strategic plan for research and innovation - École Polytechnique de ...

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Introduction
/ Gilles Savard, PhD, Dean of Research and Innovation
Committed to Progress presents the strategic directions chosen by the
Polytechnique community in order to face a newly globalized and highly
competitive research environment in which universities are expected to
have a growing impact on society. This plan is not a fast, opportunistic
response to recent paradigm shifts. Quite the opposite; it is born of an indepth
deliberation on the part of our community. This reflection is solidly
built upon Polytechnique’s mission, vision statement and values, and the
element of training holds a central place in it. Supported by the Task Force
for the Strategic Planning of Research and Innovation, this plan is the
outcome of a process that we have sought to make open, inclusive and
transparent. It has been validated on an ongoing basis by Polytechnique's
main authorities and by our partners, particularly the Comité consultatif
de l’École Polytechnique (Polytechnique Montréal advisory committee—
COCEP). This ambitious project meets the standard of excellence
maintained by our faculty, our students and our staff.
Committed to Progress will guide Polytechnique’s actions at a time of
increasing globalization, during which governments, funding agencies
and public authorities are making research and innovation a core element
of their initiatives to support economic growth. As a designated player
in this growth, Polytechnique must now demonstrate its contributions
to society. It must become even more involved in key areas of local and
national competition and commit to consolidating the valorization of
research results. Polytechnique must also be a model of responsibility and
ethics. It is not sufficient to simply meet these requirements—we must be
at the forefront; we must be a leader.
Committed to Progress demonstrates that Polytechnique is resolutely
determined to remain among the leading engineering faculties in
Canada and that it wishes to continue to increase the magnitude of its
positive impact on society. This impact can be measured using several
criteria: the quality of the researchers and innovators we train, the
importance of our innovative and breakthrough research projects, and
the establishment of visionary strategic partnerships. This impact can
also be measured by our openness to society’s needs, which translates
into our community’s responsible social commitment.
The general strategic objective of our 2011–2016 plan revolves
around these five themes: Training, Research, Partnership, Social
Commitment and Responsibility. This objective is:
To have a measurable impact on 21st-century society by means
of training highly qualified personnel and by conducting,
disseminating and valorizing innovative research and
development work.
Today, this plan enables the establishment of a framework of reference
to guide Polytechnique’s actions, in particular those of the Research
and Innovation Directorate, in order to support Polytechnique’s
research mission and to face today’s challenges. It also highlights
the importance of the well-structured organization of our spheres
of excellence in research, and of differentiating our approaches
depending on the type of research in question, whether sector-based
or supportive.
I wish to sincerely thank all the people who contributed to developing
this plan. Your rigour and your investment in the values of our
institution are greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your commitment!