What Coalia does

Coalia is a non-profit College Centre for Technology Transfer (CCTT) affiliated with Cégep de Thetford, founded in 1984 and headquartered in Thetford Mines, Quebec. The organization delivers applied research services and technical support across three core domains: mineral technology (mineral processing, geometallurgy, characterization, and critical/strategic minerals), plastics engineering (polymer formulation, process optimization, recycling, and additive manufacturing), and advanced materials (nanomaterials, nanocomposites, and functional coatings supported by an NSERC Industrial Research Chair). It operates over 200 cutting-edge instruments across dedicated laboratories, including a $2+ million ultra-high-resolution FE-SEM platform, an ED-XRF spectrometer, and a multi-technology 3D printing laboratory.

The business model is project-based contract research for industrial clients, supplemented by specialized training and technology transfer. Revenue is generated primarily through applied research contracts, technical consulting, and structured public funding from federal and Quebec agencies (NSERC/CRSNG, FRQNT, MEIE, CFI), with clients eligible for refundable SR&ED tax credits. Customer engagement is direct B2B, supported by network referrals from Synchronex (59 CCTT, 1,400 experts) and Tech-Access Canada. Coalia has developed proprietary technologies including the patented FFF-R additive manufacturing process (CA 3177826, WO 2023/235959), exclusively licensed to Fablab Inc., and has established itself as the sole provider in Quebec of CPP aggregate polish resistance testing for road safety.

In February 2026, Coalia joined 3R Minéral and Kemitek in launching DuGrisAuVert, an integrated industrial platform for critical and strategic minerals and rare earth elements covering TRL 3 to TRL 8. The consolidated research revenues of Cégep de Thetford (Coalia and Kemitek) exceeded $8.6M CAD in 2020–2021, up 33.8% year-over-year, serving 124+ industry partners across Quebec and Canada.

Name

Coalia

Legal name

Coalia

Website

https://coalia.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coalia is a non-profit College Centre for Technology Transfer (CCTT) in Quebec providing applied research, technical assistance, and specialized testing in mineral technology, plastics engineering, and advanced materials to industrial clients across Quebec and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Thetford Mines

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Applied Research Services: COALIA provides applied research and technical assistance services related to the development or optimization of innovative processes and products for companies and organizations in the plastics, mineral technologies, and advanced materials sectors. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with industrial partners.
2. Technical Support and Consulting: Advisory and consulting services for businesses, strategic support for development, communications, marketing and launch strategies, and technical information research and monitoring.
3. Training Services: Personalized and customized training programs in mineral technology and plastics engineering sectors, as well as individualized or specialized in-house training. Collaboration with Cégep de Thetford's continuing education department.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Coalia provides applied research services and technical support for businesses and organizations in mineral technology, plastic engineering, and advanced materials sectors. The centre operates over 200 cutting-edge instruments across three expertise areas, offering personalized customer support, diagnostic services, assistance with innovation management strategy, and technology transfer through project-based contracts with industrial partners.

