Earlier this week, Montréal Mayor Denis Coderre, and Harout Chitilian, Vice-chair of the Montréal Executive Committe, jointly announced the launch of InnoCité MTL, a new accelerator program focused on smart city startups. The accelerator will target startups building solutions to urban challenges, particularly those noted as priorities under Montréal’s smart and digital action plan for 2015-2017.
“This new accelerator will help emerging technology companies to develop local job-creating projects, in addition to addressing concrete problems,” said Mayor Coderre. “This project will generate economic spinoffs that will contribute to the growth of our metropolis, which is a leader among smart and digital cities.”
InnoCité MTL is just one of 70 projects in Montreal’s smart and digital action plan, and is made possible through financial contributions from the Québec government.
“Projects such as the one launched today by our city will help to strengthen the position of our metropolis as a smart and digital city,” said Minister Robert Poëti. “InnoCité MTL will address some of the needs set forth by Montrealers, by implementing innovative and creative solutions, as well as stimulate entrepreneurship and the sharing of ideas.”
InnoCité MTL is currently looking for local and international candidates. Candidates will be evaluated based on several criteria, including business plan quality, growth potential and relevance with the smart city’s fields of action.