Montréal Roundtable Series

April 30, 2017 — Events

As investment and the presence and proliferation of both local and international startups and advanced research centers continue to grow in Montréal, local organizations and leaders across industries must be well prepared and actively involved in the changes to come.

To kickstart this important conversation, NewCities will host a series of three roundtables on the ongoing impacts, future challenges and opportunities of Montréal’s transformation into a startup hub and driver of new technology.

Roundtable 1 – The City as an Incubator

When: Tuesday, February 6
Where: MT Lab, 141, Président-Kennedy Avenue, 7th floor, Office SB-7250, Montréal, Québec, H2X 1Y4

Can Montréal become the global model for the incubation of innovations at the city scale? How can the City of Montréal promote productive relationships between entrepreneurs and the community? What are the steps for implementing a truly city-led network of support? What does Montréal have to gain?

This discussion explored how Montréal can best promote productive partnerships between startups, local communities, business, government and the tertiary in order to nurture more successful innovations. By taking a close look at the very definition of an incubator and its core concepts, these roundtables will help us collectively understand what resources need to be provided and shared, and how diverse actors across the city can mobilize the resources and investment needed for Montréal to become – in practice – a large-scale incubator.

Download program here

Roundtable 2 – urbAIn: Artificial Intelligence and the City

When: Tuesday, March 27
Where: Pavillon President-Kennedy, UQÀM

How will Montréal’s leadership in artificial intelligence, machine learning and urban tech create new opportunities, services and types of growth in the City?

This roundtable explored the potential effects of new technologies, services, and products developed and promoted by Montréal’s burgeoning research and startup scene – especially as a world-leading hub for artificial intelligence and machine learning research. Together, participants contributed to a broader understanding and developed key considerations for how this influx of research and entrepreneurship in Montréal can impact the City’s plans moving forward, development and service provision in Montréal’s neighborhoods, and how this can inform other industries and cities worldwide.

Download program here