The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) is committed to modernizing research assessment to better recognize the diversity of scientific contributions and their impact on society. This commitment is reflected in our endorsement of the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), our membership in the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), and the launch of our Evolution of Research Excellence Assessment (E3R) initiative.
Preliminary note
Rather than seeking to provide a fixed and absolute definition of excellence, the FRQ approaches excellence as a relative and conceptual concept, assessed through multiple criteria specific to each program and discipline.
Context and overview
The FRQ has been a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) since 2020 and joined the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) in 2023. These commitments marked the launch of a strategic initiative: the Evolution of the Evaluation of Excellence in Research (E3R).
Through E3R, the FRQ promotes a qualitative approach to research assessment supported by the responsible use of quantitative indicators. By aligning its policies with these principles, the FRQ is engaging in a progressive transformation of its evaluation practices.
Initiated in 2012 by a group of journal editors and publishers, the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) has since been endorsed by more than 1,980 organizations worldwide. It calls for assessing the quality of scientific output using criteria other than journal-based metrics such as impact factors, encouraging a more balanced and context-sensitive evaluation of research excellence.
The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) is an international alliance of nearly 800 research organizations, funding agencies, and higher education institutions.
Its mission is to reform research evaluation practices by reducing the overreliance on quantitative indicators and fostering a more inclusive, transparent, and sustainable research ecosystem.
The FRQ’s E3R project: our action plan
Launched in 2024, the E3R project serves as the FRQ’s roadmap for implementing CoARA’s principles within the Québec research ecosystem.
It is a progressive and collaborative process designed to:
- Broaden the recognition of excellence beyond traditional academic outputs.
- Revise assessment tools and criteria to better acknowledege diverse contributions and career paths including mentorship, community engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and open science.
- Raise awareness and build capacity within the Québec research community about new assessment practices through dialogue, training and support for evaluators..
- Promote mutual learning and exchang with other CoARA members by sharing experiences, challenges, and good practices.
Download our detailed action plan on the Zenodo platform, accessible to the public..
For several years, the FRQ has been engaged in multiple initiatives promoting responsible research assessment, including open science , open access, the promotion of science in French (link in French only), and the recognition of non-linear career paths.
This evolution is consistent with the FRQ’s guiding principles and has recently been strengthened through the gradual implementation of the descriptive CV (replacing the CCV).
Challenges and next steps
- Transforming research evaluation is a complex challenge and a long-term endeavor that requires a genuine cultural shift.
- The E3R project is inherently collaborative. The FRQ invites the research community and its ecosystem partners to contribute to this transformation.
- The FRQ is committed to co-developing with universities, colleges, and research institutions an approach that reflects Québec’s values and meets the needs of society.