Nanotechnologies Cluster - Observatoire Grand Montréalobservatoire.cmm.qc.ca/.../gm_nanotechnologies_eng.pdf · 2019-11-14 · a third industrial revolution. A complex challenge

Nanotechnologies Cluster

October 2004

Nanotechnologies Cluster

(French edition ISBN 2-923013-24-7 )

Legal deposit: March 2005Bibliothèque nationale du QuébecNational library of Canada

ISBN 2-923013-25-5

All rights reserved for all countries.The content may not be copied in any way or translated in whole or in part without the permission of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.

ISBN 2-923013-38-7(French edition: ISBN 2-923013-37-9)

Legal deposit: may 2005Bibliothèque nationale du QuébecNational Library of Canada

All rights reserved for all countries.The content may not be copied in any way or translated in whole or in part without the permission of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal

Nanotechnologies Cluster •�

Note to the reader

NanoQuébec-CMM Collaboration Nanotechnology is an emerging branch of industry. The portrait sketched here puts Quebec ahead of the rest of Canada in the field. Several different factors must now come together if the province is to maintain its position as leader. This document, resulting from the convergence of two different approaches, focuses on these factors.

Development Strategy for Quebec Aware of the impact of nanotechnologies on the future economic growth of many industries, the Government of Quebec has decided to adopt a development strategy for this new branch of science. Since nanotechnologies are still largely dependent on R&D, the government turned first towards the universities, promoting their infrastructure and networks when it created NanoQuébec in 2001. This organization’s mission is to elevate Quebec’s status to that of leader in research and support for nanosciences and nanotechnologies, both nationally and internationally.

The new network, the first of its kind, quickly felt the need to get in line with industrial players – the small and medium-sized businesses that were attempting to market the research findings and the large companies that might potentially integrate nanotechnologies in the future. This step has now been achieved.

The Government of Quebec has since given NanoQuébec the mandate to draw up, in advance of the 2005-2006 provincial budget, a Quebec-wide action plan engaging all the players involved, highlighting their needs and proposing the steps and investments necessary for the development of the nanotechnology industry.

Economic Strategy for the Metropolitan AreaWhile the first section of the document is inherently factual, the second is more subjective, since it Given that the majority of nanotechnology activities are concentrated on its territory, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal has a keen interest in this field, underlined by the fact that it has adopted a competitive strategy centred on innovative clusters. In fall 2003, the CMM launched a cluster identification and structuring program. This marked the first phase of a process which would lead, over the next two years, to the development and launch of an integrated economic development and innovation strategy.


For each of the sectors studied, the CMM wishes to join forces with all the territorial bodies and economic stakeholders concerned. It means to concentrate its efforts on its own role of planning and coordination and does not intend to take the place of existing players and decision-makers in the field, whose role it is to agree on a development plan under the supervision of a relay organization representing their sector.

Joint SignatureNanoQuébec, which already has a government mandate to produce an orientation document, is ideally positioned to fulfil the role of relay organization. This document bears the signatures of both NanoQuébec and the CMM, who are henceforth engaged in a joint strategy. The document will also be submitted to researchers and industry specialists for their input. At the end of that stage, a second text will be produced with a view to holding a meeting between both groups. This three-step approach will provide NanoQuébec and the CMM with a basis on which to plan actions, with a consensus of opinion that will ensure the development of nanotechnologies in Montreal and the whole of Quebec.

It is important to stress that the CMM’s borders remain open to the regions. This policy will be carried out in a spirit of openness, dialogue, and convergent interests, and will eventually enable the Montreal metropolitan region to assume an even more influential role as economic driver for Quebec.

Clive WillisDirector General NanoQuébec

Michel LefèvreConsultant – Economic DevelopmentCommunauté métropolitaine de Montréal


Nanotechnologies

Quebec at the Forefront Value Chain

World Class R&D

Emerging Industry

Sectoral Fields

Numerous Spinoffs

Development Factors

Research Efficiency

Training is Shaping Up

Mainly Public Capital

Hosting Infrastructure

A Cluster in the Making

Opening Up to the World

International Collaborations

Paths for the Future

Foundations to Build On

Great Expectations

Appendices

Nanotechnology Companies

University Research Units on CMM Territory

University Research Units Outside the Metropolitan Area

Sources

Individuals Consulted

NanoQuébec

Credits

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Quebec at the ForefrontThe laws of quantum physics rule on the nanometric scale. Molecules and atoms show features and behaviours that are different from those observed in materials and larger-scales structures. These phenomena can be used to design new technologies and create new materials. Nanotechnology proposes to master this nanoscopic universe and its immense potential, thereby bringing about a third industrial revolution.

A complex challenge Quebec is the Canadian leader in nanotechnologies, mostly due to its consensus-building efforts in recent Such mastery requires profound understanding of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Then, and only then, will it be possible to design applications that will come to market and completely change our way of life. This passage from knowledge to market requires delicate modeling and scaling activity, which is a complex challenge for basic researchers and manufacturers.

Nanotechnology

From the atomic/molecular scale to the macroscopic scale to the scale of use

Sensor NetworkFunctional Materials

Scale of use

Macroscale

Scale of use

Observation of Real Systems

Real SystemsObjects Made of Advanced Materials

Communication Systems

Components

Materials Sensors

System Components

Electronics Systems

MechanicsPhotonics

The nanometric scale

The term «nano» is taken from the Greek «nannos» meaning midget. A nanometer (nm) is equal to a billionth of a meter (10-9).

A few points of reference: An average size human being 1.7 billion nm The tip of a lead pencil 1 million nm A hair 100,000 nm A red blood cell 800 nm Modern microelectronic circuits 150 nm The width of a DNA molecule 2.5 nm The diameter of a hydrogen atom 0.1 nm


Timeline

Invention of the electronic microscope makes it possible to see things measured in micrometres (106).

Speech by Richard Feynman to the American Physical Society.

The term nanotechnology first used by Norio Tanigushi.

1933 1959 1974

Invention of scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) and atomic force microscope (ATM) makes it possible to observe and move individual atoms.

Discovery of C60, a new form of carbon made of 60 carbon atoms, named fullerene due to its structure which is reminiscent of the dome constructed by Fuller for Montreal’s Expo 1967.

Publication of The Engines of Creation by Eric K. Drexler, whichtalks about nanorobots capable of replicating themselves. The bookwas a big hit, and brought nanotechnologies into the media spotlight.

