QUEBEC CITY, Dec. 7, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - National Bank is proud to contribute to the development of La Centrale – espace entrepreneurial at Université Laval, a hub for the school's entire entrepreneurial ecosystem. A donation of $1.5 million will help increase the school's entrepreneurial offering and create an incubator for entrepreneurs and their startup projects on campus.

La Centrale is both a physical and virtual space where students can learn about entrepreneurship and enjoy privileged access to the right tools and resources. A web portal was also created to centralize information on measures for support, coaching, encouragement, training and research in entrepreneurship. Qualified staff members will also be on hand to assist student entrepreneurs with their projects, from the conceptual stage through to the subsequent development phases.

La Centrale is a place for meeting and creativity. It will offer students a variety of services, including 32 dedicated hosting spaces: an incubation and acceleration zone, a video recording room, a brainstorming zone, a training room and two meeting rooms.

"We're pleased to be contributing to the growth of La Centrale – espace entrepreneurial at Université Laval. We've always cared about the success of future entrepreneurs, and it's by making resources like this accessible that we can help student entrepreneurs achieve their dreams," stated Stéphane Achard, Executive Vice-President – Commercial Banking and Insurance at National Bank.

"La Centrale represents everything we care about in responsible entrepreneurship at Université Laval and provides future entrepreneurship leaders with an unparalleled experience. Thanks to National Bank's support, our entrepreneurial community can benefit from many tools, particularly mentorship, expertise and sources of inspiration in an environment that's conducive to creation and reaching their potential," stated Sophie D'Amours, Rector of Université Laval.

About National Bank of Canada
With $262 billion in assets as at October 31, 2018, National Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. It has more than 23,000 employees in knowledge-intensive positions and has been recognized numerous times as a top employer and for its commitment to diversity. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank's activities at nbc.ca or via social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE National Bank of Canada

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