Crim

What Crim does

CRIM (Centre de Recherche Informatique de Montréal) is a non-profit applied AI research center founded in 1985 in Montreal, Quebec. Operating since April 2024 as part of Luqia Technologies following its merger with INO, CRIM provides experimental development, R&D consulting, AI training, and project management services to Quebec and Canadian organizations — spanning large enterprises, SMEs, government bodies, and research institutions. The organization maintains a 59-person scientific core (plus post-docs and interns), a 251-member subscription ecosystem, and ISO 9001:2015 certification, with primary financial backing from Quebec's MEIE.

The technology stack is deep and AI-native: NLP, computer vision, speech/audio processing, multimodal fusion, generative AI, RAG, anomaly/deepfake detection, and optimization, supported by 39 scientific publications in 2024-25 and top results at NIST SRE 2024. CRIM codifies a proprietary "Trust by Design" / Trusted AI methodology and leads the $4.5M Confiance IA national consortium. Productized offerings include NUMERIA (SME first-project mentoring, 60 companies supported in 2024-25), ACTIVATION IA (a 70-hour, $3,150-per-company training pathway), and DÉCLIC AI (a deployment program offering up to 45% cost coverage under Quebec's Digital Transformation Offensive).

The revenue model is diversified across government core funding (MEIE) and project subsidies, fee-for-service R&D contracts, annual membership subscriptions, paid training programs, and financing-facilitation services. GTM is consultative and hybrid: direct enterprise engagement by named business advisors, a community/membership funnel, event-driven demand generation (41 events/year, 1,266 participants in 2024-25), and strategic co-delivery partnerships (Vooban, Quadbridge, SystemX, Ouranos, universities).

Name

Crim

Legal name

Centre de recherche informatique de Montréal

Website

https://crim.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CRIM is a Montreal-based non-profit applied AI research center (founded 1985, now part of Luqia) that delivers R&D consulting, training, and SME AI-adoption programs to Quebec enterprises, SMEs, and government organizations, supported by 251 member organizations and Quebec MEIE government funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Applied Research and R&D Services: CRIM generates revenue through fee-for-service R&D contracts, experimental development, and consulting engagements with private companies and public organizations. Projects are billed based on scope, duration, and resource requirements, with support from the project office for budget governance.
2. Membership Fees: CRIM charges annual membership fees providing access to the innovation ecosystem, discounted services, event access, and networking. Membership categories include large enterprises, SMEs, startups, associations, government institutions, and parapublic organizations.
3. Training Programs (ACTIVATION IA, NUMERIA): Structured AI training programs such as ACTIVATION IA ($3,150 per company for 2 people, 70 hours, 12 weeks) and NUMERIA mentoring, generating revenue from program fees with potential government co-funding.
4. Government Funding and Subsidies: CRIM receives core operational funding from the Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie du Québec (MEIE) as a public research center. Additional project-specific funding comes from federal and provincial subsidy programs, including Digital Transformation Offensive for DÉCLIC AI.
5. Financing Facilitation Services: CRIM facilitates connections between clients and financing partners (banks, federal/provincial subsidies) as a value-added service, leveraging its 40-year network. This service is offered as part of its broader offering rather than as a standalone revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CRIM is a non-profit applied research center that delivers paid R&D services, experimental development, and consulting in artificial intelligence for Quebec organizations. It complements custom engagements with structured AI adoption programs (NUMERIA, ACTIVATION IA, DÉCLIC AI), the Confiance IA consortium on trusted AI, project-management services, financing facilitation, and a 251-member innovation ecosystem. It serves large enterprises, SMEs, and government/parapublic bodies with multidisciplinary expertise in NLP, computer vision, speech, optimization, and generative AI.

Product overview

CRIM (Centre de Recherche Informatique de Montréal) is a non-profit applied research center providing AI and data science services, now operating as part of Luqia after merging with INO. The organization offers a portfolio of programs and services including: NUMERIA (AI adoption support for SMEs), ACTIVATION IA (AI training pathway), DÉCLIC AI (structured AI deployment program), and Confiance IA (trusted AI consortium). Core services encompass experimental development, project management, industrial innovation support, financing facilitation, and AI advisory consulting. The AI Success Stories podcast showcases completed projects. CRIM also maintains strategic partnerships like the one with Quadbridge for mid-market AI accessibility. The organization focuses on turning scientific advances into concrete solutions for Quebec organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NUMERIA: Program facilitating access to artificial intelligence for SMEs, helping Quebec SMEs overcome challenges of a first AI project.
• Activation IA
• DÉCLIC AI
• Confiance IA

