What Cœur des sciences - UQAM does

Cœur des sciences is a public science outreach and popularization center operated as part of the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), a public university in Quebec, Canada. Founded as an institutional unit in 2006 with approximately 13 employees, the center occupies the Cœur des sciences pavilion at 175 avenue du Président-Kennedy and the Sherbrooke pavilion at 200 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, both in Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles. Its mission is to bridge UQAM's academic research with the general public, schools, and cultural audiences through participatory science programming, public conferences, and venue rentals.

The center's core offerings split into two product lines. The educational portfolio consists of five school-targeted programs serving secondary students (Grades 1-5): Sprints de science (online participatory research conferences of 60-75 minutes), Balades/rallyes/visites (guided scientific walks through Montreal), Visites virtuelles de labo (virtual lab tours), Tous au labo! (hands-on laboratory protocols), and Rencontres science express (online speed-dating with scientists). These are animated by UQAM graduate student researchers, providing authentic research exposure. The second product line is venue rental, offering four distinctive spaces: the Agora (a historic c.1910 forge, 250-person capacity), the Amphithéâtre (340-seat theater), the Chaufferie (165-person courtyard space with natural lighting), and the Salle polyvalente (442 m² multipurpose hall up to 400 persons).

Revenue mechanics span three streams: venue rentals (quote-based, one-time transactions), educational activity fees for school programs (professional services model), and public donations routed through the UQAM Foundation (recurring giving channel). The go-to-market motion is event-driven and community-oriented, relying on the center's website, email newsletter, YouTube archive, and social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky) for audience development, with direct booking via website forms. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; venue pricing varies by space with additional costs for technical support and furniture. As a public institutional entity, the center is government-funded as part of UQAM and does not operate under commercial ownership or venture funding structures.

Name

Cœur des sciences - UQAM

Legal name

Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

Website

https://coeurdessciences.uqam.ca

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cœur des sciences is a public science outreach center at UQAM in Montreal offering graduate-student-led educational programs for secondary schools and rental of four historic event venues in the Quartier des Spectacles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Education and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

University & Academic Conference Venues (THAHAAAD), Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Science outreach programs
• Educational venue rentals
• School science activities
• University event spaces
• Public science engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Venue rentals: Rental of event spaces (Agora, Amphithéâtre, Chaufferie, Salle polyvalente) to external organizers for conferences, galas, filmings, and other events.
2. Educational activities: Science education programs for secondary school students including science sprints, guided walks, virtual lab visits, and lab visits, animated by graduate students.
3. Donations: Public donations through UQAM Foundation to support science outreach activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cœur des sciences is a science outreach center at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) that delivers educational science programs for secondary school students (Sprints de science, Balades, virtual lab visits, hands-on lab sessions, science speed-dating) animated by graduate student researchers, and rents four event venues (Agora, Amphithéâtre, Chaufferie, Salle polyvalente) for conferences, galas, and cultural events.

Product overview

Coeur des sciences - UQAM is a science center at Université du Québec à Montréal offering educational programs and event venue rentals. The educational portfolio includes five core activities for schools: Sprints de science (participatory online research conferences), Balades/rallyes/visites (guided scientific tours), Visites virtuelles de labo (virtual lab visits), Tous au labo! (hands-on laboratory experiences), and Rencontres science express (speed-dating with scientists). The venue rental service offers four distinct spaces: the Agora (historical forge space), Amphithéâtre (theater-style), Chaufferie (courtyard setting), and Salle polyvalente (multipurpose hall).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sprints de science Participatory online conferences for secondary school students (grades 1-5) where students experience the steps of real scientific research in 60 or 75 minutes, led by student researchers.
• Balades, rallyes et visites Guided activities led by graduate students to help students discover scientific treasures of Montreal, covering topics such as mathematics, ecology, geology, and urban planning.
• Visites virtuelles de labo Virtual laboratory tours guided by scientists, allowing students to discover research installations and equipment.
• Tous au labo! Activity in a UQAM laboratory where students follow a scientific protocol from beginning to end.
• Rencontres science express Online speed-dating format where students meet 4 mystery scientists from various fields including archaeology, sports science, diabetes research, volcanology, and helicopter engineering.
• Salle polyvalente A 442 m2 multipurpose room offering various layout possibilities for cocktails, exhibition lounges, and launches, with a capacity of 400 (cocktail), 350 (theater), or 225 (banquet).
• Chaufferie Event space with two fully windowed main walls offering natural lighting, located in the landscaped courtyard of UQAM West campus, suitable for filming, festivals, conferences, and cocktails with 165-person capacity.
• Amphithéâtre Theater ideal for conferences, screenings, or other events requiring large capacity, featuring 340 seats with tablets, 3 screens, 2 digital projectors, and 2 soundproof booths for simultaneous translation.
• Agora Event space located in the former forge of the École technique de Montréal (built around 1910), featuring impressive ceiling height, skylights, and large windows with natural lighting. Suitable for filming, festivals, galas, conferences, and meetings with 250-person capacity.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Discovery Centre (Halifax): Atlantic Canada's largest science center offering hands-on exhibits and school programming. Comparable as a Canadian science center serving schools and families with STEM outreach and event rental activities.
• Canada Science and Technology Museum: National science and technology museum in Ottawa operated by Ingenium. Comparable as a publicly funded science museum with school programs and event venue capabilities, serving a similar institutional mission.
• Science World British Columbia: Vancouver-based science center with exhibit galleries, OMNIMAX theatre, and school programs. Comparable mission and structure, providing science outreach to schools and the public, with a stronger events/venue rental operation.
• Science North: Sudbury-based science center with exhibits, school programs, and a planetarium. Comparable as a publicly supported Canadian science outreach institution targeting schools and the public.
• TELUS World of Science – Edmonton: Major Western Canadian science center offering interactive exhibits, IMAX theatre, and school programming. Comparable as a multi-format science outreach venue serving school groups, families, and corporate events.
• ASTROLab du Parc national du Mont-Mégantic: Quebec astronomy outreach center offering school programs, public visits, and observatory experiences. Comparable as a Quebec-based science outreach institution serving school groups and the public, with similar language and curricular alignment.
• Ontario Science Centre: Large Canadian science museum offering interactive exhibits and school programs. Comparable in mission (public science literacy, school programming) and in operating model (publicly funded science center), though at significantly larger scale and serving Ontario schools.
• Espace pour la vie (Montréal): Montreal municipal network comprising the Biodôme, Insectarium, Botanical Garden, and Planetarium. Comparable as a public science and nature education institution competing for the same school and family audience in Greater Montreal.
• Montreal Science Centre (Centre des sciences de Montréal): Montreal's flagship public science museum located on the Old Port. Directly comparable as a public-facing science outreach institution serving families and schools in the same city, with overlapping STEM programming and school-field-trip audience.

Regional players

• Musée de la civilisation (Québec): Québec City public museum offering school programs and event venue rentals. Comparable as a publicly funded cultural and educational institution in Quebec offering both school programming and event/venue rental services, though focused on civilization rather than science specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqA9LPYSjnRfRCexcbgLg
• Facebookfacebook.com/coeurdessciences
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c%C5%93ur-des-sciences
• Instagraminstagram.com/coeurdessciences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cœur des sciences - UQAM