INRS celebrates the official opening of the Ruralités durables Research Centre, a hub of expertise serving rural areas and their communities

Québec's first permanent academic infrastructure dedicated to research and graduate education on issues specific to rural areas and their communities

BAIE-SAINT-PAUL, QC, Oct. 13, 2026 /CNW/ -- Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) today celebrated the official opening of the Ruralités durables Research Centre and the launch of its activities. As the first permanent academic infrastructure in Québec dedicated exclusively to research and graduate education on issues specific to rural areas and their communities, the Centre represents the culmination of several years of reflection, consultation, and collective mobilization.

Its creation is the result of a shared vision for Québec's rural communities, championed by INRS and its partners with the support of Québec's Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur. The opening marks a key milestone in the Centre's development and reflects its ambition to bring together stakeholders from across the province and put research to work for rural areas and their communities in support of sustainable, innovative, and resilient development.

The Ruralités durables Research Centre serves as a hub for collaboration among researchers, governments, organizations, businesses, and communities. Its scientific program was developed in response to priorities identified by and for rural communities and is designed to generate tangible, lasting impacts across Québec's rural regions. The program is structured around four key research areas: rural land-use planning and territorial balance, technological adaptation in rural settings, health and social services in rural communities, and the dynamics of rural living environments.

"Rural areas and their communities are essential to Québec's autonomy, resilience, and collective capacity to tackle today's key challenges. Through the Ruralités durables Research Centre, we are creating a space where knowledge, research, and action come together to support communities and strengthen their capacity to act."

     -  Amélie Forget, Director of Implementation, Ruralités durables Research Centre

Research excellence driven by and for communities

The Ruralités durables Research Centre brings together six professors with complementary expertise: Emmanuelle Bouchard-Bastien, Marilyne Chicoine, Samir Méchaï, Émilie Houde-Tremblay, Vincent Taillard, and David Pelletier. Together, their research spans sustainable innovation, citizen participation, population health, value chains and sustainable food systems, socio-ecological transitions, agroforestry, and sociodemographic change. This breadth of expertise enables the Centre to address the challenges facing rural communities in all their complexity and to develop solutions tailored to local realities in partnership with stakeholders across the territory.

"The Ruralités durables Research Centre is a landmark achievement for INRS. By bringing together complementary expertise around issues affecting rural communities, it will strengthen our capacity to train the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers and produce knowledge that contributes to the sustainable development of Québec's rural regions."

     -  Luc-Alain Giraldeau, Chief Executive Officer, INRS

Committed partners building the rural communities of tomorrow

The development of the Ruralités durables Research Centre is made possible through the commitment of numerous partners who share a common vision for the sustainable development of rural communities. INRS wishes to thank the Government of Québec for supporting this transformative initiative, along with its philanthropic and corporate partners. As the first founding partners announced by the INRS Foundation, Cogeco and Power Corporation of Canada have chosen to support the Centre, demonstrating their confidence in its mission and its potential to enhance the vitality and well-being of rural communities across Québec.

Cogeco has directed its philanthropic support toward one of the Centre's four flagship research areas: technological adaptation in rural settings. Research activities associated with this area, led primarily by the teams of Professors Vincent Taillard and Marilyne Chicoine, will be brought together under the banner of the Cogeco Research Hub for Rural Technology Adaptation. This support will help advance the development and integration of technological solutions tailored to the realities and needs of rural communities.

"As a regional telecommunications provider deeply rooted in the communities we serve, we have a front-row seat to the unique technological challenges facing rural areas. That is why we are proud to join the Cogeco Research Hub for Rural Technology Adaptation as a founding partner. This is a tangible investment in the development and prosperity of our regions."

     -  Gaëlle Cayrol, Director, Community Engagement, Cogeco

Through its collaborative approach and strong connection to the communities it serves, the Ruralités durables Research Centre is positioning itself as a catalyst for research, innovation, and development for the benefit of rural areas and their communities throughout Québec.

About INRS 

Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) is an academic institution dedicated exclusively to graduate research and training in strategic sectors in Québec. Since 1969, as per its mission, it has actively contributed to Québec's economic, social, and cultural development. INRS ranks first in Québec in research intensity. It is made up of five interdisciplinary research and training centres located in Québec City, Montréal, Laval, Varennes, and Charlevoix, which focus their efforts on strategic sectors: water, earth, and environment (Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre); energy, materials, and telecommunications (Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre); urbanization, culture, and society (Urbanisation Culture Société Research Centre); health and biotechnology (Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre); and sustainable rural areas and their communities (Ruralités durables Research Centre). Its community includes nearly 1,500 members, including students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty members, and staff.

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