Quantum Leap

A Quebec-based funding program that supports the commercialization of cutting-edge biopharmaceutical technologies by bridging the innovation gap between academic discovery and industry readiness.

Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec (MEIE)

Overview of the Quantum Leap program:

The Quantum Leap Program, administered by CQDM (Consortium Québécois sur la Découverte du Médicament), is a strategic funding initiative designed to accelerate the development of transformative biopharmaceutical technologies that have high potential for commercialization. Its core objective is to help innovative projects in Quebec’s life sciences ecosystem transition from proof-of-concept to pre-commercial stages—bridging the critical gap between academic research and market-ready solutions. The program funds projects that offer novel therapeutic or technological advances, enabling them to attract industry partners, investors, and licensing opportunities. Quantum Leap supports technologies that are already validated scientifically but require further development to meet industrial standards, such as scale-up, optimization, regulatory pre-requirements, and demonstration of functionality in relevant models. Projects eligible for this program must be spearheaded by public research institutions or research hospitals in Quebec, with the possibility of including industrial co-funding partners. CQDM provides not only financial support but also facilitates connections with pharmaceutical companies, clinical researchers, and commercialization experts. The program is highly competitive, focused on projects with clear potential for commercialization, strong scientific merit, and alignment with industry needs. It plays a vital role in transforming Quebec’s life science discoveries into viable therapeutic and diagnostic innovations, contributing to the province’s global competitiveness in biotechnology.

Benefits of the Quantum Leap program:

Up to $1.2M in non-repayable funding per project
Supports transition from research to commercialization
Helps de-risk novel biopharmaceutical innovations
Enhances project readiness for licensing or investment
Builds collaborations between academia and industry
Enables optimization, scale-up, and preclinical validation
Access to CQDMs pharmaceutical partners and innovation networks
Recognition and visibility within Quebecs biotech ecosystem

Eligibility criteria of the Quantum Leap program:

To be eligible for the Quantum Leap Program, applicants must:
Be a public research institution or research hospital located in Quebec
Be leading an innovative biopharmaceutical or medical technology project
Demonstrate proof-of-concept or validated innovation at the outset
Show potential for commercialization, licensing, or industrial uptake
Secure matching funds from industry partners, institutions, or other sources
Submit a detailed project proposal outlining development, milestones, and potential impact
Engage in projects aligned with CQDMs therapeutic and technological priorities (e.g., drug discovery tools, biomarkers, delivery platforms)
Projects must be scientifically sound, feasible within 23 years, and have a clear route to commercialization.