The Observatoire des sciences et des technologies (OST) is a research group dedicated to the measurement of science, technology and innovation (STI). It has gained an enviable and well-deserved reputation for excellence in this field since its foundation in 1997, thanks to two complementary strengths:

Firstly, OST’s affiliation with Centre interuniversitaire de recherche sur la science et la technologie (CIRST) gives it access to a network of researchers who are continually contributing to the advancement of specialist knowledge in this domain, through their work in developing scientometric indicators, probing the analyses and conclusions that can be drawn from them, and training upcoming experts in the field.

Secondly, OST’s technical team participates in building, enriching and maintaining several databases on R&D, research funding, patents and publications. OST personnel undertake data cleaning work that minimizes the dispersion of information on researchers and their institutions contained in the databases. OST’s in-depth knowledge of these databases enables it to create highly specialized maps of expertise in Canada or worldwide, which are in turn extremely useful for targeting interventions and finding potential collaborators.

OST is a research support unit affiliated to the CIRST, located at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM). CIRST is Canada’s leading interdisciplinary research network for the investigation of the historical, social, political and economic dimensions of science and technology. It brings together over 40 researchers from a dozen institutions and from many disciplines, including history, sociology, political science, philosophy, economics, business studies and communications.

Science-Metrix and OST regularly work together on measurement and evaluation projects and on the development of databases such as the patents database of the United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO).