Center for Intersectoral Studies and Research on the Circular Economy

Research and innovation

An integrative approach: Circular economy living labs

To initiate and accelerate the transition of various sectors and industries to a circular economy, CERIEC is developing an ecosystem of circular economy acceleration laboratories (ELEC). Combining science and practice, they allow us to co-create and test state-of-the-art solutions that reflect the real issues and needs of Québec society and apply them to communities and the academic world. 

Deploying a circular economy requires a systemic approach and unprecedented collaboration between stakeholders. These individuals from diverse backgrounds need to be supported by an action-oriented methodology that enables common goals, methods, tools, and specific indicators to be established, many of which still need to be co-created and tested.

There are three active labs within ELEC

• The Construction Lab: Visit the resource platform (in French)
• The Food Systems Lab: Visit the website (in French)
• The Textiles Lab: Contact the project manager

Bringing together research strengths

CERIEC is coordinating the Québec Circular Economy Research Network (RRECQ). Announced in July 2021 thanks to the support of the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), the RRECQ brings together research strengths aimed at building capacity to deploy circular economy strategies at the scale of industrial sectors and territories, supported by coherent government policies, in a perspective of sustainable transition for society.

Focused on action research and collaboration with stakeholders, this network is an additional asset in the Québec ecosystem to develop knowledge, skills, practices and technologies around circular economy.

The Network is the result of a collaboration between HEC Montréal, ÉTS, Université Laval and Polytechnique Montréal, supported by CERIEC. The scientific program of the RRECQ is organized around four research axis:

• Axis 1: Change and transition management | Holder: Emmanuel Raufflet, HEC | Co-responsible: Myriam Ertz, UQAC
• Axis 2: Optimization of the planning | Holder: Marc Journeault, Université Laval | Co-responsible: Mourad Ben Amor, Université de Sherbrooke
• Axis 3: Maximization of resources and services | Holder: Mathias Glaus, ÉTS | Co-responsible: Cécile Fonrouge, UQTR
• Axis 4: Policy levers | Holder: Sophie Bernard, Polytechnique Montréal | Co-responsible: Fanny Tremblay-Racicot, ENAP

Education and Training

Academic training

In collaboration with the faculty, the CERIEC team is developing strategies, approaches, and teaching tools to facilitate the integration of circular economy concepts and practices into existing training programs and also to develop new training courses. A teaching toolbox has been designed to optimize the training provided at all levels. This ever-evolving resource centre is available to all ÉTS faculty.

CERIEC is working with RRECQ to provide a free online introductory circular economy course: “Circular Economy: An Inevitable Transition” (course in French only).

Intended for people from all walks of life, whether they are members of the general public, professionals, decision makers, students, researchers or teachers, this four-module course is for anyone who wants to learn about the concept of the circular economy. Participants are asked to rethink the production-consumption system they participate in on a daily basis, to question the linear model, and to explore how to implement circularity within an organization, sector, or geographical area.

The summer school course “Circular Economy: An Inevitable Transition” (webpage and course in French only) has been a success since 2016. New content and lessons learned from engineering experiments, with contributions from CERIEC and ÉTS researchers, have been added. In collaboration with RRECQ and ÉTS Formation, CERIEC has been running a summer school program on the ÉTS campus since 2023.

The course objective is to present the foundations and principles of the circular economy model for those who want to deepen their understanding of it, learn about implementation mechanisms, and identify the limitations of the production/consumption model.

Vocational training

In a joint effort with ÉTS Formation, CERIEC is developing training courses geared towards engineering and management professionals in particular. 

The two-day course PERF 767 Circular economy: How to transform your organization (webpage and course in French only) provides participants with a better understanding of the principles and strategies of circularity and, based on a preliminary diagnosis targeted to their context, enables them to draw up the blueprint of an action plan for their business and the planet. 

In addition, CERIEC designs and implements customized training programs, either on its own or in collaboration with other stakeholders in the Québec ecosystem. Whether online or in-person, these courses vary in scope, from introductory conceptual courses to the co-construction of tailor-made, comprehensive workshops or training programs. 

For example, the training tour “Accelerating Québec’s transition to a circular economy” (webpage in French) was designed and implemented in collaboration with Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec and several other partners. This extensive program involved businesses and organizations in Québec’s 17 regions between September 2021 and summer 2022. 

Dialogue and knowledge transfer

QuébecCirculaire.org: the reference platform for Quebec's transition to circular economy

Québec Circulaire is part of an international francophone network in circular economy, which gathers several collaborative and interconnected platforms from Canada, France and Switzerland. This knowledge ecosystem acts as an effective social network for servicing projects and multi-actor cooperation in the territories.