This innovative collaboration, which begins its second phase for the period 2025-2028, confirms the mutual commitment of these institutions to sustainable development and territorial innovation.

During its first phase, the Chair, headed by Professor Simon Barnabé, generated remarkable spin-offs. With an initial budget of $300,000, it has raised over $2.4 million in funding for research and technology transfer. It has trained 16 students and researchers, organized two international summer schools and supported structuring projects such as LA SERRE+, a unique technological showcase for wastewater treatment using microalgae.

The Chair has also played a pioneering role in the deployment of municipal science councils in Quebec, now inspiring nine municipalities to appoint science advisors. It has helped position Victoriaville as a leader in sustainable development on a national and international scale.

Renewed programming focused on circular innovation

For this second phase, the Chair will focus its efforts on operationalizing and replicating the LA SERRE+ project, continuing theEscouade VictEAU to improve water quality in the Beaudet reservoir, and support for Victoriaville's new Sustainable Development Office. It will also be organizing an International Summer School on Sustainable Development Goals, as well as various training and networking activities.

Committed partners

"This Chair represents a model of a university committed to its territory. It perfectly illustrates our mission as a privileged partner in regional development, by putting university research at the service of a community's concrete challenges. The renewal of this partnership testifies to the relevance and impact of this collaborative approach," emphasizes UQTR Rector Christian Blanchette.

"Victoriaville was among the first cities to create a scientific research chair, a chief scientific advisor and a sustainable development office. These initiatives demonstrate the importance attached to sustainable development by municipal decision-makers. By renewing its participation in the Chaire de recherche municipale, the City of Victoriaville intends to increase the spin-offs from its close ties with the scientific and educational communities to innovate even further. These benefits will benefit the entire population and inspire municipalities across Quebec and Canada," explains Victoriaville mayor Antoine Tardif.

"Thanks to this renewal, we'll be able to consolidate innovations like LA SERRE+, a new concrete example of the circular economy and transitions in Quebec. This second phase will also enable us to support other mid-sized cities on their path to sustainability by replicating our proven solutions", adds Simon Barnabas.Simon Barnabé, Chairholder and Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics and Forensic Sciences at UQTR.

"The City of Circular and Sustainable Innovation is proud to support the Victoriaville Municipal Research Chair for Sustainable Cities. This initiative fully reflects our mission: to bring together all the necessary resources to enable the organization to generate a positive impact on financial, social and environmental levels. By combining research, municipal action and community needs, this Chair offers an inspiring model for meeting today's challenges," says Israël Poulin, Executive Director of the Cité de l'innovation circulaire et durable.

Renewed investment of $300,000

The City of Victoriaville is renewing its financial commitment with a contribution of $300,000 over three years, broken down as follows: 25,000 directly to the UQTR for the Chair's activities, $215,000 channeled through the Cité de l'Innovation Circulaire et Durable to leverage research funding, and $60,000 allocated to the Fondation de l'UQTR.s to the Fondation de l'UQTR to provide scholarships and support for students involved in the Chair.

An inspiring model for Quebec

This municipal Chair is a unique model in Quebec, and has already inspired other cities such as Laval, Mirabel and Sherbrooke to develop similar partnerships with teaching and research institutions. It demonstrates the potential of university-municipality collaborations to meet the challenges of sustainable development and territorial innovation.

Towards internationally recognized expertise

The Chair will continue to raise its profile internationally, notably through the organization of summer schools and participation in international research networks. It will also contribute to the development of unique Québec expertise in municipal scientific consulting, a field in which Québec is a world pioneer.