IBM logo drawn on a nickel surface with xenon atoms.

1981 1985 1986 1988

First fullerene synthesis, leading to their production in large quantities.

Discovery of carbon nanotubes, a crystal derived from fullerenes with exceptional properties in terms of strength (100 times stronger than steel) and conductivity.

Nanoscopic objects moved for the first time.

Creation of molecular rotor from a molecule which can turn around its own axis.

1990 1991 1996 1998

Since that time, technological advances have been occurring at warp speed.

A short but fascinating history

The term “nanotechnology” first appeared about 30 years ago, but the desire to break into the world of the infinitely small has been around for much longer. One breakthrough occurred in the early 1930s with the invention of the electronic microscope. In a famous speech given in 1959, the winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics, Richard Feynman, spoke about the possibility of reorganizing matter atom by atom. Forty-five years later, thousands of scientists throughout the world are manipulating atoms and molecules.

Nanotechnologies Cluster •10

A revolution with tremendous implications Nanoscience and nanotechnologies are no less than revolutionizing all industrial sectors. The new products, procedures and services soon to invade the markets will have a major impact on economic growth, business creation, revitalizing existing industries and solving social ills.

The economic potential for this new field of activity is simply tremendous. The National Science Foundation in the United States predicts that the market for nanotechnology products and services will be in the region of US$ 1,000 billion by the year 2015 with nearly 2 million individuals, from all industrial sectors, working in the field.

According to CMP Cientifica, a Europe-based business intelligence firm, the world market for nanotechnology will reach US$537 billion in 2005. This organization predicts that the most profitable sectors will be materials, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and catalysts. According to its database, all the companies active in nanotechnologies throughout the world can be classified into roughly 10 segments.

Such huge anticipated impacts have created a sense of urgency at all levels throughout the world to give the “nano” sector top priority. The race is on internationally, in order to research, develop and market new products and processes that include nanotechnology components.

Major international playersThe major developed countries have all increased their budgets slated for nanotechnologies. For example, Japan invested US$800 million in nanoscience in 2003. Several other Asian countries were also among the Top 10, including South Korea, China, Taiwan and Singapore. In Europe, spending totalled more than US$650 million and was concentrated in three countries: Germany, the United Kingdom and France. In the United States, the bill was nearly US$775 million. However, in November 2003, the House of Representatives approved a national nanotechnology development program with a four-year, $3.7 billion budget.

Efforts are being coordinated at the national level, and research is structured around centres for excellence and regional technology hubs or industrial parks, where expertise has been acquired in a specific area. Such centres, often created through joint government-industry initiatives, exist in Germany, France and the United Kingdom, as well as in California, Texas and New York State. Other countries similar in size to Quebec have also developed major nanotechnology programs. We can mention, for example, Switzerland, Denmark, Holland and Israel.

Nanotechnology Segments

NanoBiotechnologies 19 % NanoMaterials 11 % NanoComponents 19 % NanoChemistry 3 % NanoInstrumentation 18 % NanoConsulting 2 % MicroElectromechanics 14 % NanoProcesses 1 % NanoPowders 13 % NanoMachines 0 %

Source: http://nanoinvestornews.com


Canada searching for a strategyIn the past few years, the Canadian and Quebec governments have intensified their efforts. Several research projects have received major subsidies. Canadian research Chairs have been created. Much infrastructure has been financed by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The total investment made in recent years to finance research infrastructure devoted entirely or partly to nanotechnologies was more than CAD$400 million, in Quebec alone.

The Canadian government has teamed up with the government of Alberta and the University of Alberta to build the National Institute for Nanotechnology, which is part of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) network. This Institute, which just appointed its first general manager, required a combined investment of CAD$120 million. Ontario and British Columbia can also boast some very strong research teams in their provinces.

Nonetheless, Canada does not yet have a national strategy. The mandate to draw up a national strategy was awarded to NanoPic, the nanoscience and nanotechnologies innovation platform of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). A Quebec physicist named Peter Grütter from McGill University is scientific director for the project.

Quebec, a champion of consensus-buildingQuebec is the Canadian leader in nanotechnologies, mostly due to its consensus-building efforts in recent years. Several links in the innovation chain (see graph) are already mobilized. Subsidy programs allow for creativity and flexibility. A mass of researchers in various disciplines, who are able to work together, are collaborating to make sure that Quebec remains in the forefront in terms of knowledge. Research infrastructure is in place and the desire to continue investing seems solid. The teaching community is preparing to act. SMBs have been created that will eventually be supported by well-established economic sectors. And we are now seeing the emergence of a cohesive strategy pulled together by NanoQuébec.

Each of the links in this chain is essential to achieve results in the research laboratories and bring the applications to market. The strength and the quality of the relationships among all these elements are also determining factors.

Quebec is far ahead of the rest of Canada in terms of consensus-building, especially due to the work accomplished by NanoQuébec. Founded in 2001, first to act as a university network with an initial budget of CAD$10 million, NanoQuébec united all Quebec universities: Montréal, Laval, McGill, Sherbrooke, the École Polytechnique and, finally, the Université du Québec, in particular through the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). Concordia, and the École de technologie supérieure (ETS) are currently planning to join the network.

In the fall of 2003, NanoQuébec broadened its mandate to support innovation and technology transfer. At the same time, it formed a board of directors with a number of members from the private sector. The organization expects in this way to create closer ties between the researchers and industrial entrepreneurs, as well as among those entrepreneurs themselves.

In a notice published in 2001, the Conseil de la science et de la technologie du Québec (Quebec science and technology council) recommended the creation, with participation by the federal government, of an inter-university nanotechnology research institute, including a central hub in Montreal, and two satellites, one in Quebec city and the other in Sherbrooke. This recommendation is currently being evaluated by NanoQuébec.


However, one thing is clear: while most researchers and manufacturers are concentrated in the Montreal metropolitan area, strong regional hubs will be maintained and supported.

Concentration in the Montreal region The leadership battle is currently being fought out in university laboratories and public research centres. With four universities, two engineering schools, two INRS components (Energy, Materials and Telecommunications and the Institut Armand-Frappier) and two NRC components (the Industrial Materials Institute and the Biotechnology Research Institute) the greater metropolitan region has the largest concentration of leading-edge nanotechnology researchers, and a most dynamic vanguard.

