Laval’s economy stands out thanks to its Technopole, a large urban centre, which has 5 sectors of excellence. Among them, there are: the AGROPOLE to stimulate R&D in the agri-food sector, the BIOPOLE for the biotechnology and life science sector, the INDUSTRIAL POLE for the manufacturing sector and the e-POLE, in the area of ICT manufacturing and services. The situation thus created by those poles is focused on the scientific and high-knowledge economies, mainly due to its close links and partnerships between academic research and the private sector. Then, this is not surprising that R&D expenditures have increased from $111 million to $238 million over the last ten years. The proportion of industrial investments in R&D stood at 46 % in 2011.

Laval-based companies performing R&D work are eligible to tax incentives such as 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.

Many of Laval’s industrial sectors have a reception rate of SR&ED tax credits higher than 50 %*.

• Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (56.1 %);
• Printing and Related Support Activities (61.4 %);
• Miscellaneous Manufacturing (58.1 %);
• Machinery Manufacturing (79.3 %);
• Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (69.1 %);
• Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (57.8 %);
• Chemical Manufacturing (76.5 %);
• Wood Product Manufacturing (54.5 %);
• Non-Metallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (66.2 %).

Specialized in the high-tech industry and innovative environments, d’Astous Groupe Conseil helps several Laval-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.