Association pour l'enseignement de la science et de la technologie au Québec (AESTQ)

What Association pour l'enseignement de la science et de la technologie au Québec (AESTQ) does

AESTQ is a non-profit professional association founded in 1966 (per the company-history source; firmographics state 1964) and headquartered in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, dedicated to improving the quality of science and technology teaching across Quebec from preschool through doctoral levels. Its mission centers on unifying and supporting more than 5,000 practitioners — teachers, professors, pedagogical advisors, didacticians, lab technicians, students, and retirees — through membership services, professional development, publications, and policy advocacy. The association operates with a small staff of approximately five employees and is sustained by more than 300 annual volunteers coordinated through working groups and a member-elected board of directors.

AESTQ's product surface is anchored by the Spectre journal, the only French-language publication entirely dedicated to science and technology teaching, issued quarterly in open-access digital format since 2012 (Volume 55 published May 2026). The portfolio also includes approximately six assessment companion guides for Quebec secondary programs (Premier cycle, Deuxième cycle, STE, ATS, SE, and Physics), primary and secondary safety and security guides, annual reports, policy briefs (avis, rapports, mémoires), and a monthly newsletter (info-AESTQ) reaching nearly 4,500 subscribers. The association publishes exclusively in French and is geographically scoped to Quebec.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual subscription-style membership fees: $70 for regular members, $40 for full-time students, and a reduced rate for retirees at the individual level, plus $260/year for non-profit associate organizations and $400/year for for-profit associate organizations (access requires board approval). Secondary revenue sources include one-time digital publication sales (e.g., Fascicule No. 3 at $15.00), newsletter advertising, and a fundraising campaign 'Cap sur l'Avenir' targeting $25,000. Distribution is overwhelmingly digital and direct: the aestq.org website, monthly newsletter, social channels (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), and co-organized annual congresses with strategic partner GRMS (next edition November 6-7, 2025). The organization is governed by a board that was entirely renewed at an Extraordinary General Meeting on April 15, 2025, and currently operates as a self-described 'conseil de crise' due to the loss of organizational permanence.

Name

Association pour l'enseignement de la science et de la technologie au Québec (AESTQ)

Legal name

Association pour l'enseignement de la science et de la technologie au Québec (AESTQ)

Website

https://aestq.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AESTQ is a Quebec non-profit professional association founded in 1966 that serves more than 5,000 science and technology educators from preschool through doctoral levels, providing membership services, the Spectre journal, training, safety and assessment guides, and policy advocacy in French.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education Association (Science and Technology Teaching)

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Compliance, Risk & Audit Support Services (EHS, Title IX/Clery Support, Policy Admin) (EDAEALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE) (EDAAALAO)

Keywords

• Professional education association
• Science teaching resources
• STEM teacher development
• Educational publishing services
• Curriculum support guides

Headquarters

HQ city

Trois-Rivières

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individual members. Regular members pay $70/year; students pay $40/year; retirees pay a reduced rate. Membership provides access to training, publications, expert networks, voting rights, and the ability to run for the Board of Directors.
2. Associate Organization Membership Fees: Organizations (non-profits and for-profit companies) linked to science and technology education in Quebec can become associate members for an annual fee: $260/year for non-profits (OBNL) and $400/year for for-profit enterprises. Associate members receive visibility on the AESTQ website, in event programs, access to all communications and the Spectre magazine, and free exclusive activities for their staff.
3. Sale of Publications and Guides: The AESTQ sells digital guides, including safety and security guides for science and technology teaching at primary and secondary levels. Example: Fascicule No. 3 on risks in primary science activities is priced at $15.00 plus applicable taxes.
4. Newsletter Advertising Space: The association sells advertising space in its monthly newsletter, which reaches nearly 4,500 subscribers during the school year. Contact via [email protected] for advertising rates.
5. Donations: The AESTQ solicits donations through fundraising campaigns such as 'Cap sur l'Avenir : Ensemble pour l'AESTQ', with a stated goal of $25,000 to support innovative projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

AESTQ is a non-profit professional association that supports science and technology educators across Quebec from preschool through doctoral levels. It provides individual and organizational memberships, publishes the French-language Spectre journal, develops safety and assessment guides, runs training activities, advocates on science education policy, and convenes an annual congress with GRMS.