There are researchers in all major sectors associated with nanotechnologies: nanomaterials, nanobiotechnologies, nanoelectronics, instrumentation and modeling.

On the other hand industry remains rather modest. Large corporations do not yet see nanotechnologies as a necessary element of their strategic plan. With the exception of Pratt & Whitney, Hydro-Québec through IREQ, and Alcan, very few companies are conducting their own research in this field.

There are, however, around 40 SMBs throughout Quebec, with more than two thirds of them located in the Montreal region. They are for the most part in the startup stage and most often, they focus on a single research project with a single industrial application.

A challenging future Researchers are just starting to get into the field of nanometrics. They are still a long way from understanding the principles of physics and chemistry on this scale. There are many challenges to meet in basic research, which require sophisticated measurement tools, tools to manipulate atomic scale matter, and advanced modeling and simulation techniques requiring enormous calculation capacity.

Laboratory results need to be scaled, in order to translate theoretical knowledge into processes, products and services that suit industrial purposes. This colossal task will monopolize many engineers and researchers in transfer centres and in companies over the course of the next few

The Nanotechnology Innovation Chain

*Concerted technology transfer actions based on venture-capital, subsidies, training and infrastructure.

Scientific Monitoring

World Markets: Products and Services

Key Sectors SMBs

Universities and Institutes

Concerted Technology

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years. Their success will depend on the extent to which they can rely on clear policies, proper flow of information, a skilled labour force, and an audience that is aware of the importance of nanotechnologies.

Applications arising from nanotechnologies will no doubt create ethical, social and legal issues as they are being brought to market. For example, the impact of their introduction on the environment will be questioned. Also, people will worry about the risks related to exposure to nanoparticles or the dangers of handling them. The nanotechnology community will not be able to ignore these issues and must start now to create the means to deal with them with complete transparency.

Consensus on all frontsThe main challenge, however, will be to bring the actors together so that they can coordinate their efforts to assemble the factors that will ensure the development of nanotechnologies and the marketing of products and services that meet real needs and that will lead to lucrative business opportunities. This collaboration must start with the earliest stage of research into the fundamental principles of nanoscience, and must continue throughout the development process until the final phase when the economic and social integration of its applications is achieved.

Thanks to NanoQuébec, nanotechnology researchers throughout Quebec have begun to create these ties. Relationships between researchers and entrepreneurs are much stronger. It is imperative to bring local universities closer to industry since corporations, and especially multinationals, will opt to have their R&D conducted externally. Finally, consensus within the industry is still very low and is all the more difficult to achieve since the applications of nanotechnologies are cross-sectoral in nature.

While waiting for leadership and consensus to grow in the industrial community, the academic community must carry the torch of innovation and seek partnerships with the private sector.


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Nanotechnologies Cluster •1�

Configuration


Value Chain


World Class R&DThe greater metropolitan region is the centre of nanotechnologies in Quebec and in Canada. According to the Canadian NanoBusiness Alliance, 40% of all nanotechnology activities are concentrated in the CMM. The Ministère québécois du Développement économique régional et de la Recherche (Québec ministry of economic and regional development and research, or MDERR) has estimated that the greater metropolitan region is home to 55% of all Quebec’s nanotechnology researchers and industrialists.

This core of activity marches to the beat of R&D conducted in the universities and research centres (see Appendices). In its early planning activities, NanoQuébec identified four major areas where Quebec already has a strong scientific base. Those areas are nanomaterials, nanoelectronics and nanophotonics, nanobiotechnology and nanopharmaceuticals, and finally, self-assembly and patterns (patterning a surface on the nanometric scale). The last area is being developed in support of the three others.

A solid scientific base Research Institutes In total, around 150 professors are interested in nanotechnologies among the member institutions of the NanoQuébec university network. With the exception of Laval and Sherbrooke universities, these institutions are located on CMM territory: École Polytechnique, École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), INRS (Energy, Materials, and Telecommunications – Varennes, and Institut Armand-Frappier - Laval), Université de Montréal, and McGill and Concordia universities.

Nanotechnology is expected to continue to grow to the point where, in the next five years, there could be up to 1,000 professor-researchers and thousands of students with access to specialize equipment worth around CAD$0.5 million. Today, there are 15 laboratories and a full range of advanced manufacturing, synthesis and characterization techniques available to them.

World-class facilities Several of these facilities are world-class, with state-of-the-art instrumentation. The all-new McGill University Tools for Nanoscience Facility is the most highly developed centre in Canada in the fields of micromachinery and atomic manipulation. Its Beowulf computer is the most powerful in the country for modeling nanomaterials.

The INRS-Energy, Materials and Telecommunications, and the Université de Sherbrooke are jointly building a micro- and nanomanufacturing laboratory.

Finally the new J.A. Bombardier pavilion being built by the Université de Montréal and the École Polytechnique is designed for scientists doing research in several different nanotechnology disciplines. There are already about 20 professors using the infrastructure, which cost nearly $100 million. In addition, an entire floor of the building is reserved for businesses working in partnership with the university researchers.

Public research centres are also interested in nanotechnology applications. The largest ones are located on CMM territory. They are the Industrial Materials Institute (IMI) located in Boucherville, the Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI) in Montreal, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in Saint-Hubert and the Institut de recherche d’Hydro-Québec (IREQ) in Varennes.

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It is also important to note a major interest in nanotechnologies on the part of the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada (PAPRICAN), the Centre for Large Scale Structures and Systems (CL3S), which specializes in aeronautics and defence, and the Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET) located in Varennes.

Regional deployment This metropolitan cluster is gradually coming together, and will not operate in silo fashion. Already, through the work of NanoQuébec, Montreal researchers are working together with scientists from other regions of Quebec. In fact, there are research teams everywhere who are already interested in, or apt to be interested in the applications to arise from nanotechnologies, especially when those applications fit the avenues for development prioritized by the region.

The capital region — At Université Laval in Quebec City, over a dozen researchers are now conducting subsidized projects in the field of nanotechnology. Several are working in the science and engineering faculty with pioneers in the field. The university is also hosting various leading-edge research units.

Université Laval is a leader in photonics. The institution heads a Canada-wide network for excellence, the Canadian Institute for Photonic Innovations. The recent creation of the International Neurophotonic Research and Training Centre has consolidated its position. It is not a big stretch to go from photonics to nanophotonics, and the distance has been covered very well by the university and by the National Optics Institute, a private centre where the focus is on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).

