Topic summary
Institut national de la recherche scientifique


The Institut national de la recherche scientifique (French pronunciation:; "National Institute for Scientific Research") is the provincial (not national) research-oriented constituent university of the Université du Québec system that offers only graduate studies. INRS conducts research in four broad sectors: water, earth and the environment; energy, materials and telecommunications; human, animal and environmental health; and urbanization, culture and society. The institute is considered "National" only in the context of the province of Quebec but is not recognized by the Canadian government as a national institute.
INRS has facilities in Quebec City, Montreal, Laval, and Varennes. It was established by letters patent from the Quebec Government and operates under the Act respecting the Université du Québec.
The Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (EMT, Energy, Materials and Telecommunications) INRS-EMT is part of INRS.