Joint Research Unit (UMR) Numérique et territoires in Digital Transformation in Support of Regional Development

Mehdi Adda is a full professor of computer science at the Université du Québec à Rimouski and co-director of the INRS-UQAR UMR (2023–2025). His multidisciplinary research focuses on data science, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity. He is working on making energy grids and healthcare platforms more resilient to cyberattacks, as well as the analysis and application of data in fields like medical diagnosis, predictive maintenance, and infrastructure security. His vision of the digital transformation involves the integration of these technologies to improve services for individuals, communities, and organizations.   

Mehdi Adda | UQAR  

Paul Célicourt, assistant professor at the INRS Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre, specializes in environmental IT. His work focuses on the development of IT infrastructure for the responsible management of agricultural inputs and natural resources, particularly in the fields of hydroinformatics and digital agriculture. His research focuses on two areas: the responsible management of natural resources, and the transformation of agrifood systems into multi-economic models that embrace diverse perspectives such as the information economy, the bioeconomy, the circular economy, the green economy, and the political economy.  

Paul Célicourt | INRS  

Julia Frotey is an assistant professor at the INRS Urbanisation Culture Société Research Centre and co-director of the INRS-UQAR UMR (2023–2025). She uses her training as a geographer and urban planner to focus on the social, economic, and spatial dimensions of digital and energy transitions. The first part of her research examines governance, the impact of stakeholder plays, and the acceptability of energy and sustainable mobility projects. The second part examines how digital tools contribute to the sustainability of territories, and explores the challenges posed by their uneven deployment in those areas. She uses a mixed research approach combining cartography and spatial analysis with qualitative survey tools for her analyses.   

Julia Frotey | INRS  

Virginie Hébert, assistant professor at the INRS Urbanisation Culture Société Research Centre, studies the social, communicational, cultural, and linguistic divides that stem from the digital transformation of territories. Her research examines inequalities in digital usage and their impact on the development of regional communities. She also studies the process of constructing and framing public issues, with a particular focus on the Quebec language issue. Her research program has four main focuses: digital equity and inclusion in territories, public and territorial communication in the context of the digital transition, the cultural and linguistic aspects of the digital environment, and the framing of public issues related to digital matters.  

Virginie Hébert | INRS  

Nancy Michaud (UQAR) is a professor at UQAR and a chartered accountant (CPA) with a background in auditing and banking management that has led her to examine the exercise of professional judgment, particularly that of external auditors. Her research uses a variety of qualitative methodologies, such as semi-directed interviews, explanatory interviews, and autopraxeography. She also explores governance and innovation in healthcare services, as well as the development of digital competence among learners in administration and accounting programs. Her past interactions with local business leaders have enhanced her understanding of the issues experienced in the field, allowing her to research the digital transformation of organizations that are likely to benefit the business world and organizations in the region served by the UMR.  

Nancy Michaud | UQAR