La Caisse has become the leading donor to the INRS Foundation’s Environment and Climate Fund. Its major donation is intended to strengthen the research and knowledge-sharing capabilities of the scientific community at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) regarding environmental and climate issues.

La Caisse’s donation stands out for its flexibility: since it is not earmarked for a specific project, it will make it possible to address emerging needs and support promising initiatives at the right time. In particular, it can help promote and share research findings, acquire materials and equipment, and support infrastructure used by the scientific community.

Strategic Support for Tangible Results

By providing structural support, La Caisse enables INRS to apply its expertise where it will have the greatest impact, in line with current and future challenges related to the environment and the fight against climate change.

According to Isabelle Delisle, Scientific Director of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique:

“This major donation from La Caisse represents much more than financial support: it serves as a key driver for addressing the multiple crises caused by climate change through science. It is fully aligned with our strategic priorities to increase the impact of our research, support our next generation of scientists, and strengthen knowledge mobilization for the benefit of communities. The flexibility of this support gives us the agility needed to respond to emerging needs and invest where our expertise will have the most concrete and sustainable impact.”

Recognition of INRS’s Excellence

This donation reflects La Caisse’s confidence in the relevance and performance of the INRS, which ranks first in the world in sustainable development research and has also achieved Gold certification under the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System). It strengthens the institution’s ability to support its next generation of scientists and amplify the impact of its work on the community.

For Élise Comtois, Executive Director of the INRS Foundation, this partnership illustrates the key role philanthropy plays in the INRS’s contribution to issues of importance to our society:

“La Caisse’s support will enable our scientific community to contribute even more, by drawing on science, to better understand, inform decisions, and address the challenges related to the environment and climate change that are critical to the well-being, prosperity, and sustainability of our collective future. There is no doubt that its leadership will inspire others to take concrete action.”

A commitment that embodies a vision for the future

For Annie Brault, Director of Donations, Sponsorships, and Events at La Caisse, this support is in line with the organization’s mission:

“At La Caisse, we believe that philanthropy can be a concrete lever for advancing science for the benefit of society. By supporting the INRS Foundation’s Environment and Climate Fund, we want to give researchers the flexibility they need to apply their expertise where it can have the greatest impact. We are proud of this support, which reflects our commitment to backing initiatives that have tangible and lasting effects.”

By supporting the Environment and Climate pillar of the INRS Foundation’s major gifts program, La Caisse is helping to strengthen the INRS community’s capacity to develop, share, and mobilize the knowledge essential to addressing environmental and climate challenges.

On behalf of the INRS community, the INRS Foundation extends its warmest thanks to La Caisse for this first donation to the Environment and Climate Fund.

About La Caisse (as of December 31, 2025)

At La Caisse, formerly known as CDPQ, we have been investing for 60 years with a dual mandate: to generate optimal long-term returns for our 48 depositors—representing more than 6 million Quebecers—while contributing to Quebec’s economic development.

As a global investment group, we are active in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate, and private credit. As of December 31, 2025, La Caisse’s net assets totaled C$517 billion. To learn more, visit lacaisse.com and check out our LinkedIn or Instagram pages.