29 Apr Carrefour de l'eau: a unique ambition in Quebec City
Quebec City, avril, 29 2025 - Thanks to a promising partnership between the City of Québec, the Port of Québec, H2O Innovation, the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), 2 Degrés, Patriarche and the Centre des technologies de l'eau (Cteau), the Carrefour de l'eau is officially born. Objective: to develop a center of expertise in the water sector and make Quebec City a world leader in the field.
The Carrefour de l'eau will bring together all the expertise and resources needed to create new technologies and innovative businesses in the water sector, conduct applied research, train researchers and develop sustainable solutions for responsible water management. A major economic and environmental development tool, it will stand out from all similar complexes around the world by bringing together six distinct poles under one roof in Quebec City:
- A water recycling plant that can serve companies that consume large quantities of drinking water for industrial purposes, thus reducing pressure on the public network;
- Research laboratories and teaching facilities to train researchers and experts in the water sector;
- An incubator designed to foster the emergence of new clean technology companies in the water sector;
- A full-scale test bed for testing and developing new technologies;
- A water interpretation and awareness center open to the general public;
- A real estate cluster including specialized spaces for companies in the sector.
Over the past year, thanks to $1 million in financial support from the City of Quebec, via the Fonds de la région de la Capitale-Nationale of the Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale, technical analyses and an economic feasibility study were carried out. These studies confirmed the viability and full potential of the Carrefour de l'eau, and revealed the need to strengthen research and technology transfer in sustainable water management, at a time when water resources are becoming increasingly scarce.
The next few months will now be used to complete the financing of the project, whose costs are estimated at $150 million, thanks to the support of public and private partners.
A pilot project starting this year
The Carrefour de l'eau will be rolled out in stages. The first phase, scheduled for launch in autumn, will serve as a pilot project for subsequent phases. It will include a mobile water recycling plant developed by H2O Innovation. It will be connected to Quebec City's East Wastewater Treatment Plant to replicate, on a small scale, the filtration process that will ultimately be deployed at the Carrefour recycling plant. It will also become a technological showcase open to the general public.
A first incubation program for water-related companies was launched a few weeks ago by 2 Degrés. The selected companies will be announced shortly.
Major spin-offs and benefits
According to an economic study carried out by AVISEO, the Carrefour de l'eau will generate economic spin-offs of $120 million during its construction phase, and just over $22 million annually once it is up and running, in addition to its major impacts in terms of sustainable and responsible economic development.
The Carrefour de l'eau will also generate significant benefits by stimulating the creation of innovative companies in the water technology sector, improving the productivity of Quebec's public water and sewer systems, and significantly reducing drinking water consumption in strategic industrial sectors.
Quotes
"More than ever, we need organizations that are pushing back the technological boundaries and helping to meet the many challenges linked to the optimal management of our resources. Thanks to the Carrefour de l'eau and its partners, Quebec City is consolidating its leadership role in a field that is essential to our future: sustainable development. The people of Quebec City can be proud to see such initiatives being deployed on our territory."
-Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Québec City
"The Port of Québec is proud to be associated with the Carrefour de l'eau, a great collective adventure. This project embodies the boldness and innovation that are at the heart of our vision: to build a future where economic development and the protection of our natural resources go hand in hand. The Carrefour de l'eau will put Quebec City on the international map, and we are determined to contribute to its success.
-Olga Farman, President and CEO, Port of Québec
"By assuming leadership of the research component, the Institut national de la recherche scientifique aims to provide the Carrefour de l'eau with a critical mass of researchers, who will work closely with industry and the innovation ecosystem that will be created. INRS will work with the project's partners to develop innovative solutions for recycling and reclaiming water to better protect it."
-Luc-Alain Giraldeau, General Manager, Institut national de la recherche scientifique
" H2O Innovation celebrates its 25th anniversarye anniversary and is delighted to contribute to the scientific and economic wealth of water treatment in Quebec. If we had had access, 25 years ago, to a complete ecosystem including an incubator, a test bench, specialized laboratories, a network of experts and mentors, our growth would have been accelerated and we would certainly have avoided a few setbacks. The Carrefour de l'eau is a unique and innovative model that will foster the development of technologies and know-how that will have local and international impact, with the aim of better managing our water resources."
-Frédéric Dugré, President and CEO, H2O Innovation
"Today, together, we have the opportunity to position Quebec City and Quebec as a world leader in the water sector, through a project that is unique in the world: the Carrefour de l'eau. Alongside a group of committed, ambitious and dedicated partners, 2 Degrés is very proud to be part of this forward-looking project, which is already fostering the emergence of innovative and successful businesses, cutting-edge research and disruptive technologies! The positive and sustainable impact we have the potential to have, here and now, on our water resource, our economy and our society is immense."
-Alexandre Guindon, General Manager, 2 Degrés
"Patriarche is delighted with this partnership, whose real estate proposal will enable the Carrefour de l'eau to become a true symbol, whose architecture itself will bear witness to innovative approaches to water management. This new hub will be a catalyst for new ways of exchanging, working and communicating, and will play a unifying role for all players in the water sector.
-Luc Bélanger, Architect and Managing Partner, Patriarche
"The Carrefour de l'eau aims to accelerate innovation in water. The proximity between the academic world, test beds and companies creates a unique environment conducive to the emergence of new technologies. The Cteau believes in this promising project in Quebec City.
-Édith Laflamme, General Manager, Water Technology Centre
About Carrefour de l'eau
The result of a promising partnership between the City of Quebec, the Port of Quebec, H2O Innovation, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, 2 Degrés, Patriarche Architecture and CTEAU, the Carrefour de l'eau will bring together under one roof all the resources needed to develop new technologies, train researchers and create innovative companies in the water sector. The future complex is also to house a water recycling plant capable of serving companies that consume large quantities of drinking water for industrial purposes, as well as a Water Museum open to the general public.
About the Québec 2026 Entrepreneurial Vision
Focusing on entrepreneurship, innovation, growth, financing and support, the Québec 2026 Entrepreneurial Vision aims to make Québec City the entrepreneurial capital of the country. It brings together financial assistance programs and measures to help businesses grow. The Vision is supported by over $134.6 million in funding from the Fonds de la région de la Capitale-Nationale (FRCN) of the Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale. The FRCN was created in 2018 under the Act granting Québec City the status of national capital, thereby increasing its autonomy and powers, and has a considerable impact on the region.
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Source: The Water Crossroads
For further information: Béatrice Vincent, 581-246-2147, bvincent@tactconseil.ca