Nanotechnologies also have an impact on research in other fields in which Université Laval is known for its excellence including, among others, proteomics, biomaterials, nutrition, agri-food, agri-environment and forestry.

Chaudière-Appalaches — Businesses located in this region to the south of Quebec City can rely on the presence of three technology transfer colleges offering training, technical assistance, and R&D services including nanotechnology: an industrial robotics centre (Centre de robotique industrielle), a biotech transfer centre (Centre collégial de transfert de technologie en biotechnologie Transbiotech), and a minerals and plastics processes centre, (Centre de technologie minérale et de plasturgie).

Mauricie — The Mauricie region wants to converge its development efforts on promising niche markets that can position its economy on a North American and world scale. Four of these niches may tie in with nanotechnology: 1) value added papers and related technologies, 2) metals transformation (magnesium et titanium), 3) hydrogen and electrotechnologies, 4) industrial bioprocesses.

Eastern Townships — The Université de Sherbrooke is a nanotechnology research hub. The establishment of leading-edge infrastructure has made it possible for the university to recruit well-known researchers in materials engineering, quantum physics and plasma technologies. These scientists are often heads of research Chairs in Canada, at the Centre de recherche en énergie, plasma et électrochimie (energy, plasma and electrochemistry research centre), the Centre de recherche sur la nanofabrication et la nanocaractérisation (nanomanufacturing and nanocharacterization research centre) and the Intelligent Materials and Systems Institute, where scientists are developing materials for nanoelectronics and photonics, among others.

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The presence of a university biomedical complex is the harbinger of health applications. Several research teams working at the hospital centre, the clinical research centre, the geriatrics institute, or the pharmacology institute are exploring ways in which nanotechnologies can be used, especially in the field of nanopharmacology. The environment is also an area that is ripe for nanotechnology research.

Montérégie — Part of the Montérégie activities overlap with the CMM. Major government research centres are located in the Longueuil-Varennes corridor (see above) and in Saint-Hyacinthe. This town, just south of Montreal, is home to the Centre de recherche et de développement en horticulture (horticulture research and development centre) (CRDH), the Institut de recherche et de développement en agroenvironnement (agro-environment research and development institute) (IRDA), the Food Research and Development Centre (FRDC) and the Institut de biotechnologie vétérinaire et alimentaire (food and veterinary biotechnology institute) (IBVA). Several scientists associated with these centres are active in nanotechnologies. For example, at the FRDC and IBVA, research on molecular transportation is a high priority.

Known as the agri-food, veterinary and agri-environmental biotechnology city, Saint-Hyacinthe is now establishing a technology park for biotech companies, some of whom are working in nanotechnologies. We should also note the particular expertise developed by the Saint-Hyacinthe Cégep in nanomanufacturing of textile and nonwoven materials to protect the environment and individuals. The Canadian Foundation for Innovation recently recognized that expertise by awarding the cégep a major subsidy.

Montérégie is also targeting the environment cluster and the recovery and recycling of iron and steel in particular, as well as the energy sector, where two specialized consortiums are at work.

Saguenay— Lac-Saint-Jean — The Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region has expended major efforts in diversifying its industrial base and moving toward higher value-added production such as processing activities in industries in which the region already has competitive advantages, such as wood, agri-food and especially aluminium. The latter sector is currently expanding quickly, due to developments at Alcan, whose four modern plans in operation there represent 45% of the total production in Quebec and 5% of total world production.

Alcan’s strong presence has a snowball effect. In recent years, about 30 companies active in second and third-stage aluminium processing have further strengthened the industry. It is exactly this kind of processing activity that can benefit most from nanotechnology, particularly in the field of nanomaterials.

Outaouais — In recent years, a solid core of high-tech companies has emerged in the Outaouais region. Local developers are working to fill development niches in industries that are specific to the region: environment, agri-food and forestry. It is very likely that nanotechnology will find its place among those priorities.

Laurentians — The Laurentians region benefits from the expertise of two College Technology Transfer Centres (CCTT), the Centre de technologies des systèmes ordinés and the Centre des matériaux composites that could play a role in circulating knowledge about nanotechnologies.

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Gaspésie—Iles-de-la-Madeleine — The Gaspésie—Iles-de-la-Madeleine region includes three research centres run by the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (provincial department of agriculture, fisheries and food, or MAPAQ). In addition to their own research, these three centres make their expertise in R&D available to businesses in the industries of fishing and aquaculture, two industries that will eventually use nanotechnologies.

Lower Saint-Laurence — The Lower Saint-Laurence region promotes the development of aquaculture and marine biotechnologies. More than 400 specialized marine sciences researchers are working in the Rimouski-Mont-Joli to Lower Saint-Laurence corridor thanks to the presence of the Université du Québec à Rimouski, the Maurice-Lamontagne Institute of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Institut maritime du Québec, and the Centre de recherche sur les biotechnologies marines. This is the greatest concentration of French-speaking researchers and resources specialized in marine sciences in Eastern Canada (85%). Nanotechnologies are increasingly among the tools used by these researchers to assess the health of marine species, to clean the marine environment and find new ways to use the aquatic biomass.

Abitibi—Témiscamingue — Inaugurated in April 1993, the Centre d’aide au développement technologique de l’Abitibi—Témiscamingue has the mission to promote the diversification of the regional economy. Its mandate is to encourage the development of new products, to support innovative technical projects, to facilitate the introduction of new technologies as well as the emergence and growth of new leading-edge firms. A part of this innovation will certainly be related to nanotechnologies.

Potential national partnerships In Canada, the National Institute for Nanotechnology seems to be the natural partner. It is the same for the components of the CNRC that deal with nanotechnologies outside Quebec, such as the Institute for Microstructural Sciences and the Institute for Chemical Products and Environmental Technology, both based in Ottawa. It is also important to note the expertise from the Universities of Toronto, McMaster and Queen’s. According to the Canadian NanoBusiness Alliance, 25 Canadian universities are active in nanotechnologies.

