20 June 2014

Université de Sherbrooke Rector, Professor Luce Samoisette, announced on June 16, 2014 that Vice-Principal of Research Jacques Beauvais now holds the title of Vice-President of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a first in Canada.

This name change is indicative of the university’s efforts to boost entrepreneurship. “To succeed in this undertaking, the Université de Sherbrooke is currently implementing a comprehensive strategy that will foster the innovative capacity of businesses and accelerate knowledge transfer towards consumer products,” explained Ms. Samoisette. Mr. Beauvais’s new title will more accurately reflect the institution’s contribution.

Recognized as one of the Canadian universities most actively involved in research and at the centre of Québec’s third research hub—the three hubs being Montreal, Québec City, and Sherbrooke—the Université de Sherbrooke is seeking to stimulate innovation, increase partnerships tenfold, and boost entrepreneurship.

Through its partnership culture, the Université is playing a major role in the development of Québec and the communities in which it is located. It is known for its cross-sector initiatives in open innovation, in partnership with industrial and social milieus, such as the MiQro Innovation Collaborative Centre, the Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation, and the Advanced Technology Centre—BRP-Université de Sherbrooke.

In terms of business succession, the Université is also participating in an innovative manner in collective mobilization endeavours with the Accélérateur de création d’entreprises technologiques (technology-based company start-up accelerator) and the Programme d’apprentissage expérientiel par l’intervention communautaire (community intervention-based experiential learning program), the latter focused specifically on social entrepreneurship.

Sources: La Tribune and Université de Sherbrooke