Cybersecurity and digital identity in Quebec: Outaouais has new high-tech hub

Sonia Roy

At a special event held at Espace Canevas on January 17, 2023, Cilex, known in the Gatineau-Ottawa region for its incubation, acceleration, research and development services for startups (a small company in its infancy), announced the six companies selected for their cybersecurity networking program.

This program, a first in Quebec, will allow participating startups to benefit from several privileges, including collaboration with real estate company Brigil in the development of their technologies, specialized coaching through Main's Momentum service (value of $75,000) a one-year access to the advantages offered by Cilex (experts, premises, business network), as well as the possibility of receiving advice from Cilex's many cybersecurity partners (CyberQuébec, In-Sec-M, the Digital Identity Laboratory, PROMPT, the RHEA Group, IVÉO and Export Outaouais).

The startups that make up the 2023 cohort of the cybersecurity and digital identity program are Conatix, CYBERDEFENSE.AI, F8th, Northern Block, Secure Exchanges and Verifa.i. The companies' representatives were in the spotlight at the January 17 networking event, which was attended by Cilex employees, entrepreneurs from the selected startups and Brigil executives. The Honourable Greg Fergus, Liberal MP for Hull-Aylmer, the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Liberal MP for Gatineau and Suzanne Tremblay, Caquist MNA for Hull at the Quebec National Assembly were also in attendance.

The federal member for Hull-Aylmer spoke at the invitation of Manuel Patry and Farid Dagher, respectively in charge of the networking project and coach at Cilex: "I think it is important to underline the partnership that exists here. You have seen the partnership with the federal government, the city, the province and the company Brigil. Young entrepreneurs with good ideas will now benefit from the experience of those who are more experienced.”

"We know that with cyber security there are so many opportunities. [...] Let's continue to create something of value, not only for the people of Aylmer, but for the people of our Outaouais region and, really, the world," concluded Greg Fergus. Jessy Desjardins, Vice-President of Development and Conception at Brigil, also took a moment to highlight the partnership between the fast-growing real estate company and startups with a specific cybersecurity offering.

Finally, it should be noted that Cilex's cybersecurity networking program is an initiative made possible by funding from the Fonds de soutien aux organismes à but non lucratif appuyant l'entreprenariat de la Ville de Gatineau ($100,000), as well as from Canada Economic Development for the regions of Quebec.

Photo credit: Sonia Roy

Photo caption: Representatives of the six selected startups, employees of Cilex and Brigil, as well as some political figures at the event at Espace Canevas.