The Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) and 2 Degrés have formalized a partnership that will enable the next generation of entrepreneurs to benefit from the scientific expertise of the university's faculty members in setting up businesses. This privileged access to science and research data will ensure that entrepreneurial leaders create innovative companies at the cutting edge of new technologies.

Research expertise at the service of the next generation

The partnership with 2 Degrés is in line with INRS's 50-year mission to increase the mobilization and transfer of knowledge resulting from its research. This collaboration is all the more interesting in that 2 Degrés' activities will contribute to the development of green industries, for which INRS's many areas of expertise and research infrastructures can be put to good use.

INRS is the first university to formalize such a partnership with the incubator. "As a founding partner of 2 Degrés and a key player in the environmental research and technology ecosystem, INRS is delighted to make its state-of-the-art infrastructure and high-level expertise available to the next generation of entrepreneurs in a field that is a priority for our society," says INRS Director General Luc-Alain Giraldeau.

"This promising partnership will make a tangible contribution to Quebec's dynamism and economic and social growth.

Luc-Alain Giraldeau, General Manager, INRS

Research infrastructures for innovation

The selected entrepreneurial leaders will have access to INRS's state-of-the-art infrastructure, and will benefit from the advice and guidance of a scientific mentor. INRS professors at the Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Kokou Adjallé, Jean-François Blais, Patrick Drogui, Louis-César Pasquier and André St-Hilaire, will take part in the initial networking. They carry out research in the fields of environmental biotechnology, sanitation and decontamination, utility water treatment, CO2 storage and utilization, and statistical hydrology. These potential collaborations will foster the growth of new companies and the creation of promising innovations.

"By opening up our research facilities to the next generation of entrepreneurs, we offer them access to knowledge and technological tools. This collaboration is also an opportunity for us to train our student and researcher members through real-life experiences and examples."

André St-Hilaire, Professor at INRS's Centre Eau Terre Environnement

The equipment, infrastructure and specialized laboratories catering to the needs of entrepreneurs will serve the creative process of clean technologies, from development to validation, testing, spin-off and prototyping. "For INRS faculty members and their teams, this partnership is an opportunity to grow the Institute's expertise in clean energy. What's more, collaborating with start-ups adds dynamism to the research process," concludes the establishment's Scientific Director, Pascale Champagne.

"This agreement is a good representation of what we want to support at INRS, since the full strength of interdisciplinary work is highlighted."

Pascale Champagne, Scientific Director, INRS

Author: L'équipe de 2 Degrés | mars, 23 2021