Pr. Jérome Claverie in L’Express

Interview with Pr. Jérome Claverie

In its special issue n ° 16 of July-August 2009, L’Express published an article on Quebec’s priorities in nanotechnology, in which Professor Jérôme Claverie is interviewed.

The Nano: minisector, maxi-ambitions

Since 2000, Quebec has made nanotechnology one of its research priorities and targets four sectors in particular: the wood industry, transportation, life sciences and electronics / photonics. According to the most recent Statistics Canada studies published in 2007, in 2005 there were 25 companies in Quebec (88 across Canada) reporting nanotechnology activities. The sector’s revenues amounted to $ 28 million, most of which, 52%, was made in Quebec. In terms of jobs, the nanotechnology sector in 2005 had only around 120 people in Quebec (380 across the country). Jérôme Claverie, French and professor of chemistry, arrived in Montreal in 2006, is now director of the NanoQAM research center, at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). His laboratory has 12 professors and 90 students and researchers working on applications in biomedical, environment and energy. “It is not easy to find qualified workers,” he says. There is a huge potential for hiring French people who come with a doctorate because France has a really excellent quality of science education.”

Sources: www.nanoquebec.ca et www.lexpress.fr