Empowering innovation at Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole: IASP North America gathers in Québec’s Agri-Food capital

From May 28-30, 2025, the IASP North American Division gathered in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, for a transformative conference exploring how different regions can drive agile, sustainable, and competitive economies through innovation. 

Hosted by Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole under the theme "Empowering Innovation," the event brought together experts, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from across Canada and the United States, and beyond. 

A warm Canadian welcome and opening insights

Carl Viel, IASP North American Division President, welcomed delegates by recognising the vital role of science parks and innovation hubs in translating research into market-ready solutions, expressing gratitude to Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole for organising a comprehensive and forward-thinking programme. 

IASP CEO Ebba Lund noted that the conference's theme captured the essence of IASP's mission—creating the conditions, support structures, and culture required to enable innovation. She applauded the programme for its depth and diversity as she welcomed IASP members from around the world in attendance. 

Joining them were Mayor André Beauregard and Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole CEO Karine Guilbault, with Technopole President Lyne-Mireille Leduc proudly noting that delegates were "at the heart of a region recognised as Québec's leading agri-food innovation hub"—a region where innovation flourishes thanks to its robust ecosystem of applied research centres, higher education institutions, and technology transfer organisations. 

Early sessions highlighted critical challenges facing technology companies in smaller economies, with particular focus on the urgency of thinking globally from day one. Quebec's position—representing over 20% of Canada's population yet a smaller share of national scaleup companies—underscored the need for strong international positioning strategies. 

Startup Canada shared momentum behind women-led startups, while First Flight Venture Center from Research Triangle Park demonstrated how 30 years of ecosystem support extends far beyond funding to include customer access, infrastructure, and long-term strategic guidance. 

Innovation in action: From AI to agriculture 

Key presentations showcased artificial intelligence transforming sectors from veterinary medicine to diagnostics, with examples including deep learning models detecting pain in cats through facial analysis. The message was clear: AI amplifies rather than replaces human judgment, serving as a strategic asset for increased efficiency when applied responsibly. 

Agricultural innovation featured prominently, with FCC/FAC demonstrating how innovation farms provide real environments for agri-tech testing and commercialization. Local entrepreneurs like NEW/SCHOOL FOODS, pioneering plant-based salmon alternatives, and Relocalize, building autonomous micro-factories, exemplified groundbreaking approaches to sustainable food systems. 

Quebec's innovation zones model 

Michèle Houpert from Quebec's Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy introduced the province's new 'Zones d'Innovation' policy, focusing on four strategic sectors: hydrogen and decarbonization, quantum science, aerospace, and smart electronics. Examples included the Vallée de la Transition Énergétique for electrification technologies and Distriq for quantum innovation in Sherbrooke. 

Measuring impact and building innovative ecosystems 

Later sessions explored ecosystem performance evaluation, moving beyond traditional metrics to include societal value and community impact. The quintuple helix framework—integrating academia, government, business, community, and environment—provided a comprehensive lens for assessing innovation's broader influence. 

Scott Andes delivered the closing keynote on macro trends shaping territorial development, emphasizing that successful innovation communities require strategic alignment, strong leadership, and community trust. 

Hands-on discovery during technical tours

The event concluded with technical tours of Saint-Hyacinthe's ecosystem, including advanced veterinary research facilities, national centres for maple and egg product innovation, and Canada's largest food security infrastructure, demonstrating how strategic collaboration scales innovation from laboratory to market. 

The conference handed the torch to Edmonton Research Park (mention reps?) for the 2026 gathering, reinforcing IASP's commitment to linking innovation ecosystems across North America and empowering our industry to become more resilient and more interconnected.