Québec is Canada’s leading venture capital manager

In December 2003, capital under management in Québec totalled $11.7 billion, compared with $11.2 billion in late 2002. Québec manages 54% of the $22.4 billion in Canadian venture capital and has been a leader in this respect for several years.

Canadian venture capitalists are most active in Québec. In 2003, they injected $575 million into businesses, completing 331 financings.

The number of companies in Québec who were granted financing is roughly the same as last year.

Some of the leading public investors are indicated below.

• The Caisse de dépôt et de placement du Québec (CDPQ) is Canada's leading private-placement and venture-capital investor, with $140.3 billion in total assets under management in 2003.

• The Société générale de financement du Québec (SGF) is a public investment company that targets promising, highly profitable projects by focusing on the long-term economic growth of Québec and its regions.

• Innovatech Grand Montréal, Innovatech Québec-Chaudière-Appalaches and Innovatech Sud du Québec are investment funds that focus on innovative projects that foster the development of high-technology sectors.

• Many regional venture capital companies.

A number of private venture capital funds are also active in the high-technology and other leading-edge sectors.