This commitment marked the beginning of a dynamic and structuring relationship between our two nations, fostering the development of joint initiatives in key areas such as innovation, culture, science, and sustainable economic development.
"Québec and Wales share a common ambition: to build bridges between our talents, industries, and ideas. Over the past five years, we have seen the emergence of fruitful collaborations and forward-looking initiatives. We are eager to continue this momentum and see new opportunities arise." – Line Rivard, Agent-General for Québec in London.
A Partnership Rooted in Shared Values
Québec and Wales share a strong commitment to linguistic diversity, creativity, and economic dynamism. The opening of Wales' office in Montréal in 2018 marked a significant milestone in strengthening this relationship. Since then, exchanges between political leaders and economic stakeholders have continued to grow. The meeting between Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and Québec’s Agent-General in London, Line Rivard, in December 2022, as well as the one between Christopher Skeete, Québec’s Minister Delegate for the Economy, and Jack Sargeant, Welsh Minister for Culture and Skills, at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2024, illustrate this long-term commitment to collaboration.
Expanding Economic and Scientific Cooperation
Relations between Québec and Wales also extend to infrastructure and innovation. In October 2024, a mission of Québec companies specialising in this sector travelled to Cardiff to explore new business opportunities and share their expertise.
Furthermore, this week, the team from Québec’s Government Office in London will be on a mission in Cardiff to meet with university representatives and startups in the fields of circular economy, life sciences, and semiconductors, with the goal of strengthening ties and fostering new collaborations.
These exchanges reflect a shared effort to tackle global challenges. For instance, researchers from Québec and Wales are collaborating on antibiotic resistance, a critical public health issue. Dr Louis Luk from Cardiff University and Professor Brandon Findlay from Concordia University are currently working on a joint initiative in microbiology and protein chemistry. Following their academic exchanges in 2024 in Montréal and Cardiff, they are preparing a grant application to the Human Frontier Science Program or the Gates Foundation to further their research on new peptide therapies.
This collaboration demonstrates the shared commitment to developing sustainable solutions and strengthening strategic partnerships.
A Concrete Commitment to Partners
Every year since 2020, Québec and Wales have launched a bilateral call for projects aimed at supporting initiatives in strategic sectors. Over five years, this cooperation has led to innovative projects, notably in the cultural field, with 11 initiatives supported. Among them, the Société des arts technologiques (SAT) in Montréal and CultVR have developed a partnership around immersive experiences, while the Blue Metropolis Festival and Literature Across Frontiers have showcased Québec and Welsh writers through public performances.
As a catalyst for sustainable partnerships, the call for projects programme has helped establish long-term relationships well beyond the initial project scope. In this context, the partnership between Montréal’s Société des arts technologiques (SAT) and CULTVR in Wales continues to evolve. The teams are collaborating on immersive experiences and are set to continue their exchanges, with a visit from CULTVR to Montréal next month to further develop their joint projects.
The impact of this cooperation is also evident in research. For example, a project led by Université Laval and the University of South Wales (2021-22) aligns with a circular economy approach, developing innovative bioelectrochemical systems for wastewater recycling.
"This call for projects has allowed us to strengthen our collaborations and explore new research avenues between Québec and Wales." – Jesse Greener, Professor at Université Laval
Québec-Wales cooperation has also fostered advancements in education and applied research, providing a platform for researchers on the international stage. The project "Immersive Education for Newcomers" (2023-24), jointly led by McGill University and Cardiff Metropolitan University, is a strong example of this dynamic.
"The Québec-Wales partnership, supported by the Welsh government, between McGill University and Cardiff Metropolitan University has been incredibly successful. It has not only helped establish strong networks and conduct innovative research but has also paved the way for broader collaborations." – Dr Mirain Rhys and Katharine Young, Cardiff Metropolitan University
In 2024, for the first time, an exploratory cultural component was integrated into the call for projects to facilitate the search for new partners and further expand collaboration opportunities.
A Partnership Anchored in the Future
As we celebrate five years of collaboration between Québec and Wales, it is clear that this partnership is built on a solid foundation and holds great promise for the future.
With strong momentum and promising projects, Québec and Wales reaffirm their commitment to deepening their ties and exploring new avenues, whether in innovation, sustainable development, or culture.
Examples of Supported Projects
- Optimising Bioelectrochemical Systems: Resource Recycling in the Circular Economy (2021-22) (Université Laval / University of South Wales, Sustainable Environment Research Centre)
- Nanostructured Materials for Solar Energy Conversion and Hydrogen Production (2021-22) (INRS / Swansea University)
- Identifying Acoustic Sources with Artificial Intelligence (2021-22) (Université de Sherbrooke / Cardiff University, Cardiff School of Engineering)
- Cross-Residency and Co-Creation Workshops in Digital Arts (2022-2025) (Société des arts technologiques de Montréal – SAT and CultVR – ForPi Productions)
- International Collaboration for High-Precision Digital Manufacturing (2022-23) (ÉTS Montréal / Cardiff University, School of Engineering)
- In Vivo Mapping of the Microstructural Properties of Human Brain White Matter Networks Using a New Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology (2022-23) (McGill University / Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre – CUBRIC)
- Immersive Education for Newcomers in Wales and Québec (2023-24) (McGill University / Cardiff Metropolitan University)
- Innovative Peptide Therapies: A Québec-Wales Collaboration Against Antibiotic Resistance (2024-) (Concordia University / Cardiff University)