An Emerging IndustryIndustrial activity in nanotechnology, while limited, is beginning to catch on. Major corporations, however, have not yet recognized the scope of the advantages that nanotechnologies can bring them. SMBs in the field of nanotechnologies are, for the most part, in the startup phase. Some were created by corporations, but most were founded by researchers. Many of these companies are still at the research and development stage. About a dozen of them have sales and a strong five-year business plan. They generally have about ten employees with an average of four researchers. Most often, their activities are focused around a single product or a single application.

There are about 40 companies with activities related to nanotechnologies, according to the most recent statements, with two thirds of them on CMM territory (see Appendices). The majority of those companies are located on the Island of Montreal. A few are located on the South Shore, and there is just one on the North Shore. Their presence has not yet led to the emergence of any special capitalization tools or services.

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There are also about 15 companies on CMM territory, specializing in the design of nanomaterials, which are materials that take on new properties depending on the scale. Another dozen companies work in nanoelectronics and nanophotonics. Bionanotechnology and nanopharmaceuticals are the focus of another 10 companies, interested in designing nanostructured drugs and drug delivery systems. Finally, there is one company working in the field of self-assembly and another in the field of energy.

Market penetrationWhile we are still a long way from generic applications that span several sectors, there has been some promising progress in specific sectors. According to figures published by the consulting firm Secor, the nanomaterials sector of application is the one with the highest growth. There are already nanopowders on the market, as well as stain- and wrinkle-repellent nanofabrics. Within five years from now, the well-established companies and emerging companies will have formed the foundations of a solid market; analysts expect that within 15 years, the great majority of manufacturing industries should be affected by this technology.

Next will be nanobiotechnology. In the next 10 years, the use of biochips will be commonplace. In 15 years, biochips will be the only means used to take biological measurements.

Finally, self-assembly devices created through nanoelectronics, nanophotonics, and nanotechnologies will reach the marketplace. While some companies have already made some interesting breakthroughs on international markets, it will be at least another 15 years before the companies, whether established or emerging, see the crowning success of their R&D efforts.


Sectoral Fields


Numerous Spinoffs It is not easy to draw precise lines between nanotechnology sectors. The task is all the more difficult due to the convergence of several scientific disciplines (physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, engineering, electronics, computer science), and to the fact that the spinoffs occur in several different areas of activity.

Nanotechnologies will certainly have a significant impact on the future. In 12 years, there will be 2 million people working in this field in all industrial sectors, throughout the world. Industrial nanotechnology production could reach more than US$1,000 billion. Canada’s share will be approximately 3%-5% of this global market, or US$30 billion to US$50 billion.

Quebec can hope to pick up at least one third of that amount, or $10 billion to $15 billion. Integrating nanotechnologies into Quebec’s and Montreal’s industrial activities represents a very real potential that could far exceed biotechnologies.

SMBs have a pivotal role to play in the nanotechnology knowledge transfer to corporations, which do not have the necessary flexibility to design products in real time. The SMBs will design technological platforms using basic knowledge, and foster the creation of a knowledge pool. However, contrary to what took place in biotechnology, where a major corporation in the sector would partner with a group of small companies, nanotechnology SMBs will probably partner with several large corporations or consortiums covering several sectors.

It is therefore the SMBs, in the framework of a collective strategy, that will make it possible for the major sectors forming the industrial fabric of Quebec and Montreal to get their share of the spinoffs from nanotechnologies. Those spinoffs will be in many shapes and sizes, as shown by this brief overview taken in part from a statement made by the United States National Science Foundation.

Automobile and aviation industries — lighter materials reinforced by nanoparticles, longer-lasting, recyclable tires, dirt and salt-repellent exterior paint, non-flammable, low-cost plastics, self-repairing fabrics and coverings, sensors, microelectromagnetic systems (MEMS), catalysts.

Energy — new kinds of batteries, artificial photosynthesis making it possible to produce ecological energy, fuel cells, the safe storage of hydrogen for use as a clean fuel, energy savings resulting from the use of lighter materials and smaller circuits, nanostructured coverings, sensors, catalysts.

Space exploration — lighter space vehicles, more efficient energy production and management, small and efficient robotic systems, highly energy-efficient and radiation-resistant computers, MEMS.

Chemicals and materials industries — catalysts that increase energy efficiency in chemical processing plants, and that increase combustion efficiency of motor vehicles (which will reduce pollution), extremely hard and strong cutting tools, smart magnetic fluids for lubricants and seal rings, sensors and filters to separate molecules.

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Pharmaceutical, biotechnology and health care industries — new drugs based on nanostructures, precision targeted drug delivery systems, replacement materials biocompatible with human organs and fluids, home self-diagnostic kits, chip-sized laboratory sensors, materials to regenerate bone and tissue, sensors, high speed proteomic screening.

Manufacturing industry — precision engineering for the production of new generations of microscopes and measuring instruments, new processes and new tools to handle matter at the atomic level, nanopowders incorporated into bulk materials with special properties such as sensors to detect imminent breakage and controls to measure and correct the problem, self-assembly of structures from molecules, materials derived from biology, biostructures.

Environment — sensors, selective membranes that can filter contaminants or salt from water, nanostructured traps to remove pollutants from industrial waste, characterization of the effects of nanostructures on the environment, major reductions in the use of materials and energy, reduced sources of pollution, new opportunities for recycling.

Defence and security — detectors and correctors of chemical and biological agents, more efficient electronic circuits, stronger nanostructured materials and coverings, lighter, self-repairing textiles.

Electronics and communications industries — data recording with media using nanolayers and quantum dots, flat screens, wireless technology, new devices and processes for the entire information and communication technology field, processing speeds and recording capacities several million times greater and less expensive than current methods, nanomanufactured equipment.

The sectors shown on the graph of the cluster are those that are currently most likely to be developed on CMM territory, given the industrial base of the metropolitan region and the orientation of the research now underway.


Development Factors


Research EfficiencyThe mission of NanoQuébec is to achieve nanotechnology knowledge transfer and to carry out networked integration and mobilization activities to increase the efficiency of basic, fundamental and applied research. In order to consolidate the skills base and support this integrated approach, NanoQuébec has financed research projects aimed at building fundamental knowledge in nanotechnologies. Although these projects are upstream from the knowledge transfer phase, they nonetheless make a contribution to the entire process.

Subsidies have been granted to projects that fall within four areas identified as most likely to lead to marketable products: nanomaterials, nanoelectronics and photonics, nanobiotechnology and nanopharmaceuticals, self assembly and patterning. The money allocated by NanoQuébec in the course of the first phase of networked integration activities made it possible to hire 32 post-doctoral researchers and 23 professional technicians.

