Research is an essential mission at UMONS. UMONS counts more than 300 researchers working in 6 faculties. Graduates starting a doctoral thesis and professors directing a multi-disciplinary team take an active part in the progress research, for example by publishing their work in scientific magazines, by depositing patents, by creating spin-offs or taking part in European projects.

As an example, UMONS created 6 spin-offs and is currently taking part in ten European FP7 projects. Its R&D expenditure for the year 2007 came close to 25 million Euro.   

UMONS also created, individually or collaboratively, several research centres considered today as centers of excellence at the European level. These centres host several hundreds of researchers.

Examples to be pointed out in the field of materials are Materia Nova and INISMA, and in Media technologies: Multitel and CETIC. In medical imagery: CMMI.

The University also undertook many cooperations with public and private agencies, in Belgium and abroad, in order to promote the exchange of ideas and to ensure the competitiveness of its research. 

Thanks to its research activities and the close links which it maintains with industry, UMONS also takes an active part in regional development.