Heading to COP17 on Biodiversity: The MT Lab Regenerative Innovation Hub in the Spotlight

Montreal, October 20, 2025 — The Regenerative Innovation Hub on Well-being, Tourism and Biodiversity will take center stage during an official side event to be held as part of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), which will take place in 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia.

This event results from a collaboration between three partners: the World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED), the MT Lab, and Tourisme Abitibi-Témiscamingue (TAT). Together, they form a consortium committed to promoting regenerative innovation—linking well-being, sustainable tourism, and biodiversity protection.

A Quebec Model with International Reach

Born in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Quebec, Canada) in 2024, this innovative hub is already attracting significant international attention. Indeed, the CED was recently invited to present this model at the HICOOL 2025 Global Entrepreneur Summit, held in Beijing from October 16 to 18.

On this occasion, Dr. Jamel Gamra, Director of CED – Mediterranean and Middle East, delivered a conference before an audience of nearly 500 participants, presenting the hub’s vision and its tangible impacts on territories engaged in the green and regenerative transition.

A Rigorous and Collaborative Scientific Approach

In his address, Dr. Gamra highlighted the role of the CED within the hub: “Our mission is to support the internationalization of this initiative while ensuring a rigorous scientific assessment of its impacts.”

He explained that this assessment is based on the conceptual framework of dynamic capabilities and collaborative innovation, developed through his doctoral research at the University of Sherbrooke. This framework will help analyze how regenerative innovation hubs foster co-creation of value among public, private, community, and academic actors.

Toward COP17: A Showcase for Quebec and Canada

The event planned for COP17 will serve as an international showcase for Quebec and Canada, illustrating how territorial innovation and cross-sector collaboration can contribute to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at COP15.

Through this hub, the CED, the MT Lab, and Tourisme Abitibi-Témiscamingue aim to demonstrate how tourism can become a regenerative lever for community well-being and biodiversity conservation.

Media Contact:
World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED)
Montreal, Canada
📧 info@ced.travel | 🌐 https://ced.travel