A balance between innovation and fundamental researchThe efforts surrounding knowledge transfer will be greater in the upcoming phases of the business plan, now that NanoQuébec’s mandate has been broadened. While continuing to mobilize and building links within the nanotechnology university network, NanoQuébec will foster conditions promoting a certain balance between innovation and fundamental research. This new orientation, strongly desired by the Quebec government, will mean that there will be more emphasis on supporting innovation and knowledge transfer in order to facilitate industrializing the technology.

In more concrete terms, NanoQuébec’s business plan will promote activities dealing with support for applied research infrastructure, the implementation of feasibility projects involving university-industry partnerships, development, and integrating the university skill base.

Growing interest for nanotechnology Also a sign of the vitality and relevance of the research being carried out, university knowledge transfer firms are evaluating and financing more and more projects with a nanotechnological dimension.

At the national level NSERC’s NanoPic program also manages a subsidies budget. The organization granted its first subsidies worth $100,000 each in the fall of 2003. Out of nine recipients, four are from Quebec and are based in Montreal (three from McGill University and one from Université de Montréal). They work in nanomaterials, self assembly, modeling and nanopharmaceuticals.

The Biotechnology Research Institute and the Industrial Materials Institute, both part of the National Research Council of Canada, play a major role with companies that want to market nanobiotechnology and nanomaterials research results.

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To make sure that the progress in nanotechnology is accessible to companies throughout the Quebec territory, NanoQuébec is planning to collaborate closely with the cégeps and their College Technology Transfer Centres (CCTT), which are present in most regions of Quebec. The CCTTs contribute to the knowledge transfer efforts in about 30 key sectors of the economy including nanotechnologies. Affiliated to the cégeps and a real motor for applied research, the CCTTs contribute to the transfer of fundamental knowledge acquired through research to the teaching personnel and the students of the college network as well as to the regional SMBs.

Training is Shaping Up Slowly but surely, the first links in the development chain are now coming into place. The growth of nanotechnologies will bring about needs for a specialized labour force. Some studies show that the Montreal region alone could eventually seek several hundred qualified candidates per year to work in nanotechnology. One thing is certain: the demand for a multidisciplinary labour force will become increasingly pressing.

We must not repeat the error committed in biotechnology, where the training institutions could not keep up with demand for qualified labour needed in the early years by the companies, thereby depriving the city of some major economic benefits. So much the better if we train more people than necessary: the surplus will serve to attract foreign businesses; a well-trained labour force constitutes a definite competitive advantage.

An immediate needs assessment Cégeps and universities must start right now to think together about what it is possible to do in the college and university network as a whole. They must also undertake an ongoing dialogue with the industrial community that may use nanotechnologies, in order to set up training as soon as possible to meet its needs.

Through an initiative of the Table métropolitaine de Montréal (metropolitan employment committee) and the réseau des collèges du Montréal métropolitain (Metropolitan Montreal college network), college programs to train specialized technicians have been set up. Since October 2004 the Collège André-Laurendeau offers an Attestation d’études collégiales (AEC) certificate in manufacturing and characterization of nanomaterials. In February 2005 the Collège Ahuntsic also began offering an AEC certificate, this time in nanobiotechnologies. Other colleges are expected to follow suit.

At the university level, students are becoming familiar with nanotechnologies in a few scientific disciplines or engineering specialties. The community is wondering about the best way to offer more structured teaching programs. In view of the cross-section nature of knowledge and applications, should they opt for a nanosciences program or, on the contrary, an intensive training program that would compliment a solid basic training in science or engineering? This question has not yet been answered and reflections are continuing.

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Immediate job possibilities During this time, nanotechnologies are entering laboratories and companies. While the labour market is not yet well-defined, there are, however, employment opportunities. Some 200 to 300 people currently carry out tasks related to nanotechnologies, and their number is growing. Companies recruit graduates with solid basic training in physics or in chemistry/biochemistry that they then train in-house. Continuing education could also be used to satisfy other short-term needs.

One thing however seems evident: training offered at the various levels should be partly interdisciplinary and produce a versatile labour force that is able to adapt to a multitude of industrial sectors.

Mainly Public Capital R&D is currently driving the development of nanotechnologies, which mostly depend on subsidy organizations from both levels of government.

Budget cuts — The three major Quebec research funds — the Fonds de recherche en santé du Québec (Quebec health research fund, FRSQ), the Fonds québécois de recherche sur la nature et les technologies (Quebec nature and technology research fund, FQRNT) and the Fonds de recherche sur la société et la culture (culture and society research fund, FRSC) — have seen the possibility that their budgets may be cut in the most recent provincial budget. Although budgets were protected for the 2004-2005 fiscal year, other cuts still remain possible.

The impact of these possible cuts is amplified given the leveraging effect of subsidies. Thus, the $13 million invested in 2003 buy the three funds in concerted action have made it possible for their partners to inject $49 million for a total of $62 million. In addition, the investments of funds in research infrastructure programs such as “Équipes, Centre réseaux et Regroupements stratégiques” have had a leveraging effect of around one dollar for seven dollars of contracts and subsidies obtained from other sources.

Lower tax credits — The Quebec government also cut R&D tax credits and credits for certain programs creating a feeling of uncertainty among researchers and technology company managers. These cutbacks could particularly affect startup companies since it is mainly the Quebec government that supports them at the startup phase, while federal programs kick in later on.

Favourable measures — On the other hand, favourable measures have been adopted, such as the Strategic Support for Investment Program (PASI), the Fonds de soutien au développement de créneaux d’excellence (support fund for the development of niches of excellence), the Fonds d’intervention régionale (regional intervention fund), the increase in some regions of the tax credits on salaries paid for new jobs and internships in the workplace, the deductibility of half of the expenses for projects carried out in collaboration with a CCTT.

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The venture-capital industry is currently undergoing a full restructuring. The objective is to leave more space for private capital. The government has provided incentives that should be announced in the coming months. Up to now the venture-capital companies in Quebec have contributed to financing a dozen nanotechnologies firms. The financiers, however, show an interest for this new niche since the several venture-capital companies active in Montreal are members of the Canadian NanoBusiness Alliance.

