HUPR – Research Centre for Human Potential conducts applied research projects in collaboration with a vast network of partners. With a focus on the performing arts and human potential, HUPR offers technical assistance, information and training to support professionals and organizations in this field.
Recognized as a Centre collégial de transfert de technologie (CCTT), HUPR was recently designated a Technology Access Centre by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). This recognition will enable HUPR to develop digital technologies, while strengthening its research, training and support capabilities.
HUPR shines both nationally and internationally, bringing together researchers, technicians, designers, educators and managers. With a transdisciplinary approach, it supports artists and organizations in integrating new tools and knowledge to innovate sustainably and push back the boundaries of creation.
The Research Centre works on a variety of research projects related to human potential and movement in the context of the performing arts. The work of the researchers and specialists is articulated around four fields of innovation:
Meet the different experts who collaborate with HUPR on their research projects.
| Agathe Bisserier Researcher-Artist – Equity, Diversity and Inclusion CanadaStefanie Blain-Moraes, PhD Associate Researcher – Neurophysiological and Physiological Analysis of Human Interaction McGill University, CanadaMarco Antonio Coelho Bortoleto, PhD Associate Researcher – Physical Education Campinas University, BrazilJohn Cairney, PhD Associate Researcher – Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences Queensland University, Australia Joe Culpepper, PhD Louis-Étienne Dubois, PhD Richard Fleet, PhD Stéphanie Greenspan David Guimont Marion Guyer Nathalie Houser, PhD Julia Infantino Naël Jammal Louis Patrick Leroux, PhD |
Adrien Malette-Chenier Researcher-Artist – Equity, Diversity and Inclusion CanadaYves Mathieu Collaborator – Engineer, Project Manager The Composites Development Center of Quebec(CDCQ), Canada Anne-Laure Ménard, PhD Collaborator – Biomechanics, Human-Object Interaction Centre d’expertise et de recherche en design industriel (INÉDI), Canada David Munro Collaborator – Section Editor – Sciences for CALS magazine Swinburne University of Technology, Australia Sarah Norden Véronique Richard, PhD Annie Ross, PhD Pierre-Olivier Roy Lama Seoud, PhD Laurent Simon, PhD Franzisca Trapp, PhD Eric Wagnac, PhD Hayley Ward |
The National Circus School (NCS) has been carrying out research-creation and educational research activities for nearly forty years. It was in 2010, after having put in place policies and procedures to oversee such activities, that the NCS created its own research service. The latter is now recognized and supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada.
As of 2011, the NCS’s research service receives grants from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education and the College and Community Innovation Program (ICC) offered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Center of Canada (NSERC).
In 2012, the department was awarded a SSHRC College Industrial Research Chair in Circus Arts. The mandate of the Chair was then renewed in 2017 for five years, thus confirming the relevance of its mission and the excellence of its achievements.
Following a resolution by the NCS Board of Directors, the Center for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer in Circus Arts (CRITAC) was officially constituted in 2013. CRITAC is recognized as a Centre collégial de transfert de technologie (CCTT) since 2018.
In 2024, the Centre de recherche, d’innovation et de transfert en arts du cirque (CRITAC) became HUPR – Research Centre for Human Potential. In the same year, HUPR receives recognition as a Technology Access Centre from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), along with a grant. This support strengthens its ability to develop digital technologies and excel in research, training and coaching.
Discover the institutional research strategy and policies of the NCS:
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HUPR is redefining the intersection of innovation and performing arts. The collective of researchers, experts, and artists aims to advance human potential and socio-economic development through transdisciplinary collaborations, embodied movement research, technology, and innovation.
To be a global leader in the development of human potential.
