IT IS VITAL FOR THE QUEBEC ECONOMY AS A WHOLE THAT

ITS 250,000 OR SO SMES ,

WHICH EMPLOY MORE THAN TWO MILLION WORKERS , ARE

AWARE OF THE RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES

OF THIS

TRANSITION AND ENGAGE IN IT SUCCESSFULLY . creation and offering of products , solutions and services that meet new needs and market expectations ( 60 % vs . 42 %), followed by strengthening the company ’ s brand image and reputation ( 40 % vs . 34 %) and being positioned as a supplier of choice , preserving and consolidating business relationships with customers and major clients ( 40 % vs . 26 %).

“ In addition to our mapping of the low carbon economy and the data from our Businesses Transition Barometers , the business intelligence and new knowledge that will emerge from SMEs in Transition will guide us collectively on the best ways to strengthen and activate a business ecosystem that is increasingly conducive to the transition of all SMEs ,” said Laquerre .

Three pillars for collaborative action research

Funded by the Government of Canada , with the support of the Laurentian Bank , the SMEs in Transition initiative will allow participating SMEs and their ecosystems to establish new contacts , beyond their usual networks , to reveal and co-create innovative approaches to navigate the transition to a low carbon economy . The initiative is structured in three pillars :

• Regional and sectoral mobilisation : Identify the appropriate means and key moments to promote the measurement of GHG emissions , establish reduction targets and trigger climate action , with mobilisation partners : ADDERE Serviceconseil ( Eastern Townships ), Conseil régional de l ’ environnement de la Montérégie and Excellence industrielle Saint-Laurent ( Montréal ).

• Communities of practice : Identify mechanisms to optimise the added value

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