Broadening access to capital The researchers and companies whose mission is to bring the results of their research to market need ongoing financial support. It is also necessary to prepare the future, train the labour force necessary for the emergence of a dynamic industry and put the infrastructure in place to assist its startup.

The entire business community — financiers, managers and manufacturers from all sectors — must mobilize and engage a constructive dialogue with the research and teaching communities. The objective is to find ways to broaden access to capital, to ensure that laboratories come up with marketable discoveries, to foster partnerships and to position Quebec on the nanotechnologies map.

Hosting InfrastructureStartup companies derived from research are often hosted at the beginning of their operations by the institutions where the researchers are working. IRB and IMI are making available to companies premises and laboratories where they can validate and scale products and technologies that they would like to market. IMI has just created, with the cooperation of the Valotech network, a Carrefour d’innovation en matériaux industriels (industrial materials innovation hub). Some 15 companies have set up shop there, including some who are developing or who will develop nanomaterials.

May 17, 2003 saw the inauguration of the Pavillon J.A. Bombardier, built jointly by Université de Montréal and Ecole Polytechnique. The nanotechnologies facilities for both institutions are concentrated there. One floor of this state-of-the-art building will be used as a company incubator.

Nanotechnology companies can also take advantage of other installations, depending on their main sector of activity. For example, the Centre de développement des biotechnologies (biotechnology development centre) in Laval will no doubt attract nanobiotechnological or nanopharmaceutical firms. The Société de développement Angus could also rent them space in a building devoted to biotechnologies that it just built on the Technopôle Angus site. In Saint-Hyacinthe, the Food Research and Development Centre (FRDC) welcomes companies in its pilot plants. Finally companies in the Quebec City region can go to Ag-Bio Centre, an incubator located in Lévis.

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A Cluster in the Making The subsidizing organizations finance nanoscience and nanotechnology research by encouraging strategic alliances among researchers and institutions. Already many networks are in place and are sketching the ramifications of a potential cluster. However, much remains to be done before a real global and interdisciplinary approach can be established.

The central role of NanoQuébec NanoQuébec, a nonprofit organization financed jointly by the government of Quebec (ministère du Développement économique et régional et de la recherche and ministère Affaires municipales, Sport et Loisir, and Valorisation-Recherche Québec) and the government of Canada (Canada Economic Development), is called on to play a major role in the structuring and planning efforts in terms of nanotechnologies.

NanoQuébec’s mission is not only to network the university community but also to showcase and promote concerted development of applications from nanotechnologies. This broader mission reflects the government’s desire and that of the community to stimulate partnerships between industry and universities. The composition of the Board of Directors shows that desire, since its members represent a majority of senior management from large and small firms and representatives of the academic world, finance and government.

One of the priority objectives arising from the NanoQuébec mandate for the 2004-2005 year is to draw a Quebec action plan for developing nanotechnologies involving university, institutional, government and industrial players. Concertation is therefore central to this approach.

Sectoral tables associated with the main existing industries will make it possible to carry out reflections with respect to planning university research in nanotechnologies and setting up research projects carried out in cooperation with the research community and industrial players. Regional issue tables should also be created.

These tables will be moderated jointly by NanoQuébec and the industrial or regional consensus body involved. Eight of these tables have already been defined:

1) Energy—electricity and gas, 2) Materials, 3) Pulp and paper, 4) Telecommunications, including microelectronics and photonics, 5) Transportation, with or without a separate table for aeronautics 6) Life-sciences, where there may be more than one table—health and/or biotech-pharma, agri-food, 7) Finance—venture-capital; 8) A regional table for the CMM territory.

The establishment and moderation of these tables will be done in collaboration with the existing networks such as, for example, PROMPT-Quebec (Partnerships for Research on Microelectronics, Photonics and Telecommunications), PAPRICAN for the pulp and paper sector, and possibly CRIAQ (Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec).


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Opening Up to the World


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ld International Collaborations Quebec already benefits from several international agreements, and these kinds of international collaborations will continue to multiply. In the framework of the Quebec -New York corridor, NanoQuébec and Albany NanoTech have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at maximizing scientific and industrial development efforts in nanotechnologies. Aside from that agreement, Quebec universities also have ties with several centres in New York including the Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute in Troy, Columbia and Cornell universities, and the IBM research centre in Yorktown Heights. Ties between Quebec and France are also under development, particularly with centres in Lyons, Grenoble and the Île-de-France region.

Aside from these examples of existing collaborations, there are several other hubs of excellence with whom partnerships are possible in North America, in particular in California (Silicon Valley, Berkeley), Texas, which has achieved fame from using its four nanotechnology institutes alongside its technological industrial base, Massachusetts, which is home to prestigious universities such as Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Centres of excellence in Europe In Europe, which comes third behind the United States and Japan in terms of investments in nanotechnologies, at least six countries have set up a significant policy and/or centres of excellence:

• Germany, where the emphasis is on industrial knowledge transfer which the existence of the Fraunhofer network guarantees;

• Switzerland, which benefits from major infrastructure including numerous white “rooms”; • The United Kingdom, certainly one of the first countries to have understood the interest of

nanotechnologies and to have launched specific programs in the field starting in the 1980s; • The Netherlands, which to support its desire to be a significant player in the field of

nanotechnologies, established the Nanoned network that groups together most Dutch expertise;

• Belgium, which started up its activities in nanotechnologies around the IMEC (Interuniversity MicroElectronics Centre) in Louvain;

• France, with whom NanoQuébec already has a close relationship (Grenoble and Île-de-France).

Other European countries, such as Spain and Sweden, have also developed nanotechnologies research networks.

In Asia, Japan is among the primary players in nanotechnologies, at least seen from the standpoint of total public investments, which are mostly directed towards materials and fine chemistry for use in the automobile and cosmetology sectors.

Finally some countries, who invest more than Canada, such as Israel, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia or even China should be the subject of particular attention in the coming years. Who knows, maybe they will someday be partners of NanoQuébec.


Perceptions


Paths for the Future


Foundations to Build On A nanotechnology cluster is taking form in Quebec. Most of the activity is taking place in university laboratories and research centres. The NanoQuébec network alone has 150 researchers. The industrial fabric, while growing, is still thin. Around 40 companies have been inventoried including around 30 in the Greater Montreal metropolitan area.

