OTN Projects Forum 2026

Digital Transformation Offensive
📍 École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS)
đź“Ž Agenda
đź“Ś Event Date: May 14, 2026

Since 2022, the SDG Innovation Network has been supporting digital transformation projects led by Quebec SMEs in collaboration with universities through the Digital Transformation Offensive (OTN program), funded by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE). This initiative is part of the Technology and Knowledge Transfer to Industry Program, which aims to accelerate smart, digital, and sustainable innovation within SMEs, aligned with Industry 4.0/5.0/X.0 approaches.

Each year, the SDG Innovation Network hosts the OTN Projects Forum, an event dedicated to highlighting the results, success stories, and real-world impacts emerging from these collaborative initiatives between academia and industry.

The 2026 Forum edition brought together representatives from academia, industry partners, experts, and government stakeholders from the MEIE.

Patrick Hamelin, Director of Business Competitiveness and Digital Transformation at the MEIE, opened the event by acknowledging the success of the SDG Innovation Network and highlighting the critical role of academia–industry collaborations in driving the digital transformation and competitiveness of Québec SMEs.

Professors, students, and industry partners presented the achievements and results of collaborative projects conducted with Quebec SMEs, including Kinova Robotics, Dynatherm, CAPSolar, NeuroBot AI, SBI, Festo, Cadence, Axya, Sokio, Bois Daaquam, ADM, Humanitas, Liggo, InnovMetric, and SDF Abrasif.

The presentations covered a broad range of digital transformation topics, including intelligent robotics, manufacturing system automation, artificial intelligence applied to process control and optimization, customized manufacturing, industrial data exploitation, and digital applications in advanced air mobility.

The Forum also highlighted the diversity and strength of partnerships between companies and Quebec universities, including ÉTS, Polytechnique Montréal, Concordia University, McGill University, Université Laval, Université de Sherbrooke, UQAM, and UQTR. These collaborations have enabled the development of concrete solutions addressing productivity, automation, and digital transition challenges faced by SMEs in Quebec, thereby strengthening their competitiveness.

Through OTN funding, the Network has supported 40 SMEs to date in the implementation of their digital transformation projects and continues to expand the reach and impact of this initiative. SMEs seeking to initiate or accelerate their digital transformation journey can be connected with specialized academic teams to co-develop solutions tailored to their specific needs. Similarly, academic stakeholders leading strategic projects can benefit from the Network’s support to extend their reach and maximize their industrial impact.

For more information : info@sdginnovnetwk.com

First Annual Forum of the SDG Network Advanced Air Mobility Institute

Dronotisation in society – challenges and successes

In collaboration with YMX Innovation and CIADI
Date: November 27, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EST)
Location: YMX Innovation Centre

MIRABEL, QC, November 28, 2025 – The first annual SDG Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Forum, organized by the Advanced Air Mobility Institute of the Smart-Digital-Green (SDG) InnovationTM network and ADM Aéroports de Montréal, and co-organized by the Concordia Institute of Aerospace Design and Innovation and Polytechnique Montréal, brought together some 200 participants yesterday at the YMX Innovation Center, located at YMX International Aerocity in Mirabel.
The event, themed “Dronatization in Society – Challenges and Successes,” brought together key leaders from industry, academia, and government to explore the growing impact and opportunities of drone technology.

THIRD INTERNATIONAL SDG INNOVATION FORUM

📅 Innovating for a Greener Tomorrow: Digital Solutions for SMEs – June 19, 2025
📍 Palais des congrès de Montréal
📎 Agenda

The SDG Innovation Network, founded in January 2019, brings together eight Quebec universities committed to advancing technological innovation for sustainable development. As part of this mission, the Network proudly hosted the Third International SDG Innovation Forum on June 19, 2025, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, under the theme:
“Innovating for a Greener Tomorrow: Digital Solutions for SMEs.”

This forum brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from academia, industry, and government to collectively reflect on the challenges and opportunities of the digital and green transition. Professors, researchers, and students from all eight member universities actively participated through panels, workshops, and project presentations.

The event highlighted four key technological themes:

  • Advanced Air Mobility

  • Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

  • Sustainable Digital Technologies

  • Frugal Innovation

These topics were explored through inspiring talks, concrete case studies, and cross-sector discussions.

The forum also showcased collaborative projects developed with around thirty SMEs, in partnership with university teams as part of the OTN initiative. These projects illustrated the tangible impact of applied research in driving innovation and competitiveness for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Finally, several interactive workshops engaged over 100 students on emerging technologies, future skills, and responsible innovation practices — fostering meaningful connections between experts and young talents, and empowering the next generation of changemakers.

SECOND INTERNATIONAL SDG INNOVATION FORUM

Another great success for the second edition (2022)

📍 Palais des congrès de Montréal
đź“ŽAgenda
đź“Ś Event: November 9, 2022

The second edition of the International Forum, titled “Beyond Industry 4.0/5.0: Toward an Intelligent, Digital, and Sustainable Society,” was successfully held on November 9, 2022, in partnership with the multisectoral strategic committee of the Palais des congrès de Montréal and the Quebec Industrial Expertise Centers Network 4.0 (RCEI4.0), bringing together partners such as DEL, CNIMI, DESTL, and Québec International.

Focused on the transition toward an intelligent, digital, and sustainable society, the Forum explored Industry 5.0 technologies and their implementation in key sectors such as manufacturing, transportation, aerospace, energy, and healthcare.

The program included sessions dedicated to collaborative projects between universities and companies, a special presentation on Society X.0 and data-driven management in France, as well as an exhibition of recent technologies, complemented by a student poster session that concluded with an award ceremony.

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SDG INNOVATION FORUM

1st Edition of the International Forum on Innovation 4.0
📍 Palais des congrès de Montréal
đź“Ž Agenda
đź“Ś Event Date: November 6, 2019

Organized in partnership with the Innovation 4.0 Network and Les Entretiens Jacques-Cartier, this event marked the launch of an inter-university collaboration dedicated to supporting the digital transition of Quebec’s businesses. The Forum highlighted Industry 4.0 technologies applied to strategic sectors such as aerospace, smart manufacturing, energy, logistics, and healthcare.

The program featured keynote speeches by international leaders (Accenture, Airbus, Bombardier, Siemens, Microsoft), thematic workshops on AI, the Internet of Things, digital twins, and factories of the future, a technology exhibition, as well as discussions on workforce training and support for SMEs.

The event brought together 31 speakers from industry, academia, and associations, laying the foundation for a strong Quebec ecosystem around Industry 4.0.