CEFRIO (trans. Francophone Center on Organizational Computerization)

Date: July 1994
Source: CEFRIO

CEFRIO
A PARTNER IN SUCCESS
You aim to maximize the return on your investment in information technology (IT). As well, you seek to ensure that such new technology fits harmoniously into your organization, thereby supporting your business strategies and improving your performance and competitiveness.

These are some of the challenges that CEFRIO and its partners help manage on a daily basis.

CEFRIO specializes in setting up R & D projects, serves as a technology transfer agent and monitors techno-organizational developments. The Centre's goal is to assist private and public organizations in improving their performances through the transfer of knowledge and skills for integrating information technology. To date, CEFRIO has completed over one hundred projects.

CEFRIO outsources R & D activities to university-based researchers and acts as a proactive transfer agent vis-a-vis private and public organizations. Research projects are carried out by teams created for specific assignments. Guided by the principle that maximum results are achieved in actual work environments, CEFRIO encourages the performance of research work on the premises of its member organizations.

Depending on the origin and goals of projects, two types of programs are available through CEFRIO. The first consists of research mandates that are defined by organizations and designed to draw on university research to help solve an organization's particular problems or, more generally, to improve its productivity. As for the second type of program, CEFRIO seeks the cooperation of member organizations in launching "research initiatives" and acts as a catalyst between sponsors and members of a consortium. Research initiatives may serve as opportunities to meet, for example, the general needs of an industrial sector. Findings can then be used by various organizations.

OUR FOCUS: HIGH TECH
CEFRIO and its partners focus their activities on four major areas of interest to organizations:

- IT as part of the business strategic planning process;
- Return on information technology investments;
- Re-engineering organizations and work processes;
- Organizational information management and linguistic applications.

CEFRIO constantly monitors techno-organizational developments. It keeps abreast of the latest research findings and solutions to problems facing organizations. The Centre also keeps track of developments through its "Infoméetre" service, which gathers strategic information about IT trends and advances designed to improve productivity.

SERVING ORGANIZATIONS

CEFRIO offers a variety of services to meet organizational needs.

Customized solutions

The information technology skills acquired by CEFRIO's network of researchers are made available to organizations. CEFRIO works in cooperation with them to help identify problems, analyze needs and develop research projects. The Centre favours projects that aim to produce tangible, relevant and effective results in the short or medium term. Follow-up measures adopted by CEFRIO help ensure that projects are completed within the shortest timeframes possible.

Setting-Up Projects
Because of the complexity of information technology, a variety of technical skills have to be pooled for proper development and management. Through its multi-disciplinary and multi-university approach, CEFRIO matches the specific needs of an organization with the most suitable research resources.

Responsibility for conducting contract negotiations with research officials is assumed by CEFRIO in all projects. Moreover, in addition to ensuring administrative follow-up on research activities, CEFRIO acts as an intermediary in issues such as intellectual property rights.

As well, CEFRIO helps launch projects by taking part in the establishment of financial and scientific alliances, including strategic partnerships and consortiums. If necessary, it draws on its network and resources to locate additional sources of financing available from the public and private sectors.

Financial Benefits
Thanks to CEFRIO's financial participation, the risks incurred in R & D projects can be shared. Participation is based on the nature of the project as well as on the partner organizationÊs own investment in financial, human and material resources. Organizations involved in research projects with CEFRIO can also enjoy significant tax benefits. Indeed, the Government of Quebec has recognized the essential role that CEFRIO plays in our modern society and thus enables organizations to benefit from tax incentives related to R & D activities. In the case of research performed in association with a university centre, tax credit refunds, which normally apply to salaries only, cover all R & D expenditures and jump from 20 to 40%.

Strategic Information, Marketable Products
As a knowledge transfer agent, CEFRIO offers its members considerable research findings. Organizations are thus able to capitalize on the latest strategic information as well as benefit from direct transfers of methodologies, products, prototypes, studies, and so on. Marketable products and services are of course first made available to CEFRIO members.

Surveys and Analyses
CEFRIO also offers private and public organizations the opportunity to conduct targeted surveys, multi-client studies and customized analyses based on major investigations carried out by its own Infomètre service. In fact, the data collected by Infomètre provide a unique insight into the information technology developments achieved in Quebec. They can therefore be used as background material for conducting studies and analyses that focus on the specific needs of an organization.

MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES

CEFRIO members represent various sectors of activity. They include private organizations, public agencies, universities and affiliated schools as well as government departments. All are in the forefront of information technology management.

Relations with CEFRIO are maintained through a senior official designated by each member organization. This liaison function is important, for it helps determine research needs and ensure the proper distribution of findings throughout the member organization.

In addition to setting up and performing research activities, CEFRIO offers members a number of privileges, including:

• Use of annual membership fees as financial participation (service credits) for carrying out research mandates, for activities in conjunction with InfomÇtre or for taking part in CEFRIO's promotional efforts;
• Integration in CEFRIO's business relations and techno-organizational watch networks;
• Preferential rates for public events organized by CEFRIO;
• Regional, national and international exposure at all CEFRIO activities as well as through its publications and business relations;
• Exclusive access to Club CEFRIO meetings, where firsthand
  research findings are exchanged;
• Opportunity to be part of CEFRIO decision-making bodies, including the Board of Directors, the Science Council and various work groups.

PUBLIC ACTIVITIES
CEFRIO publishes a quarterly information bulletin. It also holds various scientific information events designed for wider audiences

Les Vendredis du CEFRIO
CEFRIO regularly organizes informal breakfast meetings in Quebec City and Montreal. These Friday mornings provide a further opportunity to learn more about the latest research findings.

Seminars
As well, CEFRIO holds annual one-day seminars that focus on specific topics related to information technology. The discussions highlight actual situations involving the transfer of new skills and technology.

CEFRIO derives its financing from two sources. One is the Government of Quebec, through the ministère de l'Éducation et de la Science (department of education and science), which contributes significantly to supporting CEFRIO's goals and operations. Membership fees and member investments in research activities are the CentreÊs second source of financing.

For more information regarding membership in CEFRIO, contact our office in Quebec City or in Montreal.

Our Address in Québec:
140, Grande-Allée Est
Bureau 470
Québec (Québec)
G1R 5M8
Telephone: (418) 523-3746
Facsimile: (418) 523-2329

Montréal:
407, boul. Saint-Laurent
Bureau 600
Montréal (Québec)
H2Y 2Y5
Telephone: (514) 395-8983
Facsimile: (514) 874-1568

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