UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA

Their core work

The University of Ottawa is a major Canadian bilingual research university that contributes to European research primarily through social sciences, political theory, and migration studies. Their H2020 involvement centers on comparative political analysis across global contexts, refugee protection and integration policy, and evolutionary ecology. As a non-EU institution, they bring a valuable transatlantic perspective to European consortia, particularly on questions of democracy, citizenship, and asylum systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Early involvement (2015-2018) centered on political philosophy and democratic theory — concepts like nationalism, secularism, and citizenship through comparative and contextual analysis. From 2020 onward, the focus shifted markedly toward applied policy topics: refugee vulnerability, asylum systems, integration practices, and climate change biology. The trajectory shows a move from abstract political concepts toward more urgent, policy-relevant research on migration and environmental change.

uOttawa is increasingly engaged in policy-oriented migration research and climate adaptation science, suggesting future collaborations will center on these applied domains rather than pure political theory.

How they like to work

The University of Ottawa has never coordinated an H2020 project — their participation is entirely as a partner, third party, or international partner, reflecting their position as a non-EU institution brought in for specific expertise. With 66 unique partners across 26 countries from just 5 projects, they integrate into large, diverse consortia rather than leading them. This makes them a reliable contributor who adds international breadth without competing for coordination roles.

Despite only 5 projects, uOttawa has connected with 66 unique partners across 26 countries, indicating participation in large multinational consortia. Their reach spans well beyond Europe, reflecting their role as a Canadian institution offering a non-EU perspective.

What sets them apart

As a Canadian university in H2020, uOttawa offers what few European partners can: a genuine outside-in perspective on European political and policy questions. Their bilingual (English-French) character makes them a natural bridge to both Anglophone and Francophone research communities. For consortium builders needing international partner credibility or comparative non-EU viewpoints on democracy, migration, or asylum policy, uOttawa fills a distinctive niche.

Highlights from their portfolio

• POLITICO
  A large-scale comparative study of political concepts across world regions, running five years — the longest and most thematically central project in uOttawa's H2020 portfolio.
• VULNER
  Directly assessed gaps in the EU's asylum framework, examining how vulnerability is defined and addressed in refugee camps and resettlement — highly policy-relevant.
• CLIMGROWTH
  A departure from uOttawa's social science focus, applying integrated population models to understand climate-driven changes in wild bird populations — signals new interdisciplinary reach.