Product overview

AESTQ is a professional non-profit association that provides educational resources and professional development for science and technology teachers in Quebec. The organization offers a portfolio of products centered around its flagship publication, the Revue Spectre (a quarterly French-language journal on science and technology education), complemented by a monthly newsletter sent to 4,500 subscribers, comprehensive health and safety guides for both primary and secondary school science classes, six evaluation companion guides covering different secondary school programs (Premier cycle, Deuxième cycle, STE, ATS, SE, and Physics), annual reports, and position papers. The organization also operates membership programs for individual educators and associate organizational members, providing exclusive access to training, networking, expert consultations, and publications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spectre: The only French-language review entirely dedicated to science and technology teaching, published four times per year in digital open-access format since 2012.

Products and services

• Revue Spectre Quarterly French-language peer-reviewed journal entirely dedicated to science and technology education, distributed in open-access digital format. For science and technology educators at all levels in Quebec.
• Infolettre (Monthly Newsletter) Monthly email newsletter distributed during the school year to approximately 4,500 subscribers, covering association events, training opportunities, and participation activities for members and their students.
• Individual Membership Program Annual membership for individual science and technology educators in Quebec (regular, student, and retired tiers), providing access to exclusive training activities, networking, expert Q&A, voting rights, eligibility for Board service, and privileged access to publications.
• Associate Member Program Annual membership for non-profit and for-profit organizations linked to science and technology education in Quebec, offering visibility on the website and in event programs, access to all AESTQ communications including Spectre, and free exclusive activities for staff.
• Guides en santé et sécurité (Primary and Secondary) Safety and health guides for primary and secondary school science and technology classes, addressing frequently asked questions about practices and safety measures for laboratories, workshops, and learning contexts. Example: Fascicule No. 3 on risks in primary science activities is priced at $15.00 plus applicable taxes.
• Guides d'accompagnement en évaluation des apprentissages (6 guides) Companion assessment guides for the first cycle of secondary school, the second cycle of secondary school, the Science and Technology (STE) program, the Applied Science and Technology (ATS) program, the Science and the Environment (SE) program, and Physics at the secondary level. Aligned with Quebec curricula.
• Rapports annuels (Annual Reports) Annual reports summarizing the association's main achievements and activities for the previous fiscal year and prior years.
• Avis, rapports et mémoires (Position Papers and Briefs) Position papers, reports, and briefs produced by the AESTQ on educational policy and science/technology teaching matters in Quebec, including submissions to the Ministère de l'Éducation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 education practitioners served as members across all levels of Quebec's education system.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Fonds de recherche du QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AESTQ was commissioned by the Fonds de recherche du Québec to document and analyze the range of 'Chercheurs d'un jour' (Researchers for a Day) programs and other authentic science and technology learning situations offered to secondary school students in the province. The resulting report highlighted the richness of authentic learning activities offered by the college network and the underutilization of 'Researchers for a Day' programs at the secondary level.
• GRMS (Groupe des responsables en mathématique et science)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AESTQ co-organizes an annual congress for the secondary level with GRMS. The next edition is scheduled for November 6-7, 2025 (GRMS52 edition), featuring Guillaume Cyr as keynote speaker. This partnership combines the AESTQ's science and technology education expertise with GRMS's mathematics and science leadership network.
• À la découverte de l'universminorOthersAssociate member of the AESTQ. An organization dedicated to astronomy education and outreach, aligned with the AESTQ's mission to promote scientific culture in Quebec.
• CDSPminorOthersAssociate member of the AESTQ. Organization linked to science and technology education in Quebec.
• CTEQ (Centre de transfert d'entreprise du Québec)minorOthersAssociate member of the AESTQ. The CTEQ is a knowledge transfer center in Quebec that supports innovation and technology adoption, aligned with the AESTQ's educational mission.
• Cœur des sciences (UQAM)minorOthersAssociate member of the AESTQ. The Cœur des sciences is the science outreach center of UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal), dedicated to popularizing science for the general public and schools.
• Génome QuébecminorOthersAssociate member of the AESTQ. Génome Québec is a non-profit organization focused on genomics research, education, and outreach, with an education and training component.
• G3EminorOthersAssociate member of the AESTQ. G3E (Éducation relative à l'environnement — Environmental Education) is a network promoting environmental education in Quebec schools.
• Les ScientifinesminorOthersAssociate member of the AESTQ. An organization dedicated to informal science education, particularly for girls and underrepresented groups in science.
• Microbes pour tousminorOthersAssociate member of the AESTQ. An organization dedicated to microbiology education and outreach.
• Parité SciencesmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate member and strategic partner of the AESTQ. Founded by Mirjam Fines-Neuschild, Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo, and Jean-François Arguin from Université de Montréal. Parité Sciences aims to achieve gender parity in STEM fields through education interventions. The AESTQ Spectre journal (Volume 54, March 2025) featured Parité Sciences as its featured partner, with articles on gender parity in STEM.
• TechnoScience Canada / Région du QuébecminorOthersAssociate member of the AESTQ. TechnoScience Canada is a national organization promoting science and technology education; the Quebec region/branch is affiliated with the AESTQ.
• SOFADminorOthersAssociate member of the AESTQ. SOFAD (Société de formation à distance des adultes du Québec) provides distance education solutions for adults in Quebec.
• UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal)minorOthersAssociate member of the AESTQ. UQAM's science faculty and programs are affiliated with the association, contributing to the university-level dimension of the AESTQ's reach.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ACFAS (Association francophone pour le savoir): Major Quebec-based francophone association promoting scientific knowledge and research, with overlapping educator and researcher audiences in Quebec. Comparable as a French-language scientific professional community connecting researchers and educators.
• ASTE (Association for Science Teacher Education, US): US-based professional organization for science teacher educators focused on pre-service and in-service teacher preparation. Comparable as a science teacher education professional association producing publications and convening educators.
• AQEP (Association québécoise des enseignantes et enseignants du primaire): Quebec primary education teachers' association serving a related population of frontline Quebec educators. Comparable as a Quebec professional membership association serving teachers and producing pedagogical resources and publications.
• TechnoScience Canada: National Canadian network promoting science and technology education, with a Quebec regional affiliate that is an AESTQ associate member. Directly comparable as a science and technology education membership organization operating in Canada.
• GRMS (Groupe des responsables en mathématique et science): Quebec-based network of mathematics and science education leaders with which AESTQ co-organizes its annual congress. Directly comparable as a Quebec-focused math/science education professional community with overlapping educator membership and complementary subject-matter focus.