Products and services

• NUMERIA (From Digital to AI) NUMERIA is a CRIM program that supports Quebec SMEs in implementing their first AI project, based on a solid data strategy. It provides AI education, mentoring by CRIM experts, and data evaluation guidance. In 2024-2025, 60 companies benefited from NUMERIA support.
• ACTIVATION IA ACTIVATION IA is a structured AI learning pathway for Quebec SMEs to master and integrate AI into their operations. It includes 9 modules, 70 hours of learning over 12 weeks, and is priced at $3,150 CAD per company for 2 people, with financial participation from the Government of Quebec.
• DÉCLIC AI DÉCLIC AI is a program from Luqia/CRIM designed for Quebec SMEs to move from identified AI projects to concrete deployment, with the right partner, right price, and a rigorous risk-reduction framework. It targets at least 40 AI challenges, including 10 projects receiving in-depth support.
• Confiance IA consortium Confiance IA is a major consortium supported by $4.5 million in government funding, focused on developing tools and methods for designing reliable, robust and fair AI systems. CRIM leads this Quebec national initiative on trusted AI engineering.
• Project Office Services Project Office Services at CRIM provide rigorous project management methodology ensuring AI projects are delivered on time and on budget, using agile or traditional methods adapted to project type and uncertainty level. The Project Office governs budgets across 73 projects and 79 short-term interventions in 2024-2025.
• Industrial Innovation Support for Large Enterprises Applied research and experimental development services targeted at large enterprises, helping them de-risk complex AI initiatives and accelerate development while maximizing impact. Examples include co-development of CGI's STORM module and L'Oréal Canada's personalized recommendation algorithms.
• Financing Facilitation Financing Facilitation provides access to financing programs and connections with financial partners including banks, provincial and federal subsidies, helping companies identify the right funding sources for AI projects.
• AI Advisory Services Business and partnership consultants (e.g., Maximilien Martin Briat, Franck Boulbès, Tatiana Ruiz) provide strategic support for responsible AI adoption, including project structuring, technical expert access, and financing identification.
• Membership Program Annual membership program with 251 member organizations (large enterprises, SMEs, startups, government bodies, parapublic organizations) providing reduced rates on services, event access, networking opportunities, and visibility on CRIM channels. Membership includes up to 15% discounts on CRIM services.

