From Research to Action for Sustainable Cities Kyoto Joint Workshop on Sustainable Cities Maryse Lassonde, OC, PhD, CQ, MSRC Scientific Director Fonds de recherche du Québec Nature et technologies October 3, 2015 1
The FRQ & Chief Scientist On July 1 st 2011, Bill 130 created: Fonds de Recherche du Québec (regrouping 3 Funds: Nature & technologies; Santé; Société & culture) Québec Chief Scientist Position AIMS: Increase competitiveness of Québec researchers Increase international impact Foster large inter-sectorial research programs Improve public science literacy Promote knowledge mobilization 2
The Chief Scientist Mandate Rémi Quirion Chief Scientist of Québec Deputy Minister level Advise the Minister and the government on research and development policy in Québec Ensure coordination of objectives and the development of intersectoral research Preside over Québec international research & innovation policy Identify our society s great challenges and its sectors of excellence Preside over the Boards of the three Québec research funds and ensure their work is integrated and coordinated Support the development of a new generation of scientists 3
Scientific Directors Mandates Maryse Lassonde Fonds de recherche du Québec Nature et technologies Renaldo Battista Fonds de recherche du Québec Santé Louise Poissant Fonds de recherche du Québec Société et culture 4 Ensure that the mission of the Funds is carried out Responsible for scientific affairs, partnerships and other activities of the Funds Define, in close collaboration with the Chief Scientist and the Board of Directors, the orientations, goals and priorities of the Funds, and determine strategies and action plans to be implemented Serve as a member on the Board of Directors Represent the Funds in dealings with various authorities and organizations and develops partnerships with academic, industrial and governmental stakeholders and the scientific community in general Advise the Chief Scientist on issues relating to the areas of expertise of the Funds
Research Funding: A Global Portrait Almost 1,500 Research Projects College researchers Partnership projects Innovation networks Team projects Career Awards Chairs $60.6M 30.7% The New Generation 3,642 Scholarships and fellowships (Master s, PhD and Post-doctoral) 426 grants for new research professors $55.1M 27.8% $82.1M 41.5% Research Infrastructure 239 research centres, networks, groups, institutes, teams Budget: $197.8M Source: Fonds de recherche Annual reports, 2013-2014 5
FRQ s Global Priorities 2014-2017 Develop intersectoral research on few major societal challenges & niche areas Develop international partnerships Develop parterships with the private sector Support the training of the next generation of scientists and researchers Promote education in science and research 6
Develop Intersectoral Research 7 Increase collaboration between disciplines covered by the Fonds three main research areas: stimulate intersectorial research Research questions, increasingly complex, as well as the major societal changes, call for a greater interaction between disciplines Consultation by the Chief Scientist and the FRQ Priorities: the challenges posed by demographic changes and the environment (climate, sustainable development)
Sustainable Development: A Societal Challenge Sustainable development: Better balance between human beings and their environment (climate changes, energy choices, mobility and modes of transportation, exploitation of modes of transportation, lifestyles). FRQ Calls: Consortium and institute in the field of electric transportation including the smart grid, product life cycle, the North Future Earth: High level role of Chief Scientist (and $$$) 8
Discussion Forum on Sustainable Development Research June 3, 2013, in Quebec City 178 participants from ministries and public agencies, universities, research institutes and consortiums, community and industrial groups OBJECTIVES To present eight intersectoral research project proposals that were submitted to the Chief Scientist of Québec To discuss the challenges of research into sustainable development To understand the concerns of various groups (government, business, civil society, researchers) To explore new possibilities for intersectoral collaboration To identify avenues for research in the context of major intersectoral research projects and the development of future national policy for research and innovation 9
Principal Findings The sustainable development approach is recognized by all stakeholders in Québec society. The different activity sectors need solutions for putting sustainable development into practice: indicators, methodologies for impact assessment and life cycle analysis, etc. Sustainable development research covers multiple subjects that call on a wide range of expertise, disciplines and actors. A global vision of the issues and the ability to anticipate and analyze impacts must be encouraged, in order to integrate the three dimensions of sustainable development. Québec is well positioned to take a leadership role in sustainable development, particularly when it comes to public policy on climate change, the life cycle of products and services, and the development of green/sustainable cities. 10
