News > 2021 > Research and knowledge transfer: HEC Montréal still successful and relevant

Research and knowledge transfer: HEC Montréal still successful and relevant

2019-2020 Activity report

February 15, 2021

Despite the pandemic and its major effects on the economy over the past year, our School maintained its dynamic research and knowledge transfer activities in 2019-2020. Overall financing for the department reached $27.6 million.

These general facts can be gleaned from reading the 2019-2020 Activity report, recently unveiled by the Research and Knowledge Transfer office (DRT).

A few highlights from this year’s annual report:

Partnerships

There was an increase, of approximately 10 since last year, in the number of partnerships between the School’s research teams and organizations in the health care field. It’s clear that the institutions of this sector have felt a strong need for research-based expertise, in order to respond to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The value of research contracts obtained has also noticeably increased since last year, reaching nearly $1.25 million. A total of 29 contracts were signed in 2019-20, in addition to 23 service agreements in the community, representing a further $644,000.

Grants

Once again, HEC Montréal’s professors had an excellent success rate for research projects submitted in major grant competitions. This rate, averaging 55%, was superior to the 5-year national and provincial competition averages of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et Culture (FRQSC) and Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies (FRQNT).

Moreover, a higher number of external grants were applied for by HEC Montréal professors, compared to previous years, translating into a value of $5.6 million successful applications. This data serves as a great illustration of the vitality of research efforts, and of our researchers’ potential to innovate and ensure the longevity of their activities.

Publications

The rhythm of scientific publications remained steady in 2019-2020. Among other publications, the School’s research community produced 235 scientific articles, 49 book chapters and 16 books.

In fact, the School ranked 3rd worldwide as a Francophone business school, for its contributions to research in 2020, based on the Top 100 Business School Research Rankings of The University of Texas at Dallas.

Research chairs and groups

The School notably established the new Sport Management Hub, directed by Éric Brunelle. This new addition brings the number of active research groups and knowledge transfer hubs to 28 for last year.

The number of research chairs has respectively reached 34, including 7 Canada Research Chairs.

Consult the complete DRT report for 2019-2020