Product overview

COALIA is a College Centre for Technology Transfer (CCTT) affiliated with Cégep de Thetford, providing applied research services and technical support for over 40 years. The organization operates three core service areas: Mineral Technology (mineral processing, characterization, geometallurgy, and critical minerals), Plastics Engineering (polymer formulation, processing, recycling, and additive manufacturing), and Advanced Materials (nanomaterials, nanocomposites, and functional coatings supported by an NSERC Industrial Research Chair). Key facilities include a 3D printing laboratory with FDM, SLA, DLP, CLIP, and SLS technologies, a FE-SEM microscopy platform worth over $2M, and an ED-XRF spectrometry service. COALIA offers specialized testing services including aggregate polish resistance testing (only provider in Quebec) and virucidal coating development. The organization supports business innovation through training, financial aid programs, and access to extensive networks including Synchronex (59 CCTT, 1,400 experts) and Tech-Access Canada. Over 200 cutting-edge instruments are available across the facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mineral Technology Services
• Plastics Engineering Services
• Advanced Materials Research
• 3D Printing Laboratory Laboratory equipped with FDM, SLA, DLP, CLIP, and SLS 3D printing technologies for research and training, with open-configuration printers for high-performance thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers processing.
• FE-SEM Microscopy Platform Ultra high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) platform with 0.9 nm resolution at 15 keV, including EDS detectors for TIMA analysis, EBSD detector, and comprehensive sample preparation equipment for material characterization and valorization.
• ED-XRF Spectrometry Service Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for non-destructive elemental analysis of all elements from fluorine to americium, covering ppm to mass percentage concentrations, for critical minerals, rare earths, and toxic element quantification.
• Aggregate Polish Resistance Testing
• Industrial Platform for Critical and Strategic Minerals Integrated industrial development platform for critical and strategic minerals (CSM) and rare earth elements, providing development and optimization of hydrometallurgical processes, technological validation and pre-industrial piloting, and industrial demonstration in real conditions.
• Training Services
• Business Innovation Support
• Additive Manufacturing Training (AEC)

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced development timelines by up to 50% and pilot costs by a factor of 10 for critical mineral extraction projects through the DuGrisAuVert industrial platform
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• 3R MinéralcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Strategic alliance within the DuGrisAuVert initiative to deploy an integrated industrial platform for critical and strategic minerals (CSM) development and demonstration at Thetford Mines. 3R Minéral provides its industrial demonstration plant for hydrometallurgy processes, enabling COALIA and Kemitek to cover the full TRL 3 to TRL 8 technology maturity continuum.
• KemitekcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Kemitek is a CCTT specialized in green chemistry and chemical process scale-up, founded in 2002. Together with COALIA and 3R Minéral, forms the DuGrisAuVert industrial platform for critical minerals, combining expertise in green chemistry, mineral technologies, and industrial demonstration capabilities.
• Université d'OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in the Nordic Geopolymers project, specifically supporting scientific development including 3D printing capabilities for northern construction applications.
• Skyrenu TechnologiesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Nordic Geopolymers project, testing carbon capture capacity of materials under real-world conditions using regional industrial and mining residues.
• Conseil cri sur l'exploration minéralestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous partner in the Nordic Geopolymers project, contributing to sample collection and validation of solutions according to local needs and traditional knowledge, specifically in Wemindji community.
• Complexe de valorisation énergétique de Québec (CVE)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner providing fly ash and boiler ash through the Ville de Québec's residual materials management service for initial geopolymers testing in sustainable development approach.
• Troilus GoldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMining company collaborating on developing field test protocols to predict water quality from mine tailings and waste rock. Project spans 2021-2024 with CNRC, MDAG, and Firme Lamont.
• MérinovstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCTT partner collaborating on fishing net recycling project, recovering end-of-life fishing nets for polyamide recycling research alongside COALIA and industrial partners.
• SynchronexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of 59 College Centres for Technology Transfer (CCTT) with 1,400 experts. COALIA is a member, providing access to broader expertise and collaborative opportunities across the network.
• Tech-Access CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational network of Technology Access Centres across Canada. COALIA collaborates through this network to provide access to external experts and specialized capabilities for clients.
• NanoXplorestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner in the CRSNG Industrial Research Chair for Advanced Materials, collaborating on development of innovative nanocomposite products for commercialization.
• SoucystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner in the CRSNG Industrial Research Chair for Advanced Materials, working on innovative material development to improve competitive advantage.
• SopremastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner in the CRSNG Industrial Research Chair for Advanced Materials, collaborating on materials innovation projects.
• SilicyclestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner in the CRSNG Industrial Research Chair for Advanced Materials for innovative material development.
• CelluForcestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner in the CRSNG Industrial Research Chair for Advanced Materials, collaborating on cellulose nanocrystal applications.
• TEKNAstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner in the CRSNG Industrial Research Chair for Advanced Materials for advanced materials research.
• SalomonstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner in the CRSNG Industrial Research Chair for Advanced Materials for innovative material development and technology transfer.
• Polytechnique MontréalstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the 2PURES (Platform for Polymers Upcycling and Recycling Sustainable) project for polymer recycling and upcycling research, collaborating with COALIA, CÉPROCQ, and HEC Montréal.
• HEC MontréalstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the 2PURES polymer recycling project, providing business and economic analysis expertise for sustainable polymer valorization.
• CÉPROCQ (Collège de Maisonneuve)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCTT partner in the 2PURES polymer recycling project, collaborating with COALIA, Polytechnique Montréal, and HEC Montréal.
• Université LavalstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in dental and maxillofacial implant innovation platform, leading multidisciplinary research combining engineering, microbiology, materials science, and implantology.
• Centre de文明llurgie du Québec (CMQ)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner in dental implant innovation platform, contributing metallurgical expertise for advanced materials development.
• Fablab Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed exclusive commercialization rights for the FFF-R (Fused Filament Fabrication with Radiation) technology, offering printing heads equipped with COALIA's module.
• Cégep de ThetfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOALIA is a CCTT (Centre Collégial de Transfert de Technologie) affiliated with the Cégep de Thetford. The partnership provides academic resources, student talent, and institutional support for research activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• PRIMA Québec: Advanced materials research and innovation cluster in Quebec. COALIA's advanced materials group intersects with PRIMA's mandate on nanomaterials, nanocomposites, and functional coatings, and many of COALIA's industrial chair partners are PRIMA members — making it a closely adjacent ecosystem player rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Intertek: Global quality assurance and testing company with mineral, polymer, and advanced materials service lines. Overlaps with COALIA's analytical and applied research capabilities, particularly around mineral characterization and polymer testing, but operates as a commercial-scale incumbent with global delivery.
• CanmetMINING (Natural Resources Canada): Federal mining research program under Natural Resources Canada. Comparable in mineral processing, critical minerals, and tailings/water-quality research — overlapping with COALIA's mineral sector — but at much larger scale, broader mandate, and direct federal funding rather than CCTT/grant-based model.
• SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification giant with extensive mining, materials, and environmental service lines. Broad incumbent comparable to COALIA's mineral characterization and aggregate-testing services, but at vastly larger scale with commercial (for-profit) operations and international footprint.
• NRC-IRAP (National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program): Federal program providing industrial R&D support and funding to Canadian SMEs. Not a direct competitor, but a co-funding mechanism for many of COALIA's industrial partners and a national-scale reference point for applied research service delivery to Canadian industry.

