Very close to my riding, I have education-based research centres, so colleges and universities. The Saint‑Jérôme CEGEP is one example. Those institutions have been pursuing innovations, doing a lot of work on plastic-based materials and working closely with universities and the private sector. Businesses play a crucial role because they are the ones that create demand for the technology.
Yesterday, I was at Lion Electric, a company that opened the first battery manufacturing plant in Quebec. A thousand feet from the plant, a research centre is being set up, and it will work with universities.
Mr. Hinton, do you think funding industry partners that work with universities and the private sector is a good way to ensure that Canada produces cutting-edge intellectual property?