staging of the world's leading tradeshow for industrial technology. From now until the next HANNOVER MESSE in April 2021, a digital information and networking offer will provide exhibitors and visitors with the opportunity for economic policy orientation and technological exchange.

Mesures fédérales Prestation canadienne d'urgence (PCU) : 2000 $ par mois sur 4 mois aux travailleurs privés de salaire en raison de la crise actuelle. Les requêtes se feront sur internet; un portail web doit être mis en service début avril. Plus d'informations à venir. Autres mesures prises par le fédéral : Subvention salariale aux petites entreprises (jusqu'à 1 375 $ par employé et 25 000 $ par employeur), Programme Travail-Partagé bonifié . Mesures de la Banque de développement du Canada (BDC) : 10 milliards $ sous forme de prêts offerts, jusqu'à 2 millions $ de prêts de fonds de roulement. Mesures provinciales Prestation canadienne d'urgence (PCU) : 2000 $ par mois sur 4 mois aux travailleurs privés de salaire en raison de la crise actuelle. Les requêtes se feront sur internet; un portail web doit être mis en service début avril. Plus d'informations à venir. Programme d'action concertée temporaire pour les entreprises (PACTE) : Un montant minimal de 50 000 $ attribué sous forme de garantie de prêt ou prêt par Investissement Québec. Ville de Montréal Ligne téléphonique, accessible dès le 20 mars 2020, de 8 h à 17 h, du lundi au vendredi au 514 394-1793 pour répondre aux questions des entrepreneurs. Formulaire de demande d'information, disponible dès 17h le 19 mars 2020 permettant aux entrepreneurs de poser leurs questions en ligne et de recevoir une réponse d'un conseiller économique sous 4 heures, les jours ouvrables. 19 mesures en soutien aux entreprises touchées par la COVID-19 : incluant une aide complémentaire d'urgence de 5 millions $ pour les industries créatives et culturelles, les commerce de proximité et le tourisme. Tous les programmes existant avant la crise de la COVID-19 se poursuivent et demeurent disponibles aux entrepreneurs. Le détail des mesures gouvernementales est accessible sur le site Bonjour Startup Montréal.

The Government of Canada is taking strong and quick action to protect our economy, and the health and safety of all Canadians during this global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We are working with our partners as part of the collective effort to help find solutions to the COVID-19 outbreak: 1. The COVID-19 Challenges Procurement Program: NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program and Innovative Solutions Canada Purpose: This program will post challenges seeking near-to-market solutions from small and medium-sized businesses (fewer than 500 staff) that need financial support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to refine and sell their product or solution to meet a COVID-19 related need. NRC IRAP works with roughly 8,000 small and medium-sized businesses every year through its cross-Canada network of 255 industrial technology advisors and provides over $300 million in support to more than 3,000 technology development projects annually Through this initiative, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada (HC) will establish a number of challenges corresponding to needs of health providers to deal with COVID-19 NRC IRAP will partner with Innovative Solutions Canada to launch calls for proposals over the next few weeks to address challenges, fund development of solutions, and buy successful products and services needed to address COVID-19 Together, NRC IRAP and Innovative Solutions Canada will: post the PHAC and HC challenges (Innovative Solutions Canada) award Phase 1 funding to successful small and medium-sized businesses to develop a proof of concept for their solution (NRC IRAP) award Phase 2 funding to the firms with the best concepts so they can develop a working prototype (NRC IRAP) The NRC, PHAC, HC or another federal department or agency will then be able purchase the product for use against COVID-19. Innovative Solutions Canada already has challenges in development, which they will begin posting to their website in the coming days. These will continue as PHAC, HC, and health care providers request new topics. Companies with promising technology relevant to the COVID-19 challenges can register their technology or product by clicking on the Register button below. Register 2. The Pandemic Response Challenge Program: National Research Council of Canada Purpose: This program will build teams to address challenges requiring further research and development for solutions to meet COVID-19 related needs. The NRC will build these teams drawing on internal-to-government capacity and academic researchers who register using the button below to indicate their interest, and related areas of expertise and capabilities. The NRC will receive $15M to form dedicated teams to address challenges in the areas of greatest research and development (R&D) need in the fight against COVID-19. The NRC Pandemic Response Challenge Program will accelerate the development of diagnostics and medical countermeasures for a rapid front-line response to protect and treat Canadians. This national vehicle will convene the best Canadian and international researchers from academia and small and medium-sized businesses to collectively accelerate R&D to address specific COVID-19 gaps and challenges as identified by Canadian health experts. The Pandemic Response Challenge Program is currently structured around 3 main research areas: Rapid detection and diagnosis Therapeutics and vaccine development and Digital health. Researchers at Canadian and international universities, government departments, colleges, and highly innovative firms with relevant expertise can now register their interest to work with us on these challenges by clicking the Register button below. Funding is available to help cover the costs of research for academic institutions, small and medium-sized businesses, and other eligible recipients participating in the challenge teams. Over the coming weeks, we will post the specific R&D challenges, send information to registered researchers, and invite them to indicate the expertise and capabilities they can bring to a team. Register 3. Biomanufacturing capacity at Royalmount: NRC Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre Purpose: This initiative will result in a Good Manufacturing Practices platform to develop and scale up COVID-19 Canadian vaccine and therapy candidates. The NRC Biomanufacturing facility, located in the NRC's Royalmount Avenue building in Montréal, is used to develop and scale up processes to produce biological medicines and is managed by the Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre. As part of its development capacity, the facility is equipped with pilot-scale bioreactors (200 L and 500 L), which will be operationally available to produce up to 100,000 doses of vaccine per month within 6 months once a vaccine suitable for front-line responders is available. A $15 million investment will fund the certification of the facility for Good Manufacturing Practices compliance, and will enable production of material that will be used in humans, particularly for vaccines or therapeutics. This certification can also greatly increase the capacity for candidate vaccines or therapeutics to be quickly rolled out and clinically tested, particularly those originating from Canada. The work to refine and certify quality systems at the facility will include: bringing the existing facility to regulatory standards, installing equipment to expand capacity, and managing information. Once certified, this facility will be able to accelerate the scale-up production and testing of various types of vaccine candidates in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak, including protein-based, viral vector-based, and antibody-based products. https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/nrc-covid-19-response

