New acceleration program in cybersecurity and digital identity: a first in Quebec
Sonia Roy
Cilex, a company that specializes in providing services to startups in the field of cybersecurity, health and digital identity in the Outaouais region, has announced the launch of the first-ever acceleration program specializing in cybersecurity and digital identity in Quebec. In partnership with the real estate company Brigil, Cilex will offer its services (experts in the field, dedicated workspaces, networking) for a period of one year to the ten startups selected to participate in this program.
The startups will also benefit from the expertise of Cilex's cybersecurity partners: CyberQuébec, In-Sec-M, the Digital Identity Laboratory, Export Outaouais, PROMPT, the RHEA group and IVÉO. Brigil will provide specialized coaching services for the ten companies. In addition to this alliance, Cilex will also be able to count on the support of the City of Gatineau, whose Fonds de soutien aux organismes à but non lucratif appuyant l'entrepreneuriat will finance an amount of $100,000 dedicated to the program. The federal government will also participate in the initiative through its Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions component.
Interested startup representatives have until November 30, 2022 to submit their application for the program (which will start on January 9, 2023)
via the Cilex website: www.cilex.ca/maillage-cybersecurite.
The announcement of Cilex's cybersecurity networking program was made at the Canvas space on 11 October 2022. Several political and business leaders were on hand to celebrate this first, including the Honourable Greg Fergus, Member of Parliament for Hull-Aylmer, Martin A. Roy, General Manager of Cilex, and Jessy Desjardins, Vice-President of Brigil. Desjardins said he was pleased to support the advancement of cybersecurity and local businesses and noted the innovative nature of the program: "Today, cyber threat management is an imperative and we are delighted to partner with growing companies to develop tools to combat cybercrime and continue to protect all of our computer systems”.
Chloe Martinetti, Director of Operations and Development at Cilex, notes: "Startups and established companies operate in two different worlds that benefit from being brought together for mutual learning and benefit. Through this program, we want to offer a unique opportunity to connect and support startups in cybersecurity and digital identity in Quebec. On the other hand, we want to stimulate innovation among established companies in the region by showing them the latest solutions developed to make them more cyber-resilient”.
Photo caption: (from left to right) Jessy Desjardins, Martin A. Roy and the Honourable Greg Fergus at the program announcement
Photo credit: Courtesy of Cilex
