Crossroads for Industrial Materials Innovation (CIMI) in Boucherville

Crossroads for Industrial Materials Innovation (CIMI) hosts Montérégie and Greater Montréal companies that can establish R&D collaborations with the National Research Council Canada (NRC), universities and research centres. It is an incomparable rental complex where resident companies have the opportunity to increase their productivity.

This NRC technology incubator aims at stimulating the creation of industries operating in the applied development of industrial materials and manufacturing processes. CIMI encourages the innovation and growth of companies through development, transfer and the adoption of advanced technologies.

Crossroads for Industrial Materials Innovation at Boucherville

Located in Boucherville within the NRC's Industrial Materials Institute (NRC-IMI), CIMI provides spaces for offices, laboratories and prototyping. NRC-IMI is a national research laboratory renowned throughout the world for its skills in various sectors, especially metals, polymers, aerospace, automobile, biomedicine and nanotechnologies.

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Who can become a resident?

Companies that wish to rent CIMI space must be:

• Ready to acquire or finalize technologies or processes
• At the prestart phase and in the process of developing innovative technological concepts
• Starting to validate technologies
• At the prototyping stage to support the market introduction of their products
• Prosperous and wishing to adopt or develop new technologies to increase their competitiveness.

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How to become a resident?

To take advantage of CIMI's services, a company must:

• Work in the domain of industrial materials and manufacturing processes
• Carry out R&D and technological development activities
• Demonstrate a potential of collaboration with the NRC and possible synergy with NRC-IMI
• Have a business plan that proves that it has the financial and human resources to bring its incubation project to completion
• Be an incorporated Canadian company
• Ideally, have a technical mentor
• Obtain a safety approval and the Coordination Committee's approval.

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State-of-the-art equipment

Specialized equipment is available to resident companies on a cost recovery basis. The agreements governing access to such equipment are negotiated individually to better meet clients' specific needs.

In their contacts with NRC-IMI expertise and technology, CIMI companies may access various types of equipment such as:

• Hydrogen sintering furnace
• E-beam evaporator
• Laser-plasma spectroscopy system
• High intensity mixer
• Tension-compression/torsion mechanical characterization apparatus
• Reactive ion etcher (RIE)
• Lathe and milling machine for biomaterials
• Specialized equipment to form, process and control processes and measure and analyze materials;
• Modelling, simulation and virtual manufacturing software
• Optical instrumentation systems, laser-ultrasounds for materials inspection, diagnostic and real time control of manufacturing processes.

For further information, please check the list of major facilities offered by NRC-IMI to the industry.

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Rental spaces and structure

A total of 23,500 square feet are offered to the CIMI tenants. 32 furnished offices and 17 laboratories are spread over two floors. Two industrial prototyping laboratories with offices and access to private unloading are also available.

This working environment fosters the development of companies that do not have to worry about infrastructure. The configuration of premises offers layout flexibility through using only the required space and not having to pay for extras. Rental offices can accommodate research and administration teams as well as marketing and sales ones.

CIMI offers considerable flexibility regarding the rental period: rental time can vary from one year to three years with renewal possibility if necessary.

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Support services

The companies hosted by CIMI enjoy an infrastructure adapted to research requirements:

• Visitors reception
• 24/365 security service
• Basic training to operate CIMI's scientific and technical equipment
• Goods reception
• Emergency intervention squad
• First aid team
• Health & Safety Committee
• Access to meeting and conference rooms
• Access to conference call system
• Access to NRC information centre (NRC-CISTI)
• Networking and other activities
• In-house store for supplies
• Top of the line colour and black & white photocopier
• Multimedia projector
• Portable stand and banner stand for conventions
• Fax machine
• Digitizer
• Shredder
• Television/video
• Overhead projector
• Cafeteria
• Free parking.

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Other services

• Furnishing and organization of offices and laboratories
• Electricity, lighting, heating, air conditioning and ventilation
• Chemical fume hood
• Water, natural gas, nitrogen, compressed air
• Telephone and voice mail system
• Information network and access to high speed Internet
• Post office boxes
• Electronic access control system
• Complete building management and housekeeping.

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NRC component

CIMI is a component of National Research Council Canada (NRC). Founded in 1916, the NRC is the major research and development organization of the government of Canada.

Recognized throughout the world for its research and innovation work, the NRC is the leader in the development of an innovative knowledge-based economy in Canada thanks to science and technology.

Joining CIMI means being associated with NRC's 18 research laboratories, NRC's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) and NRC's Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (NRC-CISTI).

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Contact CIMI

Industrial Materials Institute
75, de Mortagne blvd
Boucherville (Quebec) J4B 6Y4
Tel.: (450) 641-5000

[Directions to Boucherville]

Nafez Melhem Marketing Agent, CIMI Tel.: (450) 641-5291 Fax: (450) 641-5101 Email: Nafez.Melhem@cnrc-nrc.gc.ca

Related Information

Institutes:

• NRC Industrial Materials Institute