Direct peers

• Innofibre: Cégep de Trois-Rivières CCTT focused on cellulose fibers and biomaterials. Direct analogue to COALIA's advanced materials work — both deliver pilot-scale applied research, share Synchronex membership, and operate similar non-profit technology-transfer models.
• Merinov: Quebec CCTT specializing in fishing, aquaculture, and agri-food. Partners with COALIA on fishing-net polyamide recycling; comparable in structure (CCTT model), funding mechanisms (NSERC/MESI), and B2B applied research service delivery to industrial clients.
• CÉPROCQ (Collège de Maisonneuve): Montreal-based CCTT focused on polymer chemistry and industrial scale-up. Collaborates with COALIA on the 2PURES polymer recycling project and shares the CCTT funding model, Quebec-based customer base, and applied research positioning.
• Kemitek: Quebec-based CCTT affiliated with Cégep de Lévis, specializing in green chemistry and chemical process scale-up. A strategic partner in the DuGrisAuVert platform with a near-identical CCTT operating model, sharing funding mechanisms, network membership, and project-based revenue streams.

Regional players

• Centre de métallurgie du Québec (CMQ): Quebec-based applied research centre specializing in metallurgy and materials characterization. Direct overlap with COALIA's mineral technology and FE-SEM-based analytical services; partner in the dental implant platform project. Comparable as a regional applied research centre but focused more narrowly on metals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Coaliathetford
• Facebookfacebook.com/coaliathetford
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coaliathetford

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Coalia