Broad incumbents

• NSTA (National Science Teaching Association): Largest US-based professional association for science educators, publishing journals, running conferences, and producing teaching resources. Comparable as a science teaching professional association with a much larger scale and broader scope than AESTQ.

Regional players

• EASE (European Association for Science Education): Pan-European association for science education researchers and practitioners. Comparable as a professional association dedicated to advancing science education through conferences and publications, but operating at European rather than Quebec scale.
• ASE (Association for Science Education, UK): UK-based professional association for science educators, one of the largest in Europe. Comparable as a national science teaching professional association with similar membership, publication, and conference model, but operating in a different geography.

Others

• Cœur des sciences (UQAM): UQAM's science outreach center dedicated to popularizing science for the general public and schools, currently an AESTQ associate member. Comparable as a Quebec science education ecosystem partner with overlapping audience but operating as a university outreach unit rather than a professional association.
• Les Scientifines: Quebec-based informal science education organization focused on girls and underrepresented groups in science, currently an AESTQ associate member. Comparable as a Quebec science education community organization with overlapping mission but focused on informal education and equity rather than formal classroom teaching.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AESTQ2
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6Jio1Cje7gN1UUljD6KYAg
• Facebookfacebook.com/aestq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aestq
• Instagraminstagram.com/aestq2

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association pour l'enseignement de la science et de la technologie au Québec (AESTQ)