A Brief History

A High Tech Park to Diversify the Regional Economy

Thanks to the audacity of visionaries and ground-breaking cohesion between government, university, and business, the first technology park in Canada was founded in 1988.  The Quebec High Tech Park was, in the beginning, a wholly owned provincial corporation.  It was based on, for the time, an uncommon and unique concept: attract innovative and entrepreneurial business people to set up in the Park.  The goal was to commercialize and profit from scientific discoveries and the resulting products, as well as to find ways to financially support these businesses.

One year after its foundation, in 1989, the first multi-purpose building was constructed and dedicated to start ups and pre-start ups.  During this time the corporation began to offer services to this very specific clientele.

It was not until 1991 that the second multi-tenant building was constructed and 1993 before there was a resource center, the present headquarters of the Corporation, offering business facilities with shared costs. 

During the mid-90’s, just before its 10th anniversary, the survival of the High Tech Park was in question.  The regional community leaders quickly reacted, found a solution and ensured its survival, thereby demonstrating the importance of reflective action at the regional level.

From 1995 to 1998, the model developed nearly 10 years earlier was no longer feasible and a new revival began at the Park.

In 1999, a new non-profit Corporation was created and an agreement signed to transfer assets, establish a new image and create an action plan.  The strategy was to self finance through the sale of land and to make it the primary source of income for the Park.

In 2008, the High Tech Park celebrated its first 20 years.  The event was celebrated in style by community leaders as well as Park employees, all responsible for the growth and success of the unique business community that we are today.