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The Regroupement des jeunes chambres de commerce du Québec (RJCCQ) highlighted the excellence of the province’s young business people and entrepreneurs this Friday, June 14, at the 27th Gala Les Grands Prix de la Relève d’Affaires.

Presented by the Banque Nationale, the gala was chaired by Patrick Lemelin, Vice-President of Agriculture and Agri-Food at the National Bank, and presented 14 awards, in addition to bringing together more guests from across the province, from Havre-Saint-Pierre to Gatineau, via the Saguenay and Terrebonne.

“Given the quality of the finalists, Quebec’s future is in good hands. It is important to recognize the considerable contribution of young business people to our economy and to offer them the support, guidance and visibility essential to their development and the deployment of their full potential, throughout the province,” added Maximilien Roy, President and CEO of the RJCCQ.

Several dignitaries and influential personalities from the business world were present for the occasion. Among them were Ms. Danièle Henkel, President and founder of Entreprises Danièle Henkel Inc, Ms. Isabelle Dessureault, international mentor and member of Anges Québec, and Mr. Younes Boukala, Councillor – District J.-Émery-Provost, Lachine Borough. The evening was masterfully hosted by Mrs. Meriem Idrissi Kaitouni, Senior Advisor, Public and Corporate Affairs, Edelman Montreal.

The 14 winners were honoured for their leadership, achievements, innovation and unfailing track record.

Article found in: https://www.lesoleil.com/la-vitrine/la-diversite-a-lhonneur-pour-le-27e-gala-abc9b30e801ea4f5aa1e019bb23e444e

In the summer of 2012, the city of Quebec was affected by a Legionnaires’ outbreak. In total, over 180 cases were counted and 14 people unfortunately passed away from the disease. A new technology invented by a Sherbrooke-based company can now help prevent such events.

Article found in the Canadian magazine, Maintenance Immobilière : https://issuu.com/jbcom/docs/maintenance_v9n1

See article here: https://issuu.com/jbcom/docs/maintenance_v9n1

The Estrie-based company SPI Bio has developed a device capable of rapidly detecting the presence of legionella, the bacterium responsible for legionellosis, an infection that affected 181 people in the Quebec City area in 2012, killing 12. The device, which attaches to the cooling towers where the bacteria attaches itself, can also work in hot water systems, park fountains and spas. Catherine Perrin speaks with Étienne Lemieux, co-founder of SPI Bio.

Listen to the french interview here: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/premiere/emissions/medium-large/segments/entrevue/98743/appareil-quebecois-prevenir-legionellose-lemieux

Article found in: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/premiere/emissions/medium-large/segments/entrevue/98743/appareil-quebecois-prevenir-legionellose-lemieux

A device, BioAlert, capable of quickly and automatically detecting the presence of legionella, the bacteria responsible for legionellosis, a potentially fatal infection, in cooling towers. INNOVATION A device, BioAlert, capable of quickly and automatically detecting the presence of legionella, the bacteria responsible for legionellosis, a potentially fatal infection, in cooling towers. WHO? Étienne Lemieux founded the company SPI Bio in 2014, upon completion of his doctoral studies in cell biology, with his roommate Dominic Carrier, who holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering. Based in Sherbrooke, the company employs a dozen people. “There was no screening method, other than sending a sample to the lab and getting a result two weeks later. In the meantime, there are people who are exposed. ” -Étienne Lemieux, co-founder of SPI Bio THE PRODUCT In 2012, an outbreak of legionellosis in the Quebec City area affected 181 people, killing 13. This led to the adoption by the provincial government in 2014 of new regulations on water cooling towers in buildings, where the bacteria can accumulate and be released into the ambient air. SPI saw this as a market opportunity. The device attaches to the cooling towers and automatically analyzes the presence of legionella once a day to ensure that it remains below acceptable levels. Usually only a chemical, such as chlorine, needs to be added to correct the situation when the bacteria are too present. The machine is available for sale or rental. The cost to purchase is in the tens of thousands of dollars. According to the Régie du bâtiment, the 2,500 or so water cooling towers installed in Quebec have exceeded risk levels about 1,500 times this year. IN THE FUTURE SPI Bio’s product is installed at the Université de Sherbrooke and at a private company in the Eastern Townships. The company is in discussions with some 15 other companies in Quebec. It would like to attack the U.S. market in about a year’s time. “There are more cooling towers per inhabitant there, and legal recourse is getting out of hand. We’re talking about settlements of about $12 million per recently infected person. In New York City, the fines are $15,000 U.S. if they are exceeded. ” Article found in: https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/portfolio/pme-innovation/201812/13/01-5207890-a-laffut-de-la-legionelle.php

For the first time last September, the student competition took the form of a case study as part of the joint “Technological Innovation and Commercialization” microprogram between the MBAs of HEC Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal. Thanks to a partnership between these universities, Sherbrooke Innopole and Écotech Québec, 15 students advised SPI Bio, a Sherbrooke clean technology company, on its commercialization strategy.

How do I convince my client that my solution is profitable? What are the sources of financing adapted to my offer? What market should I target? According to the Panorama of Cleantech in Quebec, EY, 2018, the most important obstacles facing cleantech companies are financing and market access. It is in this context that Écotech Québec created the Ecotech Challenge 5 years ago, whose objective is to allow a company to find answers to these real questions by inviting students to suggest possible solutions.

Myriam Bélisle, Director, Business Services – Clean Technologies of Sherbrooke Innopole and member of the Skills and Talents site of Écotech Québec, was able to identify a course that is perfectly adapted to the Challenge: the microprogram “Technological Innovation and Commercialization”, which involves some fifteen engineering, scientific and management students, led by Ms. Isabelle Deschamps, Associate Professor. The Ecotech Challenge then becomes a course project that Ms. Deschamps will define as a “fantastic learning opportunity for [the] students, and an opportunity to innovate in our teaching methods”.

Étienne Lemieux, president and co-founder of SPI Bio, which develops and markets control solutions to minimize the risks and costs associated with legionella contamination, was impressed by the quality of the presentations. “I think we’re going to have some interesting discussions on the implementation of some of the proposed strategies. “Thank you again for the effort you put into the work. You have a very fine cohort, brilliant people who will make the program proud, I am convinced,” expressed Mr. Lemieux and Ms. Bélisle.

Article found in: https://ecotechquebec.com/ecominute/article/2018/11/multidisciplinaire-et-au-mba-le-defi-ecotech-ne-cesse-de-se-reinventer/?fbclid=IwAR28yqIpQhRGjn3XdIgcyKOo9xCx-KU8cYCsHFoNBhqZKmbf4XvPPx-JbMY