Cogeco and Power Corporation of Canada become the first founding partners of the Ruralités durables research centre
The INRS Foundation is proud to announce that Cogeco and Power Corporation of Canada have become the first two Founding Partners of the Ruralités durables research centre (sustainable rural communities research centre). By making a philanthropic commitment from the earliest stages of the Centre's launch, these organizations are showing their confidence in an initiative that aims to support the development, resilience and vitality of rural communities in Quebec.
Being among the first to invest in a major project takes vision, leadership and boldness. By choosing to support the Centre Ruralités durables from the very start of its operations, Cogeco and Power Corporation of Canada are helping to accelerate the impact of its research and to strengthen the Centre's ability to respond to the current and emerging challenges facing rural areas.
"Our first Founding Partners seized the opportunity to be pioneers and to invest from the very launch of the Centre's activities in order to accelerate the impact of our scientific teams’ work. They chose to invest not in a building, but in people, in knowledge and in the transformative potential of research," said Élise Comtois, Executive Director of the INRS Foundation, during the official announcement, which took place as part of the Centre Ruralités durables’ official opening event on October 13 in Baie-Saint-Paul.
A Research Hub Supported by Cogeco
Cogeco’s philanthropic support will be dedicated to one of the Centre’s four flagship research areas: technological adaptation in rural settings. The research activities in this area will be grouped under the banner of the “Cogeco Research Hub for Technological Innovation Adapted to Rural Settings.” Led primarily by the teams of Professor Vincent Taillard and Professor Marilyne Chicoine, this work will contribute to the development and integration of technological solutions tailored to the realities and needs of rural communities.
“As a regional telecommunications provider deeply rooted in our communities, we have a front-row seat to the unique technological challenges facing rural areas. That is why we are proud to join as a Founding Partner of the ‘Cogeco Research Hub for Technological Innovation Adapted to Rural Settings,’ a concrete investment to drive the development and prosperity of our regions,” said Gaëlle Cayrol, Director, Community Engagement at Cogeco.
Foundational Support from Power Corporation of Canada
For its part, Power Corporation of Canada has chosen to support the Centre Ruralités durables as a whole. Attuned to the mission of fostering the development, self-reliance and resilience of rural communities, the company is providing financial support that will enable the Centre to respond to the emerging needs of its community and support its growth. This commitment gives the Centre the flexibility to support the rollout of its research, its training of the next generation, and its knowledge mobilization activities for the benefit of rural communities.
Investing in the Future of Rural Communities
Philanthropy plays a key role in developing scientific projects with strong social impact. By supporting the Centre Ruralités durables, Cogeco and Power Corporation of Canada are contributing not only to innovative research projects, but also to the creation of knowledge and tools that will help decision-makers, organizations and citizens build stronger, more inclusive and more sustainable rural communities.
The INRS Foundation warmly thanks these first two Founding Partners for their trust and commitment. Their leadership paves the way for broader mobilization around a unifying initiative that will generate lasting benefits for Quebec's rural communities.