Region of photonics

Quebec has become a world-class technopole. Quebec's economy ranks among the top 20 industrialized regions of the OECD with a gross domestic product of almost C$ 270 billion in 2004.As a matter of fact, Montreal ranks fourth in North America for job density in high-technology sectors for 2004. The optics-photonics field constitutes one of the pillars of this growth, opening up tremendous potential for economic development as well as the creation of companies and jobs.

In fact, Quebec has the environment and the set of conditions required by a photonics cluster of international calibre. Québec has a long history in the development of light amplification with the invention of the first optical instruments in 1704 by Samuel de Champlain, founder of City of Québec.

Located in the heart of Canada's photonic corridor (Québec City -Montreal-Ottawa) Quebec continues to be a principal player in Canada for Photonics research and innovation, with research institutions such as the world renowned National Optics Institute (INO) with 300 researchers, the Centre for Optic Photonic and Laser Research at Laval University and Defence Research and Development Canada.Québec has played a vital role in the advancement of this vibrant industry in Canada, and will be hosting next year’s Photonics North event in QuébecCity.

Québec is well-known for its cutting edge telecommunications technologies backed by a diversified mosaic of photonics and optics companies and rapid development of new niche applications.

Québec is quickly establishing a global reputation as an innovative force in emerging technologies in Biophotonics, Security and Instrumentation and Information Optics.