A joint initiative of Business Events Montréal and the Palais des congrès de Montréal, the Knowledge Collective is an innovative destination support model—one that draws directly on academic and scientific expertise to co-create global conferences.
More than a support program
At its core, it is, however, way more than a meetings support program. It is a strategy designed to connect international associations with local thought leaders who can help shape content, define legacies, and enhance the intellectual value of events held in the city. In a field increasingly driven by purpose, Montréal is reimagining the destination – as well as the convention centre – not just as venues, but as conveners of ideas.
This shift is reflective of a broader movement within the global meetings industry. Cities are no longer competing solely on the basis of hotel inventory or connectivity. Instead, destination value is increasingly measured by access to knowledge ecosystems, and by the ability to forge partnerships that translate local expertise into global relevance.
“We see our role as facilitators of meaningful encounters,” said Emmanuelle Legault, CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal, in a recent interview. “Our goal is not just to host events, but to make sure they resonate locally and globally. That’s where the Knowledge Collective comes in.”
Echoing her comment, Tourisme Montréal CEO Yves Lalumière added: “The Knowledge Collective has been designed to ensure that every association that chooses Montréal fully benefits from the city’s dynamic ecosystem and world-class expertise.”
Through this initiative, associations are matched with local experts from the city’s leading sectors, such as life sciences, artificial intelligence, and engineering, to enhance the intellectual content of their meetings. Organisers benefit from support throughout the event lifecycle—including, in some cases, financial aid available at the national or provincial level—from identifying relevant local speakers to shaping scientific programs and developing legacy strategies.
Broader knowledge ecosytem
The Knowledge Collective is embedded in a broader knowledge ecosystem that gives Montréal its competitive edge.
With more than 1,500 institutions active in research and development and 200 research centres, the city is home to the largest university research hub in Canada. It boasts 14 higher education institutions, including four major universities: McGill University, Université de Montréal, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), and Concordia University. McGill and Université de Montréal both rank among Canada’s top five research universities, with McGill also in the top 15 of North America according to QS Top Universities 2024.
As North America’s gateway, Montréal also consistently leads the region in hosting international association meetings, ranking first for nine consecutive years according to ICCA, and topping the Union of International Associations (UIA) list in the Americas for the past seven years. In 2024 alone, the city hosted 539 business events, welcomed over 960,000 delegates, and generated $395 million in economic spinoffs. Yet beyond the impressive figures, what truly distinguishes Montréal is its ability to integrate knowledge, innovation, and local collaboration into a forward-thinking conference strategy.
Montréal’s sectoral strengths serve as natural anchors for high-level events. The city has hosted ISPOR, attracting global healthcare leaders in the life sciences; the World Summit AI, featuring AI godfather Yoshua Bengio; the creativity-driven C2 Montréal, which brings together innovators from around the globe; and the 3rd Joint Congress on Evolutionary Biology, uniting the world’s four largest societies in the field. These international conferences don’t simply take place in Montréal—they are shaped by its unique ecosystem of expertise and innovation.
These assets were even reinforced in April this year by a new collaboration between the Palais des congrès, Tourisme Montréal, and the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). This strategic alliance seeks to amplify the international visibility of Montréal through targeted academic engagement. While distinct from the Knowledge Collective, it reflects the same underlying philosophy: that conference destinations must be intellectually rooted, civically engaged, and globally connected.
Fostering innovation & impact
Montréal’s reputation is also shaped by its human-scale accessibility and cultural appeal. It is a city that welcomes you like a local—multilingual, diverse, and proudly open. Its world-famous culinary scene, one-of-a-kind creative energy, and year-round cultural calendar featuring over 100 festivals create a vibrant setting for business events. This unique blend of academic excellence and cultural vitality makes it easier for associations to attract delegates and create authentic experiences.
Equally important is Montréal’s deep-rooted commitment to freedom of expression, open scientific exchange, inclusion, and mutual respect—foundational values that contribute to the success of the events held here. These principles make Montréal a trusted, safe, and forward-thinking environment for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation.
In addition to Tourisme Montréal with its 1000 members who can act as true partners to international associations, the Palais des congrès de Montréal plays a central role in making that success possible. Beyond offering state-of-the-art facilities, it positions itself as a civic actor—fostering discussion, knowledge sharing, and long-term impact.
As associations face growing pressure to deliver value, align with mission-driven goals, and create lasting legacies, Montréal clearly offers a compelling proposition.
More information on Montréal as a conference destination here.