Si vous êtes un manufacturier canadien ou une entreprise canadienne qui peut aider le Canada à répondre aux besoins en fournitures médicales, votre aide est nécessaire Si vous pouvez répondre oui aux affirmations suivantes, contactez-nous. Vos activités manufacturières sont basées au Canada ou vous avez facilement accès aux intrants nécessaires par le biais de votre chaîne d'approvisionnement. Vous disposez d'équipements pouvant être modifiés ou d'installations qui pourraient être réorganisées rapidement pour répondre aux besoins médicaux, notamment pour fabriquer de l'équipement de protection individuelle comme des gants, des masques et des blouses chirurgicales; des désinfectants; des lingettes; des ventilateurs; et d'autres équipements et fournitures médicaux. Vous avez des travailleurs qualifiés capables de réagir et qui seraient disponibles pour travailler dans les circonstances actuelles. Le Plan canadien de mobilisation du secteur industriel pour lutter contre la COVID-19 soutient directement les entreprises afin d'augmenter rapidement leur capacité de production et en leur donnant les outils nécessaires aux chaînes de production pour concevoir des produits faits au Canada qui aideront à lutter contre la COVID-19. Pour plus d'informations, cliquez ici. Ressources pour les entreprises canadiennes Les petites et moyennes entreprises sont la pierre angulaire de l'économie canadienne. C'est la raison pour laquelle le gouvernement du Canada adopte des mesures strictes pour aider les entreprises canadiennes à faire face à la pandémie de COVID-19, qui les touche ainsi que leurs employés et les membres de leur famille. Le gouvernement du Canada et les responsables de la santé publique invitent tous les Canadiens à prendre les mesures suivantes : demeurer à domicile sauf s'il est essentiel de sortir faire preuve de distanciation sociale et d'hygiène adéquate Pour les entreprises, cela peut vouloir dire : de permettre autant que possible des modalités de télétravail souples de préparer votre milieu de travail pour éviter la COVID-19 (en anglais seulement) d'assurer la sécurité de vos employés (en anglais seulement) Pour plus d'informations, cliquez ici. Ontario ensemble : aidez à combattre le coronavirus Si votre entreprise ou organisation peut fournir des produits médicaux tels que des ventilateurs, des tampons, des masques et des lunettes de protection. Remplissez ce sondage : ici. Le gouvernement du Canada a également besoin de produits et de services : découvrez ce dont ils ont besoin Si votre entreprise ou organisation peut aider les communautés à résister à la pandémie et que vous avez une solution pour: des services de santé mentale virtuels pour les personnes vulnérables ou vivant dans des communautés éloignées surveillance de la résilience de la chaîne d'approvisionnement planification financière et conseils aux petites entreprises qui peuvent être fournis en ligne à faible coût, y compris des conseils sur les programmes de secours et la façon de postuler Remplissez le formulaire : ici. Si votre entreprise ou organisation a des idées, d'autres produits ou services qui pourraient aider les Ontariens : communiquez votre idée. Pour plus d'informations, cliquez ici.