MONTREAL, Nov. 22, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The partners of Rendez-vous du Savoir (RDVS) were quite pleased with the third edition of the event, which took place on November 14 and 15 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. Rendez-vous du Savoir, presented by Desjardins in association with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton and CGI, was once again able to allow for fruitful exchanges in order to strengthen ties between academia and industry. By now a fixture, the event attracting more than 3,000 participants to its wide range of activities made yet another step toward consolidating long-lasting collaboration between these two sectors.
"At this third Rendez-vous du Savoir, I am pleased to see that there is a consensus between the different actors of the communities about the importance of collaboration between industry and academia in order to move toward an increasingly innovative and competitive society," said co-spokesperson of the event Dr. Pavel Hamet, O.Q., M.D., Ph.D., full professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal and renowned international researcher. "As the different discussions held in the framework of the event have demonstrated, it is essential to consolidate ties between the research chairs and centres and the corporations in order to improve knowledge sharing. Research has a lot to contribute to industry, and corporations are increasingly aware of that."
"This third edition of Rendez-vous du Savoir clearly positioned the event as an indispensable meeting point for the business and academic communities. This year, in addition to exchanging about new approaches, the discussions were able to reach a consensus on the necessity of working together and of combining our strengths," said Monique F. Leroux, chair and CEO of Desjardins Group and co-spokesperson of Rendez-vous du Savoir.
Remember that, in the framework of this Rendez-vous du Savoir, a survey was conducted by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal (BTMM), in partnership with Léger Marketing, to gauge the point of view of the research centres and chairs on university-industry collaboration. The survey showed in particular that:
- Collaboration with the private sector is relevant and necessary for research.
- Collaboration with private businesses is here to stay. Almost nine centres and chairs out of ten that had worked with private businesses in the past had the intention of pursuing this collaboration.
- With funding for academic research an ongoing issue, the research centres and chairs believe that university budgets must be increased if Quebec universities are to become a North American reference for higher learning.
The results of this survey, which are available at www.ccmm.qc.ca/rdvs2012, have fed into the discussions that took place throughout the event and clearly allowed to advance the debate.
Highlights of Rendez-vous du Savoir
A conference-debate organized by the Montreal Council of Foreign Relations (MCFR) served as the kick-off event for the other activities of Rendez-vous du Savoir. On the topic "Knowledge on a global scale: between competition and cooperation," professionals from both the business and university communities discussed the role and ties which universities have with all sectors of society. Before more than 200 people, the debate raised highly interesting questions, such as the image that Quebec educational institutions have abroad. All participants recognized the importance of increasing visibility for the value of Quebec education in order to attract foreign talent to this province and to distinguish us internationally. For this, optimal branding and positioning of the universities is essential. The panelists moreover suggested to bring the concerned actors together for the development of a concerted action plan.
More than 1,500 international students enrolled in a Montreal postsecondary institution came to the International Student Welcoming Party.Organized for them by Conférence régionale des élus (CRÉ) of Montreal and the Ville de Montréal in collaboration with Montréal International, the festive gathering was an excellent way to underline the importance which this group of people has for Quebec. This new type of "networking rallye" allowed participants to make contact with each other, to visit booths from exhibitors such as CGI, the Ministère de l'Immigration et des Communautés culturelles (MICC) and the Vitrine culturelle, to name only a few, and to exchange with youth leaders who were also invited. The nignt ended in a hignly charged ambiance thanks to the participation of Igloofest and the enthralling performances of DJs and VJs.
A breakfast organized by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, partner of the Rendez-vous du Savoir 2012, was a much-appreciated perk of the program. Under the theme "Business-university collaboration and how it influences development in Northern Quebec," business directors and researchers met to discuss the importance of adapting academic training to the needs of businesses of the North. These businesses had expressed the need for finding out about and accessing existing research that would be of interest to their sector. The discussion concluded with the intention to implement channels of communication between universities and research chairs and centres and industry in order to promote a better transfer of knowledge and expertise.
As every year, Fondation Desjardins, directed by Monique F. Leroux, honoured the performances of 45 students coming from all regions of Quebec. Nearly 150 people attended the homage to the national recipients, emphasizing their quality and perseverance. Well known for distributing more university scholarships than any other private foundation in Quebec, Fondation Desjardins pursues its mission of supporting and encouraging young members of the next generation to achieve their dreams and ambitions.
The ceremony was followed by a breakfast-luncheon organized by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal (BTMM) and attended by some 550 participants. Entitled "The knowledge economy: Are we ready?" the conference was hosted by Julie Payette, Quebec scientific delegate to the United States, member of the Canadian Astronaut Corps and renowned researcher. Mrs. Payette underscored the importance which education and research have as pathways to prosperity. In that context, she stressed that greater access to higher education will lead to more research, in turn allowing us to be competitive in the international arena.
The third edition of Rendez-vous du Savoir was concluded on a festive note with the Recognition Award Gala at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. More than 600 people attended the captivating evening that also served to acknowledge the work done by the ambassadors of the Palais du congrès in promoting Montreal as an international destination by holding events of scope, and to honour Bombardier for its success in broadening its international presence and its contribution to making Quebec more known abroad. The Recognition Gala was also the occasion to recognize the four winners of the competition Ça mérite d'être reconnu!. The "star researchers" were Magaly Brodeur (Université de Montréal), Marie-France Marin (Université de Montréal), Vincent Duchaine (École de technologie supérieure) and Martin-Hugues St-Laurent (Université du Québec à Rimouski). Proud of the success of this third edition, the partners are already brainstorming about a program for the fall of 2013 that could top everybody's expectations. It's a rendez-vous!
About Rendez-vous du Savoir
Rendez-vous du Savoir, presented by Desjardins Group in association with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton and CGI, is organized by the Palais des congrès de Montréal, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, the Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities (CREPUQ), the Conférence régionale des élus de Montréal, the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (MCFR), Montréal International, Tourisme Montréal and the Ville de Montréal. It aims to recognize the expertise created by Quebec institutions of higher learning and to demonstrate their important contribution to our society at the local, provincial and international scales. For more information, please visit www.rendezvousdusavoir.com.
Rendez-vous du Savoir is pleased to have CNW as its broadcast partner.
SOURCE: RENDEZ-VOUS DU SAVOIR
Caroline Couillard
Morin Public Relations
514 289-8688, ext. 233 | Cell: 514 755-5729
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Facebook: RendezVousDuSavoir
Twitter: #RDVS2012
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