Partnerships for innovation
PORTXL
The Port of Québec has undertaken a unique collaboration with the world-class maritime innovation accelerator PortXL to study the feasibility of establishing the first PortXL antenna in North America. PortXL provides access to a global network of ports, maritime companies and more than 3000 start-ups active in innovation. With this antenna, the Port of Québec wants to become an economic engine to stimulate the growth of commercial businesses and foster entrepreneurship with cutting-edge technologies in logistics and sustainable maritime transport. In 2021, the Port of Québec and its many partners participated in a feasibility study which concluded that Québec City would be a site with all the potential to ensure the success of the future incubator. Work to define the business model will continue in 2022.
Management of hydrocarbon storage risks
In 2018, nearly two million tonnes of hydrocarbons were transhipped and stored at the Port of Québec by two operators, IMTT and Vopak. To protect its infrastructure against the risk of fire, the Port of Québec and its operators reached an agreement with the City of Québec’s Fire Department.
A $5 million investment resulted in the creation of an independent system that draws water directly from the St. Lawrence River. Two high-pressure pumps pull water into the system; Groupe Océan’s tugboats can also help the firefighters. IMTT and Vopak have invested in emergency equipment, including a tank truck that holds extinguishing foam and a high-pressure water cannon for shooting the extinguishing foam.
The multi-party partnership is a historic and exemplary agreement for the prevention, preparation, and efficient management of hydrocarbon storage risks at the Port of Québec.
Circular economy project
With the support of the Conseil régional de l'environnement (CRE)—Capitale-Nationale, the Québec Port Authority (QPA), Englobe and Quebec City carried out a circular economy project in 2019 as part of the work being completed on the Strom Spa parking lot at Anse Brown in the Port of Québec. The principle of the circular economy is simple: it consists in using one person's waste materials to make them the raw material for another, while limiting the consumption and waste of raw materials, water and energy sources. For the project in question, Englobe mixed the City's excavation debris with compost produced from local organic materials to produce quality soil. The latter could then be used to grass the green areas of the parking lot. This was a first achievement under the CRE—Capitale-Nationale circular economy project and we hope that there will be more opportunities to participate in this kind of project in the future! The QPA would like to thank all the stakeholders involved who made it possible to green Quebec City with the residents' organic waste.
Université Laval
In spring 2018, the Québec Port Authority (QPA) and Université Laval partnered and signed a framework agreement for research collaboration. Through the partnership, the Port and the university aim to combine forces to complete joint research projects by pooling their knowledge, expertise and technologies. This agreement takes the form of research projects related to port management in multiple sectors, including technological innovation, engineering, logistics and urban planning. Resolutely focused on achieving best practices in development and innovation, and building a close relationship with the community, the QPA sees its partnership with Université Laval as key element to long-term planning.
Cégep Limoilou
We have established a strategic partnership with Cégep Limoilou to usher in a new era of collaboration. The agreement allows the educational institution's professors and students to take advantage of port facilities to develop their work and expand their knowledge. In return, we rely on the Cégep's expertise for specific projects and challenges.
The Port of Québec's maintenance, engineering and environment departments are currently collaborating with Université Laval and Cégep Limoilou to develop a prototype for an electric mobile snow melter. This is an innovative concept since traditional snow melters run solely on fuel. The project will draw on each collaborators’ respective expertise and skills to design a snow melter that will allow the Port of Québec to greatly improve snow management at the Port in the Estuary and Anse-au-Foulon sectors while significantly reducing its impact on the community. Most notably, the snow melter will reduce the amount of transport necessary for snow removal.
Fondation Monique-Fitz-Back (FMFB)
In 2016, we collaborated with the FMFB on an educational guide addressing Port-Community relations for elementary and high school teachers. The guide was distributed in 2017.
We will be posting additional innovation partnerships here soon.