For UdeS–CNRS collaborations in micro-nanotechnologies, quantum physics, green chemistry, and responsible innovation

The International Research Center “Innovations for a Sustainable Planet” (IRC IPD) was delighted to welcome Bernard Legrand, scientific director of the IRC IPD for the CNRS, from September 25 to 29. This visit was part of the high-level meeting between CNRS CEO Antoine Petit and UdeS Rector Jean-Pierre Perreault, which took place on August 27 at 3iT and the FMSS.

In the presence of Prof. Vincent Aimez, Scientific Director of the IRC IPD for UdeS, and guided by Adrien Longa (Head of Partnerships and Growth at Distriq), we had the opportunity to visit Distriq, the Sherbrooke Quantum Innovation Zone, dedicated to research, commercialization, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship in quantum science and technology.

At the Quantum Institute (IQ), Prof. Mathieu Juan (IQ Deputy Director), Prof. Louis Taillefer (Director of IRL Frontières quantiques), and Karl Thibault (Coordinator) gave us a detailed presentation on the activities of the institute and IRL Frontières quantiques, as well as an in-depth tour of the facilities.

The visit continued at the UdeS Faculty of Science. In the Department of Physics, Prof. Louis Taillefer and Prof. Bertrand Reulet gave us a tour of their laboratories and high-tech equipment, offering insights along the way into the most recent—and upcoming—discoveries in quantum sciences (fundamental physics, intense magnetic fields, and quantum phases of matter).

The UdeS-CNRS collaborations, as well as the operations of the International Research Laboratories (IRL) and the IRC IPD, highlighted the importance of student mobility between France and Quebec, which helps strengthen research teams that are constantly seeking to recruit high-caliber talent.

Discussions with Prof. Denis Machon, director of the IRL LN2 (Nanotechnologies and Nanosystems Laboratory), provided an opportunity to explore UdeS-CNRS collaborations in the field of nanotechnology. Thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities and numerous industrial partnerships, the LN2 has established itself as a catalyst for synergies between France and Quebec, contributing to the development of dynamic research teams—by promoting student mobility and interdisciplinarity—and to addressing major challenges facing society and the planet.

We were welcomed by Prof. Armand Soldera, dean of the UdeS Faculty of Sciences, who introduced us to the chair of the Department of Chemistry, Prof. Guillaume Bélanger, as well as to Prof. Jérôme Claverie. The tour of the numerous chemistry laboratories gave us a tangible glimpse of the advances in the field of polymers and innovative technologies for manufacturing batteries that are both more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Discussions around the dean’s table highlighted the importance of structures that facilitate smooth exchanges between France and Quebec, both within the IRC and through international internships for students at French engineering schools.

Finally, accompanied by Jean-François Lerat (research manager), Bernard Legrand visited the 3iT.énergies solar park at the University of Sherbrooke (UdeS). This site, unique in Canada with nearly one megawatt of installed capacity, stands out for its state-of-the-art infrastructure, such as solar trackers and future electricity storage systems. The park showcases research on photovoltaic energy adapted to the northern climate and promotes the exploration of innovative solutions for the production, storage, and integration of renewable energy into the grid.

The visit led to fruitful discussions on opportunities for collaboration between UdeS, the CNRS, the “Innovations for a Sustainable Planet” IRC, and other IRCs, particularly around the themes of energy production, storage, microgrids, and grid integration.

These meetings open up exciting prospects for the IRC IPD, particularly in terms of scientific collaborations and transatlantic mobility.