Course of Actions Identify Prioritize sustainable development research themes to inform government policy and aid in decision making by various users. Increase networking Between researchers, users and decision makers in order to develop an integrated vision of sustainable development, facilitate data sharing, develop decision-making tools and contribute to the promotion and recognition of Quebec s expertise. 11
Course of Actions Improve Access to and sharing of data through open access, electronic publishing portals, the popularization of scientific publications and the dissemination of research results, in order to provide civil society, the public and private sectors and small medium enterprises with the tools they need. 12
Sustainable Development Research Supported by the FRQNT Targeted Research Partnerships Sustainable development of the mining sector: 5M$, 19 projects Strategic Initiative for Innovation Sustainable development of the mining industry: Risk assessments for emerging metals Scholarship Programs International internship: Urban ecology and design, biodiversity 13
Sustainable Cities Research Supported by the FRQNT Strategic Clusters Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en opérationnalisation du développement durable (CIRODD): Mobility and sustainable transport; Life Cycle Analysis Québec Centre for Biodiversity Science (QCBS): Local actions for biodiversity Centre de recherche sur les matériaux renouvelables (CRMR): Forest extractable, regional biorefinery Centre d'étude de la forêt (CEF): Urban forestry,, biodiversity and urban forestry corridors, Invasive species in urban sector Centre d'études nordiques (CEN): Laboratory on sustainable development of public infrastructure 14
Smart Cities Research supported by the FRQNT Strategic Clusters Centre interuniversitaire de recherche sur les réseaux d'entreprise, la logistique et le transport (CIRRELT): Logistic, urban transport system Groupe d'études et de recherche en analyse des décisions (GIRAD): Port Management Software, Paratransit - improved customer service; Ambulance Location and Redeployment Centre for Advanced Systems and Technologies in Communications (SYTACOM): Intelligent Signal Processing, Networking, Wired and Wireless Transmission Technologies, Optical Networks, Information Communication Technology (ICT) for Healthcare, Green ICT 15
Smart Cities Research supported by the FRQNT Scholarship Programs Recognition and prediction of activities in a smart home using time series based algorithms Conceptual data model for smart housing dedicated to people with cognitive disorders Evaluation of the effectiveness of cross ventilation for summer cooling purposes in a Montreal Multi-Unit held; thermal comfort, transversal/hybrid ventilation, fluid dynamics simulation Intelligent control, diagnosis and supervision of a modular cogeneration microarray Uncertain futures of Volunteered Geographic Information and Geographic Information Systems for Participatory and Open Government Energy Efficient Integrated Design of Flight Management Systems and Autopilots with Terrain Avoidance Capabilities 16
Sustainable Cities Research Supported by the FRQS Centers and groups Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR): A rehabilitation Living Lab, optimization of social participation of people with disabilities Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS): Personal/environmental factors that influence the social participation of persons with physical disabilities Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec Université Laval: Population health, optimal health practices, knowledge transfer and evaluation of health technologies and intervention methods 17
Sustainable Cities Research Supported by the FRQSC Strategic Clusters Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en opérationnalisation du développement durable (CIRODD): Mobility and sustainable transport; Life Cycle Analysis Centre interuniversitaire de recherche sur les réseaux d'entreprise, la logistique et le transport (CIRRELT): Logistic, urban transport system Centre de recherche sur le développement territorial (CRDT): Local Agenda 21 Centre interuniversitaire d'études sur les lettres, les arts et les traditions (CELAT): Religious Heritage Conservation (churches) Centre d'études ethniques des universités montréalaises (CEETUM): Integration of ethnic communities Ethnic diversity and cohabitation 18
Sustainable Cities Research Supported by the FRQSC Scholarship Programs Participatory design techniques to improve the quality of social housing; Social housing, Community participation, Developing countries Ecodesign and environmental performance of housing construction; Adaptability, environmental impacts Ecovillage, right to space, rural affairs Research Team Support Program Contemporary architecture, design thinking, urban planning, heritage project, urban ecology 19
Smart Cities Research supported by the FRQSC Scholarship Programs Socio-political issues of the development of smart grids in Québec; divergent visions dispute 20
Future Earth: An International Initiative Global research platform providing the knowledge and support to accelerate transformations to a sustainable world Executive Director of Future Earth Secretariat: Dr. Paul Shrivastava Secretariat s role: facilitating and coordinating global research activities, communication and capacity strengthening Montréal one of Future Earth s five global hubs Québec s scientific community is a leading global player in research into climate change and sustainable development 21
Thank you for your attention! maryse.lassonde@frq.gouv.qc.ca 22