The City of Drummondville, which is located at the crossroads of two major highways, is a model of economic growth in Quebec. The region was affected by the relocation of several textile companies that formed the backbone of its economy. However, the region has diversified its activities over the last few years thanks to an innovative entrepreneurship and the support of the Drummondville Economic Development Authority. Several industrial sectors are concentrated in the Drummondville region, including:

• Machinery Manufacturing and Metal Processing;
• Wood Furniture Manufacturing;
• Paper Production;
• Food Processing.

Many innovative SMEs distinguish themselves in an ever-changing market by performing in-house R&D. This is an upward trend. Actually, between 1997 and 2004, R&D expenditures increased from $ 14.9 million to $ 49.4 million in the Drummondville region.

By performing R&D, those companies become eligible for the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Program. This federal tax incentive program encourages Canadian businesses of all sizes, and in all sectors to conduct R&D in Canada that will lead to new, improved, or technologically advanced products or processes.

The Centre-du-Québec region comes out of with a tax credit reception rate of 67.9 %. Many of Drummondville’s industrial sectors have a reception rate of SR&ED tax credits higher than 50 %*:

• Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing (54.1%);
• Machinery Manufacturing (79.3 %);
• Paper Manufacturing (63.3 %).

Specialized in the high-tech industry and innovative environments, d’Astous Groupe Conseil helps several Drummondville-based companies to get R&D tax credits. Its team of experts covers all key sectors from this region.

*These statistics come from a publication entitled Les mesures d’aide fiscale à la R-D et l’innovation des entreprises au Québec from Institut de la statistique du Québec.