What it lacks is strong links with a world-class university, and a powerful network of people with a track record in both science and business, willing to pass on lessons to new companies.
Creating a world-class modern university needs flexibility in hiring, promotion and pay rather than the rigid rules that are traditional in the region.
The printed book was a much more powerful learning innovation, because it allowed students to get a good higher education at auniversity lacking rare manuscripts or world-class scholars.
With a critical mass of well-educated university students at three universities, Quebec is a great environment to attract world-class engineering talent.