Quantifiable outcome

• In 2024-2025, CRIM served 200 organizations with 53% being SMEs, completed 73 projects and 79 short-term interventions.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability14 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• QuadbridgeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Luqia (the merged CRIM + INO entity) and Quadbridge announced a strategic collaboration to make advanced AI capabilities more accessible to mid-market organizations. The collaboration combines Luqia's deep AI expertise (text, voice, structured data, imaging) with Quadbridge's experience integrating AI into broader technology and business transformation strategies. Mid-market companies gain a more complete path from AI innovation to practical deployment.
• TechnologiacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in the ACTIVATION IA training program for SMEs, alongside AÇAÏ Conseils and TechnoCompétences. Co-delivers the 70-hour AI learning program with CRIM/Luqia's content and expertise.
• AÇAÏ ConseilscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in the ACTIVATION IA training program. Antoine Cossé, founder of AÇAÏ, serves as the lead trainer for the program. AÇAÏ brings expertise in digital and data-driven technology transformation and strategic consulting.
• TechnoCompétencesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in the ACTIVATION IA training program, bringing expertise in continuous professional development and workforce training in Quebec's technology sector.
• SystemX (IRT SystemX, France)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2025CRIM and SystemX formalized their collaboration to accelerate the development of trusted AI. The agreement was signed on June 15, 2025 in Paris, with Françoys Labonté (CRIM/Luqia CEO) and Henri-Paul Rousseau (Quebec Delegate General in Paris) present. This international partnership strengthens cross-border AI research collaboration.
• CINECAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025CRIM established a partnership with CINECA, a major European high-performance computing actor, during a mission in Italy in the framework of the G7. This partnership supports international collaboration on AI and climate data.
• VoobancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024CRIM announced a strategic partnership with Vooban, a leading Quebec digital solutions and AI company with 200+ experts. The partnership was announced at ALL IN 2024, Canada's largest AI event. Combining CRIM's 40-year R&D expertise with Vooban's execution strength creates an integrated solution from ideation to production for AI projects.
• INO (Institut national d'optique)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024CRIM and INO merged on April 1, 2024 to form Luqia, the largest industrial innovation laboratory for AI and photonics in Canada. This merger combines CRIM's AI expertise with INO's advanced photonics capabilities. The merged entity is headquartered in Quebec and serves businesses across Quebec and Canada. Leadership includes Alain Chandonnet (President, funding and strategy) and Françoys Labonté (CEO, operations).
• OuranosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024CRIM partnered with Ouranos, the Quebec regional climatology innovation cluster, to develop ClimateData.ca (Donnéesclimatiques.ca), a collaborative portal making climate data accessible across Canada for decision-makers to conduct simulations and climate adaptation planning.
• Canadian Centre for Climate Services (CCSC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCSC of Environment and Climate Change Canada partially funds and supports the ClimateData.ca portal developed with CRIM's contribution, enabling wide access to historical and projected climate data.
• University of Ottawa Information Integrity LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRIM collaborates with the University of Ottawa's Information Integrity Lab to counter misinformation amplified by generative AI. A joint event was held on March 27 on visual and multimodal disinformation, and a joint report was published.
• CRIQminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CRIQ (Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec) for collaborative R&D projects, contributing to the expansion of CRIM's network in Quebec's industrial ecosystem.
• Precarn Associates Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Precarn Associates Inc. for collaborative R&D projects, contributing to the expansion of CRIM's innovation network.
• LogiagcoreTechnology or IntegrationCRIM partnered with Logiag and INO to develop LaserAg Quantum, an AI-integrated instrument for measuring soil organic carbon. This 10-year R&D project was validated by Quebec regulation and is now operational in several laboratories, representing a major innovation for carbon market regulation.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mila: Mila is the Montreal-based AI research institute co-founded by Yoshua Bengio, focused on fundamental and applied AI research with strong industry partnership programs. It shares CRIM's geographic base, AI specialization, and Quebec ecosystem relationships, and competes for similar talent and government AI funding.
• IVADO: IVADO is a Montreal-based AI/data research consortium linking HEC, Polytechnique, and Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al with industry partners, offering AI training programs and applied research services. Its training pathways, industry partnerships, and Montreal ecosystem presence make it the most direct functional overlap with CRIM's NUMERIA and ACTIVATION IA programs.
• Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii): Amii is an Edmonton-based AI research institute with a similar applied-AI mandate, industry partnership programs (ML Foundations, ML Tech, ML Science), and government-backed operating model. Comparable in mission to CRIM/Luqia as a non-university AI research institute serving Canadian enterprises.
• Vector Institute: Vector Institute is a Toronto-based AI research institute backed by government and industry, offering industry partnership programs, AI training, and applied research services. Operates the same Canadian AI research-institute model as CRIM/Luqia, with overlapping client base among large Canadian enterprises.
• Mitacs: Mitacs is a Canadian not-for-profit research funding network that links academia, industry, and government through internship and Accelerate programs. Its industry-academic bridge model and SME-facing program structure closely parallel CRIM's NUMERIA/ACTIVATION IA programs, and the two organizations co-fund engagements.
• INO (now part of Luqia): INO was Canada's largest applied photonics research center before merging with CRIM in April 2024 to form Luqia. As the merger counterparty, INO shares CRIM's non-profit, government-funded, contract-research model and serves overlapping industrial clients \u2014 relevant as a historical comparable and as the integrated half of the current Luqia entity.

Broad incumbents

• National Research Council of Canada (NRC): The NRC is Canada's federal applied research organization that operates the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) \u2014 CRIM is itself an NRC-IRAP partner. NRC's broader portfolio spans manufacturing, aerospace, health, and digital technologies, positioning it as the federal-scale counterpart to CRIM's Quebec-focused applied research model.
• Fraunhofer Society: Fraunhofer is Germany's national applied research network of 76 institutes running contract R&D for industry with significant government base funding. CRIM/Luqia operates the same not-for-profit, government-subsidized contract research model for AI and photonics in Quebec, making Fraunhofer the most direct international structural comparable.

Emerging players

• Borealis AI: Borealis AI is RBC's in-house applied AI research lab with research focus on NLP, graph learning, and reinforcement learning. While narrower in mandate (financial-services-only) and corporate-owned rather than non-profit, its applied-research-with-publication model and Canadian base make it functionally adjacent to CRIM's research arm.

Others

• CGI Group: CGI is a Canadian IT services and consulting giant that co-developed the STORM module with CRIM for power-grid restoration. As a delivery-scale systems integrator with deep Canadian enterprise and government relationships, CGI is both a CRIM partner and a potential substitute for clients who choose to procure AI delivery through large systems integrators instead of specialized research centers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wwwCRIMca
• Facebookfacebook.com/CRIM-419393221455592
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crim
• Instagraminstagram.com/crim_ia
• Xx.com/CRIM_ca

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Crim