CIRST's first location : annexe Garneau

CIRST was born from the fusion of two research centres, the Centre de recherche en évaluation sociale des technologies (CREST) and the Centre de recherche en développement industriel et technologique (CRÉDIT), both created in 1986 thanks to the programme, set up by the Quebec Ministry of Education as part of the research policy recommendations published in the Livre blanc in 1980. With a three-year budget of $70 million, this programme aimed to create jobs and contribute to the growth of priority research disciplines. It was also designed to organize, on a permanent basis, research and training through measures and incentives linked to education, scientific employment and the purchase of equipment.

CIRST's second location: Les Atriums

Eight hundred new positions were set to be created in over forty university research groups, with each one being allocated $1.75 million over five years, 90% of which was earmarked for employment. At UQAM, CREST and CRÉDIT were among the teams of researchers selected for this project. While CREST was primarily oriented around the social evaluation of technology, CRÉDIT studied the development and transfer of Canadian energy technologies.

CIRST's actual location at the Pavillon Thérèse-Casgrain

Given their complementary objectives, the dialogue between the two centres and the recommendations made by the sub-committee of higher education and research at UQAM, CREST and CRÉDIT merged in 1992 before officially adopting entre interuniversitaire de recherche sur la science et la technologie as the name of the newly-created research centre in 1994.

In 2006, CIRST celebrated its 20th anniversary, highlighting its history with the publication of several columns by its founding members. Most importantly, it was a moment to commemorate the work of various people who, at one time or another, contributed to the development of the centre. To underline the exceptional contribution of several important figures, the position of "emeritus member" had been created only a few years earlier, with Camille Limoges as the first inductee in 2004. In 2006, Céline Saint-Pierre, a co-founder of CREST, was the second person to receive this honour.

Mr. Michel Jébrak, Vice-Rector of Research and Creation at UQAM, delivered an eloquent speech to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of CIRST. Click here to view the video.