CQDM
CQDM is a Quebec-based research funding consortium that channels government and industry capital into early-stage drug discovery, connecting academic researchers, biotech startups, and pharmaceutical partners across neuroscience and gene editing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersMontreal, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CQDM does
CQDM is a Quebec-based research funding consortium founded in 2008 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada. The organization functions as a bridge between academic researchers, biotechnology startups, and the pharmaceutical industry, channeling government and industry capital into early-stage drug discovery projects. Rather than developing commercial products, CQDM deploys grants and co-investment capital through multi-party collaborations targeting high-unmet-need therapeutic areas including neuroscience (anorexia nervosa, compulsive disorders, insomnia, neuropathic pain) and gene editing tools.
The consortium operates through partnerships with major academic and industry players including McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Brain Canada, Merck (via the Merck Digital Sciences Studio accelerator), and Will Therapeutics. Notable funding activities include a CAD $3.5 million three-year collaboration with Will Therapeutics (2026), a $100,000 USD per-startup commitment within the Merck Digital Sciences Studio cohort of 12 biopharma startups (2026), participation in DropGenie's Seed+ financing round (2026), and grants exceeding $1.6 million supporting McGill-led insomnia and neuropathic pain research (2024).
CQDM's business model is that of a publicly-funded intermediary rather than a revenue-generating enterprise. It is backed primarily by the Government of Québec and aligns with national biotech initiatives such as Brain Canada. The organization is led by CEO Diane Gosselin and Director of Business Development Jesse Paterson, with a headcount of 11–50 employees. Its revenue mechanics consist of grant inflows from provincial government and industry sponsors, which it then deploys to academic and biotech recipients through research collaborations, accelerator participation, and selective equity co-investments.
CQDM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CQDM
- Legal name
- CQDM
- Website
- https://cqdm.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CQDM is a Quebec-based research funding consortium that channels government and industry capital into early-stage drug discovery, connecting academic researchers, biotech startups, and pharmaceutical partners across neuroscience and gene editing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CQDM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceutical Research Funding
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Professional Organizations (81392)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Joint Venture CVC / Consortium Funds (Multi-corporate) (FSANAHAE), Captive CVC Fund (Dedicated corporate fund structure) (FSANAHAB)
Keywords
Where CQDM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montreal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CQDM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
CQDM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CQDM is a Quebec-based research funding consortium that finances and coordinates drug discovery collaborations between academic researchers, biotechnology startups, and the pharmaceutical industry. It deploys government-backed grants and participates in startup accelerator programs to accelerate translational research in areas such as neuroscience, gene editing, and digital health.
Product overview
CQDM is a research consortium organization based in Quebec, Canada that funds and supports life sciences research collaborations between academia and industry. The organization does not appear to offer commercial products or services in the traditional sense; rather, it facilitates drug discovery research through funding mechanisms, startup accelerator participation, and industry-academia partnerships. Based on the source material, CQDM's activities include supporting biotechnology startups, funding research collaborations targeting neurological disorders and insomnia, and contributing to accelerator programs for biopharmaceutical innovation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Merck Digital Sciences Studio Accelerator Participation
- Will Therapeutics Research Collaboration Grant
- McGill University Neurological Disorder Research Grants
Companies that use CQDM
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CQDM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CQDM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Will TherapeuticscoreCAD $3.5 million, three-year research collaboration to develop brain-penetrant small molecules targeting anorexia nervosa and other compulsive disorders. CQDM provides funding backed by Government of Québec, while Will Therapeutics and Douglas Hospital Research Centre conduct research.
- Douglas Hospital Research CentrecoreResearch partner leading the Will Therapeutics collaboration for developing targeted pharmacological treatments for anorexia nervosa and compulsive disorders, with research led by Dr. Salah El Mestikawy.
- DropGeniecoreCQDM participated in DropGenie's Seed+ financing round alongside Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Skeleton Key, Real Ventures, and Anges Québec to support commercialization of miniaturized gene editing workflows.
- MerckcoreOperates Merck Digital Sciences Studio (MDSS) accelerator in Montreal, with CQDM as funding consortium partner contributing to $100,000 USD per selected startup across 12 biopharma startups.
- CentechminorOperating partner for Merck Digital Sciences Studio accelerator, providing mentorship and operational support to selected startups.
- McGill UniversitycoreLead academic partner in drug discovery consortium developing novel treatments for insomnia and neuropathic pain, with research originating from the university being engineered for oral administration and human trials.
- Brain CanadamajorNational partner in consortium supporting drug discovery collaboration with McGill University and industry for neurological disorder treatments.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
CQDM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brain Canada: National Canadian charity funding brain research through grants and partnerships. Comparable to CQDM as a Canadian non-profit R&D funder partnering with academic institutions and government for translational health research.
- Genome Canada: Canadian federal funding agency for genomics and translational research. Highly comparable to CQDM in its consortium model, government backing, and focus on bridging academic genomics research with industry commercialization.
- adMare BioInnovations: Canadian biotech accelerator and venture builder transforming academic research into companies. Directly comparable as a Canadian organization funding and operationalizing life sciences commercialization from academia.
- Genome Québec: Quebec-based genomics research funder supporting academic-industry partnerships. Most geographically and operationally analogous to CQDM, both being Quebec-anchored biomedical research consortia with government support.
- Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO): Ontario health science industry consortium supporting early-stage companies. Comparable to CQDM as a Canadian regional life sciences consortium bridging research, industry, and capital, though focused more on medtech and digital health.
- Mitacs: Canadian not-for-profit funding research internships and industry-academic collaborations. Comparable to CQDM in its federally and provincially backed model that channels academic talent into commercializable research.
- Bioenterprise Canada: Canada's national agri-food and biotech accelerator with consortium-style funding. Comparable to CQDM as a Canadian accelerator that supports commercialization of life sciences R&D through partnerships and grants.
Broad incumbents
- Creative Destruction Lab: Canada-based seed-stage accelerator for science and technology ventures. Comparable to CQDM in its role within the Canadian startup ecosystem but broader in sector coverage and more oriented toward traditional venture-style acceleration.
- MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub supporting Canadian science and technology ventures. Comparable to CQDM as a major Canadian R&D commercialization hub but broader and located outside Quebec.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Global Health): Large philanthropic global health research funder supporting product development partnerships. Comparable to CQDM as a health research grantmaker funding translational science, though at vastly greater scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
CQDM social profiles
Digital presenceCQDM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CQDM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
CQDM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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CQDM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments11 records
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Frequently asked questions about CQDM
What does CQDM do?
CQDM is a Quebec-based research funding consortium that finances and coordinates drug discovery collaborations between academic researchers, biotechnology startups, and the pharmaceutical industry. It deploys government-backed grants and participates in startup accelerator programs to accelerate translational research in areas such as neuroscience, gene editing, and digital health.
Is CQDM a public or private company?
CQDM is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was CQDM founded?
CQDM was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CQDM based?
CQDM is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, in the North America region.
Who are CQDM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brain Canada, Genome Canada, adMare BioInnovations, Genome Québec, Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO), Mitacs and Bioenterprise Canada. Broad incumbents are Creative Destruction Lab, MaRS Discovery District and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Global Health).
Does CQDM have an API?
No public API is recorded for CQDM.
What industry is CQDM in?
CQDM's product category is Biopharmaceutical Research Funding. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAL, Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of FSANAHAE, Joint Venture CVC / Consortium Funds (Multi-corporate). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 6159.