Presentation
The Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG) was founded in 2001, launched under the leadership of École Polytechnique de Montréal in collaboration with Université de Montréal and HEC Montréal. The CIRAIG was created to meet the demands of industry and governments to develop leading edge academic expertise in sustainable development tools.
The CIRAIG pools and provides the key strengths of Quebec and Canadian universities in the fields of life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle management (LCM). Since its foundation, five other universities have become collaborating members: Université Laval, Université du Québec à Montréal, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and Université du Québec à Chicoutimi.
The CIRAIG includes seven Chairs and one Research Centre:
- International Industrial Chair in Life Cycle Assessment Methodology (École Polytechnique de Montréal - Chairholders: Professors Réjean Samson and Louise Deschênes)
- Chaire d'économie internationale et de gouvernance (HEC Montréal – Chairholder: Professor Bernard Sinclair-Desgagné)
- Électricité de France (EDF) Chair on Sustainable Development (École Polytechnique de Paris - Co-Chair: Professor Bernard Sinclair-Desgagné
- Industrial NSERC Polytechnique-UQAT Chair (Environment and Mine Wastes Management - Chairholders: Professors Michel Aubertin and Bruno Bussière)
- Chaire de recherche du Canada sur la restauration des sites miniers abandonnés (École Polytechnique de Montréal - Chairholder: Professor Bruno Bussière)
- NSERC Chair in Environmental Design Engineering (École Polytechnique de Montréal - Chairholder: Professor Paul Stuart)
- Chair in eco-counseling (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi - Chairholder: Professor Claude Villeneuve)
- Centre de recherche en pâtes et papiers (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières - Director: Professor Claude Daneault).
The CIRAIG is also an official partner of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) / Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Life Cycle Initiative.