INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE

Their core work

INRS is a graduate-level research university in Quebec, Canada, specializing in both advanced photonics/ultrafast laser science and social science research on migration and urban dynamics. In H2020, they contributed as a non-EU third party or partner, bringing expertise in ultrafast molecular dynamics, mid-infrared laser technology, and later in migration policy modeling and refugee integration studies. Their dual strength in hard physics and social sciences makes them an unusual but versatile international collaborator for European consortia needing Canadian research capacity.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

INRS began its H2020 participation (2016-2018) firmly in experimental physics — ultrafast laser development, attosecond science, nonlinear optics, and molecular dynamics. From 2019 onward, there was a striking pivot toward social sciences: migration modeling, refugee integration, multiculturalism, and urban displacement. This shift likely reflects different research groups within INRS engaging with European projects rather than a single team changing direction, but the net effect is a broadening from pure photonics toward policy-relevant social research.

INRS is increasingly engaged in policy-relevant social science research within H2020, suggesting future collaborations may lean toward migration, integration, and urban studies rather than photonics.

How they like to work

INRS never coordinated an H2020 project — all five participations were as partner or international third party, consistent with their status as a non-EU institution contributing specialized expertise. They worked across 11 unique partners in 7 countries, indicating they join diverse consortia rather than repeat partnerships. This pattern suggests INRS is recruited for specific capabilities (Canadian research context, niche technical skills) rather than serving as a consortium backbone.

INRS collaborated with 11 unique partners across 7 countries, showing broad European reach despite being a Canadian institution. Their network spans both physics/engineering and social science communities, reflecting the two distinct research domains active in H2020.

What sets them apart

As a Canadian research university, INRS offers European consortia something rare: direct access to North American research infrastructure and the Canadian policy context (especially valuable for migration and refugee studies, where Canada's sponsorship model is globally recognized). Their photonics groups bring world-class ultrafast laser capabilities not easily found elsewhere. For consortium builders, INRS is a strong choice when international (non-EU) partnership adds credibility or when the Canadian comparative perspective is scientifically essential.

Highlights from their portfolio

• QuantMig
  Large-scale migration scenario modeling project where INRS served as international partner, bringing Canadian demographic expertise to European migration policy research.
• MIRed Streak
  Technically ambitious project combining attosecond science with mid-infrared streak camera development — represents INRS's strongest hard-science contribution to H2020.
• REFINTEG
  Directly examines Canada's refugee sponsorship model for European applicability, making INRS's Canadian context the core research asset rather than just a supplementary perspective.