2027 Edition
Call for applications published: October 15, 2026
Application deadline: December 10, 2026
Announcement of results: April 15, 2027
BACKGROUND OF THE CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The International Research Center (IRC) “Innovations for a Sustainable Planet” was established in 2024 as a partnership between the University of Sherbrooke (UdeS) and the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). It aims to develop collaborative research to address major contemporary challenges related to sustainable development. The 2027 call for projects aims to catalyze scientific and technological advances within the framework of interdisciplinary research. Particular attention will be paid to the environmental, societal, or ethical impacts of innovations, beyond mere technical or technological performance.
THEMATIC FOCUS OF THE CALL
I. The call is open to all scientific fields covered by the IRC.
II. Interdisciplinary projects spanning the IRC’s research areas are encouraged.
Interdisciplinary research draws upon complementary expertise and skills from at least two of the IRC’s four research areas. Projects demonstrating this complementarity across research areas will receive special consideration.
- Research Area 1. Responsible Innovation, Transitions, and Biodiversity
- Research Area 2. Micro- and Nanotechnologies
- Research Area 3. Sustainable Chemistry and Circularity of Materials — Responsible, Low-Carbon Materials for Sustainable Construction
- Research Area 4. Quantum Sciences and Technologies
III. Project proposals will go beyond a vision based solely on “technological maturity”
Project implementation will address at least one of the following dimensions:
| DIMENSION | EXAMPLES OF ISSUES (NOT EXHAUSTIVE) |
| Health, Environment | Climate, energy, pollution, resource scarcity, etc. |
| Uses | Ability to go beyond the status quo, compatibility with or a break from current practices, etc. |
| Social Acceptability | Cost-benefit analysis for stakeholders, challenges for organizations or communities, etc. |
| Ethics | Privacy, consent, fairness, misuse, etc. |
| Regulations | Compliance with or conflicts with regulatory frameworks, etc. |
| Economics | Terms and conditions regarding financing, value creation, or profitability, etc. |
PROJECT STRUCTURE
This call for proposals allocates funding for two joint doctoral dissertations between the University of Sherbrooke and the CNRS:
- A dissertation funded by the University of Sherbrooke: Supervised by a professor at the University of Sherbrooke, with co-supervision by a researcher from a CNRS laboratory;
- A dissertation funded by the CNRS: Supervised by a researcher from a CNRS laboratory, with co-supervision by a professor from the University of Sherbrooke.
This structure, consisting of two joint dissertations, promotes international collaboration and the mutual enrichment of expertise and research approaches.
Submit an Application
To submit an application in response to this call for proposals, please download the complete call for proposals document.
For any inquiries, please email us at info-irc-ipd@usherbrooke.ca.