Frequently Asked Questions
If you’d like to know more about the Pro-Santé initiative, its objectives and how you can participate in calls for proposals, you’ll find all the answers here.
General information
What is the mission of the Pro-Santé initiative in Quebec?
The mission of the Pro-Santé initiative in Quebec is to promote a collaborative, transdisciplinary approach to the challenges of chronic disease burden, starting with obesity. By bringing together partners from a variety of sectors (health, research, education, urban planning, business, communities, etc.), the initiative aims to fund the development of innovative, sustainable solutions tailored to the needs of Quebec individuals and communities. Pro-Santé seeks to improve the overall health of the population, while helping to achieve sustainable health objectives at local, provincial and beyond levels.
Why start with obesity?
Quebec is facing an unprecedented health challenge, largely due to rising rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. The resulting rise in costs is putting considerable pressure on healthcare systems. Preventing and managing obesity is one of the most effective ways of improving the health of Quebecers, reducing healthcare costs and boosting productivity, as obesity is the biggest risk factor for many of these diseases.
Which institutions are involved in the Pro-Santé initiative?
The Pro-Santé initiative is supported by several key institutions in Quebec:
- Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQ)
- Novo Nordisk Canada
- Montréal InVivo
These partners also benefit from the support of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux and the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie, who are backing this strategic sustainable health initiative. Together, they are working to mobilize diverse stakeholders and develop innovative solutions to reduce the burden of chronic disease.
How did the initiative come about?
The Pro-Santé initiative was born of a collaboration between the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS), Novo Nordisk Canada, Montréal InVivo, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux and the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie, as well as several partners from the healthcare and innovation communities. It is inspired by the Lighthouse model, developed in Denmark, which uses a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach to address complex public health issues. A
Lighthouse plays a key role in highlighting innovative solutions, facilitating collaboration between various players – public, private, academic and community – and guiding initiatives towards sustainable impact. This model has proved its worth in Denmark, structuring innovative health ecosystem projects capable of addressing major challenges such as diabetes, obesity and mental health.
How is the initiative managed?
Pro-Santé is currently managed by a steering consortium composed of :
- Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQ)
- Novo Nordisk Canada
- Montréal InVivo
- Ministry of Health and Social Services
- Le ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy)
The goal will be to involve others
Objectives and goals
What are Pro-Santé's main objectives?
Our main objectives are to foster the development and testing of innovative solutions to reduce the burden of chronic disease in Quebec, to extend successful initiatives nationwide, and to provide a model for public-private partnerships to address major health and economic development challenges.
Programs and activities
Why innovation challenges?
Calls for proposals are a way of launching innovation challenges, which are a proven method of tackling complex social and economic issues. By fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and leveraging innovative solutions, they encourage a wide range of participants, from grassroots organizations to startups to large corporations. Here are a few notable examples of organizations that have successfully launched innovation challenges:
IMPACT Canada: The Impact Canada initiative, led by the Privy Council Office’s Impact and Innovation unit, manages a platform that enables government departments to launch challenges and call on a range of problem-solving specialists. One of these challenges, the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge, helped reduce the risk of diabetes in various communities.
EU Horizon Awards: The European Commission’s Horizon Awards encourage innovative solutions in a variety of sectors, including health, the environment and technology. Challenges have led to breakthroughs in affordable renewable energy storage and the reduction of air pollution in urban areas.
XPRIZE Foundation: The XPRIZE Foundation is a non-profit organization that launches high-level competitions to solve global problems. XPRIZE’s mission is to achieve “radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity” through incentive-based competition. One notable success is the Water Abundance XPRIZE competition, which has advanced technologies to bring clean water to underserved communities.
What are the current calls for proposals?
See our ongoing calls for proposals.
Collaboration and partnerships
How can new partners get involved?
New partners can get involved by contacting Pro-Santé via the contact details provided, expressing their interest and discussing collaboration opportunities.
Funding and resources
How is the project funded?
The project is funded by contributions from Novo Nordisk Canada and the FRQ. Each has contributed $2.5 million, for a total of $5 million.
Communication and awareness
How can I stay informed of the project's progress?
The public can stay informed through the Pro-Santé project website, as well as the LinkedIn page.