Creation of a France-Québec institute - A major boost for research and innovation in the maritime sector

RIMOUSKI, QC, March 6, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Fonds de recherche du Québec and Université du Québec à Rimouski welcome the proposed creation of a Franco-Québec institute dedicated to the development of the maritime sector. The establishment of this international institute will give a major boost to the development of knowledge related to the maritime sector.

An official agreement for the creation of this bi-national institute was made between the Premier of Québec, Philippe Couillard, and French Prime Minister Manuel Valls today in Paris. The new institute aims to achieve new levels of cooperation and complementarity between France and Québec in higher education, research and innovation. Its goal is to provide France and Québec with a joint competitive positioning mechanism for major international initiatives and to fuel the maritime sector development vision on both sides of the Atlantic. Ultimately, this institute will jointly position France and Québec as world leaders in all matters relating to sustainable maritime development.

The institute will be co-directed by Québec and France. The creation of a bi-national institute model that brings together large numbers of Québec and French researchers from different disciplines and backgrounds on both sides of the Atlantic is an ambitious initiative. "Bringing together key players from France and Québec who have the desire to contribute to the development of the maritime sector will open up new avenues of research that will lead to social and economic development", observed Québec's Chief Scientist, Rémi Quirion. "Furthermore, such an institute will provide a structured France-Québec network for the development of large-scale joint projects in line with current European and international initiatives such as Horizon 2020, the Galway Statement or Future Earth".

"The establishment of a Franco-Québec institute dedicated to maritime issues will be a turning point in training, research and innovation. The institute will support scientific, economic and political decision makers in Québec and France through a network of cross-sectoral expertise, cutting-edge knowledge and practical responses to major issues", added the Rector of UQAR, Jean-Pierre Ouellet. "With its natural leadership in this area, UQAR intends to play a key role in the implementation and deployment of this initiative."

The announcement of the institute's creation could prove to be a significant milestone for the Québec Government's proposed Maritime Strategy, conclude Quirion and Ouellet: "We are on the threshold of a major surge in development in the maritime sector."

About Université du Québec à Rimouski

UQAR is a university belonging to the Université du Québec network, historically pegged to the realities of the community it serves. It offers training programs at all levels in various disciplines to more than 7200 students and it stands out by the quality of its training and mentoring of students. What makes it different is its prestigious research centered namely on three areas of excellence that are marine sciences, regional development and nordicity.

About the Fonds de recherche du Québec

Reporting to the Ministère de l'Éducation, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) aim to ensure the strategic and coherent development of research in Québec as well as provide funding for research, foster research training, establish partnerships to deliver on their mandate and promote and support knowledge mobilization.

SOURCE Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé

Jean-François Bouchard, Communications Services, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 418 723-1986, Ext. 1426; Benoit Sévigny, Director of Communications and Knowledge Mobilization, Fonds de recherche du Québec, 514 864-1619, [email protected]