The Centre de recherche sur les innovations sociales (Center for Research on Social Innovations – CRISES) is an interuniversity and multidisciplinary research centre. It brings together 50 researchers, each of whose primary affiliation is with one of the following ten institutions: Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), Université Laval, Université de Sherbrooke, Concordia University, HEC Montréal, Université de Montréal, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) and UniversitéTéluq. In addition, the Center has nearly 50 associate members from the universities already mentioned, to which must be added Laurentian University (Sudbury), the University of Ottawa, the University of Moncton, Agrocampus West (Angers, France) and Saint Paul University.
CRISES was formed in 1986 by Benoît Lévesque and Paul R. Bélanger. Since 2001, CRISES has been a regroupement stratégique (strategic alliance) funded by the Fonds québécois de recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC). The Center has been under the direction of Denis Harrisson from 2003 to 2009, Juan-Luis Klein from 2009 to 2018 and, since june 2018, is directed by Sylvain A. Lefèvre.
CRISES members come from a variety of disciplines: anthropology, geography, history, mathematics, philosophy, industrial relations, management sciences, economics, political science, sociology and social work. They study and analyze innovation and social change in four complementary areas: social innovations and transformations in 1) social policies and practices, 2) territories and living environments 3) social and collective organizations, 4) work and employment.
CRISES conducts some of its research in partnership with social and economic actors. Its members play a central role in networking with civil society and in the transfer of knowledge to the community.
CRISES objectives:
- Produce and disseminate new knowledge on social innovation and social transformation;
- Provide a forum to discuss and coordinate research activities;
- Promote new avenues of basic and applied research;
- Develop new partnerships;
- Organize activities of interest to scholars or involving the transfer of knowledge;
- Train junior researchers.
In addition to conducting numerous research projects, providing facilities for international post-doctoral trainees and training students, CRISES organizes a series of seminars and conferencesthat facilitate the exchange and dissemination of new knowledge. The centre also coordinates several collections of working papers conveying the most recent work of its members.
The main CRISES offices are located on the UQAM campus. However, regional branches of CRISES take an active part in many of its activities.
To learn more about CRISES, please consult:
