What CIRANO does

CIRANO (Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations) is a Montreal-based non-profit interuniversity research center founded in 1993. It produces and disseminates economic analysis, policy evaluation, and data-driven research for government policy makers, academic researchers, and private sector organizations in Quebec and Canada. The organization serves as a bridge between academic research and practical policy application, drawing affiliated researchers from Université de Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal, HEC Montréal, McGill University, Université Laval, UQAM, and 20+ other Quebec institutions. Its primary constituents include the Government of Quebec (core funding and research mandates), Quebec health system organizations (CISSS, CIUSSS, INESSS, INSPQ), the federal Government of Canada, and Quebec schools participating in its educational programs.

CIRANO's product portfolio spans nine public-facing assets. Core research tools include the Baromètre CIRANO, an annual survey tracking Quebecers' perceptions of 57 major societal issues since 2011 (8th edition released December 19, 2025); the Indicateurs Santé database aggregating 5,168 health indicators across population health, care experience, system organization, public health, medical workforce, and demographics from 15 public sources; and GVCdtLAB, an economic digital twin of the Saint-Laurent and Great Lakes trade corridor developed with the federal government. Educational programs include Bourstad (stock market simulation competition with 2,860 youth participants in 2026 and 9,020 additional participants in private simulations, each managing a C$200,000 virtual portfolio with more than C$30,000 in prizes) and En avant math!, a joint initiative with the Centre de recherches mathématiques on mathematical skills development. Methodological capabilities include the Claude Montmarquette Experimental Economics Laboratory, econometric analysis, and survey-based research. Dissemination is managed through the semi-annual PERSPECTIVES journal, the cirano.qc.ca website, and active social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

CIRANO operates as a non-profit funded primarily through research grants, Quebec and Canadian government funding, and institutional partnerships with universities. The organization does not sell commercial products and provides research outputs, publications, and data tools free of charge or through institutional access. In 2026 the Quebec government committed C$1.5 million to the En avant math! initiative for 2026-2029. The organization maintains 251-500 employees and is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Yves Giroux, with Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin serving as President and CEO since 2016 (also appointed Director General of IVADO effective September 1, 2026) and Roxane Borgès Da Silva and Pierre-Carl Michaud as Vice Presidents.

Name

CIRANO

Legal name

Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations

Website

https://cirano.qc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CIRANO is a non-profit interuniversity research center founded in 1993 in Montreal, Quebec. It produces economic analysis and policy research for government, academic, and private sector partners, offering longitudinal data tools, educational programs, and the GVCdtLAB economic digital twin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Economic Analysis

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Scholarship, Financial Aid & FAFSA Support (EDAMAKAF)

Keywords

• Economic policy research
• Public policy evaluation
• Interuniversity research center
• Health policy analysis
• Financial education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Funding and Grants: CIRANO operates as a non-profit research organization funded primarily through research grants, government funding (Quebec and federal governments), and partnerships with academic institutions. The organization celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2026, indicating sustained institutional funding over decades.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CIRANO is a non-profit interuniversity research center that produces and transfers high-value-added university knowledge to inform strategic decision-making. It conducts economic analysis and public policy evaluation through research programs, an experimental economics laboratory, longitudinal surveys (Baromètre), and public data tools (Indicateurs Santé, GVCdtLAB). It also delivers educational programs on financial literacy (Bourstad, FinÉcoLab) and mathematics (En avant math!).

Product overview

CIRANO (Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations) is a multi-university research center that produces and transfers high-value-added academic knowledge to inform strategic decision-making. The organization operates as a research platform with multiple distinct products: the Baromètre CIRANO provides annual public perception surveys on societal risks; Bourstad offers financial education through stock market simulation for youth; En avant math! focuses on mathematical skills development; FinÉcoLab and Guide pour les finances personnelles address personal finance education; GVCdtLAB provides economic digital twin capabilities for the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes corridor; Indicateurs Santé offers a comprehensive health indicators database; and PERSPECTIVES serves as the organization's semi-annual research publication journal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Baromètre CIRANO: Annual survey on risk perception in Quebec tracking 57 major issues and public concerns.
• PERSPECTIVES
• Bourstad
• En avant math!
• FinÉcoLab
• GVCdtLAB
• Indicateurs Santé

Products and services

• Baromètre CIRANO An annual survey measuring Quebecers' perceptions, concerns, and confidence levels regarding 57 major societal issues and risks, conducted since 2011 with longitudinal data on risk perception trends.
• Bourstad A stock market simulation competition for Quebec youth that allows participants to manage a virtual portfolio of $200,000 using real market-listed securities, promoting financial literacy and investment knowledge. The 2026 edition had 2,860 participants and 9,020 participants in private simulations.
• En avant math! A joint initiative by CIRANO and the Centre de recherches mathématiques (CRM) at Université de Montréal focused on developing mathematical skills from early childhood through adulthood in Quebec, with $1.5 million government funding for 2026-2029.
• GVCdtLAB (Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Economic Digital Twin Lab) A data science and knowledge exchange platform creating an economic digital twin of the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes corridor, enabling analysis of hydrological changes' economic impacts on maritime traffic and international trade.
• Indicateurs Santé A health indicators database containing 5,168 indicators related to population health status, care experiences, health system organization and costs, public health, medical workforce, and demographics, drawing from 15 reliable public data sources.
• PERSPECTIVES Journal CIRANO's semi-annual research dissemination journal that makes research findings accessible to a broader audience, covering economic and public policy topics.
• FinÉcoLab A financial education laboratory developing educational tools and programs for personal finance in Quebec schools.
• Guide pour les finances personnelles A comprehensive personal finance guide developed in partnership with the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) to help Quebecers manage their finances.
• Le Québec des bâtisseurs A research initiative examining the social and economic infrastructure of Quebec, focusing on societal development and public policy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,168 health indicators tracked across 15 public data sources
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Polytechnique MontréalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolytechnique Montréal is a key academic partner. Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin, CEO of CIRANO, is a full professor in the Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal. The institutions collaborate on research projects, particularly in risk analysis, digital transformation, and public policy.
• Université de MontréalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversité de Montréal is the primary affiliated university, hosting numerous CIRANO researchers. Roxane Borgès Da Silva is a full professor at Université de Montréal's School of Public Health. The institutions share researchers and conduct joint research programs.
• Centre de recherches mathématiques (CRM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRM and CIRANO jointly lead the 'En avant math!' initiative to develop mathematical skills in Quebec youth, funded by $1.5 million from the Quebec government for 2026-2029. The collaboration combines mathematical research with economic analysis.
• IVADO (Institut de valorisation des données)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVADO is a major data science research institute. Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin was named CEO of IVADO effective September 1, 2026, highlighting the strong institutional ties. CIRANO researchers are associated with IVADO for data analytics and AI impact research.
• HEC MontréalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHEC Montréal is an affiliated business school within the CIRANO network. Pierre-Carl Michaud serves as Vice President Strategy and Government Relations at CIRANO and is affiliated with HEC Montréal, contributing to finance and economics research.
• Quebec Health System OrganizationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CIRANO Pole on Health Services and Policies Efficiency works with public health organizations including CISSS and CIUSSS du Québec, Institut national d'excellence en santé et services sociaux (INESSS), Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Centre de recherche en santé publique, and Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal.
• Government of CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe federal government partners with CIRANO on major projects including the GVCdtLab (Economic Digital Twin of the Saint-Laurent and Great Lakes corridor), combining federal data resources with CIRANO's analytical capabilities.
• Government of QuebeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Quebec government provides core funding and research mandates. The annual thematic research programming (currently 'Education and Workforce Development') is conducted in partnership with government priorities. The 'En avant math!' initiative received $1.5 million in provincial funding.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• C.D. Howe Institute: Canada's leading independent economic policy research organization. Closely comparable to CIRANO: produces rigorous economic analysis, publishes research reports, and engages directly with federal/provincial policy makers on fiscal, regulatory, and labor market issues. Differs in being Toronto-based and Canada-wide rather than Quebec-focused.
• Institut de recherche en politiques publiques (IRPP): Independent Canadian policy research institute based in Montreal. Operates a similar model to CIRANO of producing non-partisan research on economic and social policy for government and public audiences, with comparable funder mix of government grants and philanthropic support.
• Institut économique de Montréal (IEDM): Quebec-based economic policy think tank publishing research on taxation, regulation, labor markets, and public finance. Comparable to CIRANO in jurisdiction (Quebec), policy focus, and dissemination model, though ideologically distinct and smaller in scale.
• Institut du Québec: Quebec-focused economic research institute producing analysis on productivity, education, and public finance. Comparable to CIRANO in geographic focus (Quebec), thematic alignment, and policy advisory function; both serve Quebec government decision-makers with rigorous economic research.
• Smart Prosperity Institute: Canadian policy research institute based at the University of Ottawa producing evidence-based research on clean growth, innovation, and economic productivity. Comparable to CIRANO's policy research function and university affiliation model, though narrower in thematic focus (environmental-economy intersection).
• Junior Achievement Canada: Long-standing Canadian non-profit delivering financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship programs to youth through schools. Directly comparable to CIRANO's Bourstad and FinÉcoLab programs, both targeting Quebec/Canadian students with simulated investing experiences and personal finance curricula.
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA): National independent policy research institute with offices across Canada, producing research on economic and social policy. Comparable to CIRANO in research-driven policy advocacy and grant-funded non-profit structure, though ideologically distinct and operating across multiple provinces rather than focused on Quebec.

Broad incumbents

• The Conference Board of Canada: One of Canada's largest independent research organizations, producing economic analysis, policy research, and forecasting across all provinces. Overlaps with CIRANO on economic evaluation and policy advisory work, but operates at much larger national scale with a broader mandate and corporate membership model.
• Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI): Waterloo-based independent think tank producing research on global governance, international economics, and technology policy. Comparable to CIRANO in research dissemination model and policy advisory orientation, though with a global rather than Quebec focus and a broader portfolio of program areas.

Regional players

• Canada West Foundation: Western Canada-focused public policy think tank producing research on economic, fiscal, and municipal issues. Comparable to CIRANO as a regionally anchored policy research organization, though operating in a different Canadian region (Prairies/West) and focused on sub-national rather than Quebec-specific issues.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@iCIRANO/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61552189529850
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cirano-institute
• Xx.com/ciranomtl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CIRANO