Two cybersecurity entrepreneurs share their experiences
On October 30, Prompt General Manager, Liette Lamonde had the pleasure of hosting a conference at the InCyber Canada Forum on the very first portrait of cybersecurity in Quebec, unveiled on October 9 by PROMPT. Her two guests, Georges Gyenizse from IPTOKI and Mathieu Lavoie from Flare, shared their experiences to illustrate the main findings of the report.
As entrepreneurs in the cybersecurity field, they shared how their companies approach the challenges and opportunities highlighted by the report. Their experience in the field gave them an in-depth understanding of the realities of the industry players revealed in the report.
For our guest speakers, success depends on collaboration. As Georges Gyenizse pointed out: “Collaboration isn’t just internal, it’s external. We only know part of the story [as an organization], and that’s why we need collaborators. IPTOKI has been funded by several Prompt programs, which has enabled us to collaborate with academics.” In the portrait, 32% of companies report collaborating with the academic and research community, demonstrating the importance of these partnerships to innovation.
Speaking of innovation, Liette Lamonde pointed out that “the majority of companies in the portrait are key players in innovation and intellectual property creation here in Quebec, with over 86% having developed intellectual property and innovation in-house.” To support this momentum, Mathieu Lavoie pointed out that, “Although there are many government Funding Programs, these are often based on the organization’s assets, which poses a challenge for companies like ours, which rely primarily on intellectual property. As a result, access to these programs can be difficult.”
Cybersecurity: a lever for innovation and competitiveness for Quebec entrepreneurs
As Christopher Skeete, MBA, Adm.A, Minister for the Economy and Minister responsible for the Fight against Racism, states in the Cybersecurity Portrait press release: “Cybersecurity is increasingly important for our entrepreneurs. It protects them from cyber-attacks and helps them stay competitive. The Prompt initiative offers valuable support to strengthen their security. It encourages innovation and puts Quebec at the forefront in this strategic field.”
