Over the past five years, Université de Montréal’s Science Complex, on the MIL Campus, has become an essential hub for discovery, learning and innovation. Thousands of students have taken their first steps into the world of research there, while scientific teams have pushed the boundaries of knowledge.
Now the development of the complex enters a new phase. The provincial and federal governments have each confirmed financial support of more than $200 million, while the Courtois Foundation, led by Jacques Courtois, is making an exceptional $139.4-million donation to UdeM that will make it possible to build the Courtois Institute.
Work will begin this summer and is expected to lead to the inauguration of new infrastructure in 2029.
This second phase of the Science Complex has been planned since the early stages of the MIL Campus’s development. For several years, UdeM teams have been working on two new wings that will be added to the existing building. Confirmation of government funding was the final step before launching the calls for tenders that will allow construction to begin.
Martine Biron, Quebec's minister of higher education, confirmed the project’s funding at a ceremony on site. She was accompanied by her colleague Éric Girard, Quebec's minister of finance. On behalf of the federal government, Rachel Bendayan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Outremont MP and Caroline Desrochers Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure were present to announce the news.
“We are grateful to the governments of Québec and Canada for this major support for science and innovation," said UdeM rector Daniel Jutras. "This project illustrates what can be achieved when the public and philanthropic sectors join forces."
The Courtois Foundation is providing $139.4 million: $100 million from its landmark donation announced in 2021, with an additional $39.4 million being added today. “Jacques Courtois is without question one of our scientists’ closest allies,” said Jutras. "Every university should be able to count on a partner like Mr. Courtois.”
The new facilities will make it possible to relocate the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Department of Computer Science and Operations Research, bringing UdeM’s six natural-sciences departments together in one location. The chemistry, physics, geography and biological sciences disciplines have been located on the MIL Campus since the Science Complex opened in 2019.
The Courtois Institute will occupy one of the two new wings and will be equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories.
“Over the years, it became clear to me that my commitment to Université de Montréal would be directed toward fundamental research, for the simple reason that long-term science, with no concrete short-term results, is not highly valued by society," said Courtois. "And yet it is this research that often, after much trial and error, helps change the world. I have no doubt that a major discovery will take place at the Courtois Institute, and I am delighted to think that my philanthropic gesture will have made a real difference."
The Courtois Institute was launched in 2022 with support from the Courtois Foundation.
Researchers in chemistry, physics and computer science share a common goal: to harness recent advances in artificial intelligence.
“If we wish to ensure our long-term prosperity, we must safeguard the strength of our scientific capabilities in both basic and applied research," said Frédéric Bouchard, UdeM's dean of arts and sciences. "This is particularly true in strategic sectors such as those covered by the Courtois Institute. We already had exceptional researchers, but it will now be much easier to recruit the next generation to support them in their projects.
"Furthermore," he added, “we can now equip them with the best platforms and bring them together with our proven expertise in artificial intelligence, thereby accelerating research into advanced materials and the quantum properties of matter, to the great benefit of our communities.”