What is the state of progress of this cluster? What are the main concerns of the various players? What are the avenues for action that are opening up? A summary inquiry conducted among entrepreneurs and researchers has brought a preliminary response to these questions while helping to shape the contours of this emerging sector.

Plan for differentiated strategies While their growth is still not entirely assured, nanotechnology firms in Quebec are quite dynamic. Collectively they own technological assets with very real value. Preserving these assets is an absolute priority. The strategies to reach this objective must be adapted to the different groups of companies, which are divided into four categories.

Develop applications — First there are the companies that can be qualified as strong and which are achieving enough sales to have a credible business plan over three or five years. There are about a dozen of them. These companies have set up generic technologies for which few applications have been developed up to now. A majority of them achieve the major part of their sales outside Quebec and Canada and are not well-anchored in the local market.

Foster collaboration — There are around fifteen so-called emerging companies that are developing their first commercial applications. Some are approaching the strength of the first group; however, signs of vulnerabilities make their future still uncertain. In the case of these emerging companies and those developing a technological platform, it seems important to boost their development by fostering collaborations with the research community.

Set up high-level infrastructure — A third group includes companies which offer a technological platform. Some of them are firmly in the saddle while others are still fragile. Their financing and marketing capacity is more or less limited for the time being. In the case of these companies developing a technological platform, it is important to make available to them high-level scientific and business infrastructure.

Structure the supply of capital — The last group is composed of companies which only exist at the design stage. They are still closely tied to the researchers who founded them and to the knowledge transfer corporations set up to facilitate transfer to industry of the results of university research. These conceptual companies depend on venture capital for their survival. Efforts must therefore focus on structuring the supply of capital and on adopting a strategic approach of overall financing adapted to nanotechnologies.

A deeper analysis would no doubt make it possible to define other sensitive points on which it would be equally desirable to take action.

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Maintain support for infrastructure Recent discussions with key researchers in the NanoQuébec network have corroborated the major conclusions of a survey carried out more than two years ago. One of the points brought up by that survey concerned priority for the long-term survival of the NanoQuébec infrastructure support program. Without this program the investments of hundreds of millions of dollars already granted would not work out to be as profitable and access for companies would be much more difficult.

Improve research programs Researchers recognize that some elements of the research programs already in place in Quebec must be improved. It would be good on one hand to explore the possibilities offered via more inclusive models of modeling/simulation that involve the system as a whole and to put forth more efforts and resources in the important stage of technology scaling.

It would be also desirable to set up a collaborative research program to complement the existing efforts toward consensus. This integrated program concept, to which all players will have signified their agreement, brings forth governance issues. Finally it would be good to establish ties with the research teams working in university hospitals and other health institutions so that the researchers have a better understanding of the medical problems to which nanotechnology may bring a solution.

Build a relationship dynamic Building consensus, collaboration and linkage between the various actors in the field is required in order to implement successfully measures that meet the desires and needs of entrepreneurs and researchers. In this regard although some progress has been made, more remains to be done.

This linkage must translate into the creation of networks through which entrepreneurs and researchers will meet, exchange, and work together to develop the technological cluster and search for markets. The players have expressed their desire to go in that direction and to sign research partnerships on condition that well-framed agreements surround them and prevent the monopolization of researchers by a single partner.

Nanotechnology company executives do not know much about each other. Most do not know much about the Quebec and Canadian companies who are likely to use their products or their technological platforms. Efforts must be made to gather and circulate information on the activities underway in the field of nanotechnologies and on potential markets.

Ensure the cohesion of all players Through its neutrality, NanoQuébec is called on to play a role of catalyst in the development of this emerging technological cluster. The various levels of government are invited to work together, in concert with the research and business communities.

The citizens must be kept informed of the nanotechnology field opening in Quebec. The citizens’ legitimate questions with respect to the risks that nanotechnologies could pose and to their impacts on Quebec society must be seriously considered. If these questions are neglected, nanotechnologies could be rejected just like GEOs. It is therefore important to begin a credible evaluation approach as soon as possible in order to bring an answer to citizens’ concerns and set up an adequate regulatory framework.

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Great Expectations Quebec has made enormous progress with respect to its position in nanotechnology, to the point of becoming the leader in Canada. A lot remains to be done, however, before it is recognized as a leading-edge player in the rest of the world.

For the time being, the nanotechnologies cluster of the CMM comes down to the presence of several solid research teams in the various universities. Collaboration levels among these teams and functional ties existing with other teams in Quebec, in particular in Sherbrooke and Quebec City, considerably increase the value of the efforts put forth.

University research programs are exploring numerous avenues. They are not all interesting from a strict economic point of view. Also, they are not all part of a cohesive approach aimed at establishing the knowledge base necessary to carry out an integrated and efficient program. Strategically, there is also a balance to be maintained between the number of fields that are open to exploration and the depth to be reached in certain niches.

Move towards commercialization Quebec industry only has a small core of companies which focus their efforts on nanotechnologies. These firms are often very young and their activities point in several directions. The desire, already well-established, to commercialize the results of research made in the universities and research centres, will lead to the creation of new companies.

As was the case for biotechnologies, these firms will undertake the long road toward commercializing many products resulting from nanotechnologies. They will offer their technologies or their products to various manufacturers in several industries who are looking progressively into nanotechnology. Sooner or later, major corporations will integrate nanotechnology into their activities. And to do so in a competitive manner, they will develop ties with emerging firms in the form of joint ventures or strategic alliances.

On the CMM territory, the expansion of nanotechnologies will follow the major forces of the industrial fabric flow, which can rely on the presence of three high-tech industrial clusters that are successful and still growing: life-sciences (biopharmaceuticals), aerospace, and information and telecommunications technologies. It is rare that the same region includes as many strategic clusters on a world level. The situation will be similar for the entire province of Quebec, where several of these strong industrial sectors will be affected in a major way by nanotechnology – mainly agri-food, pulp and paper, and energy-based industries.

Create a technological centre of excellence The main factors that combine to give rise to a technological centre are excellence in university research and the presence of a critical mass of researchers, world-class facilities that can group scientists from several disciplines and promote multidisciplinary research and training, and financial support from the government. The participation of industry and partnerships among

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universities/industries/governments will be important but they need to be based on fields of research that are aligned with the needs and the capacities of the local industrial community. To make sure that such a centre of excellence is world calibre, it is also necessary to create means for consensus building and organizations for national and international promotion.

Several of these ingredients are found in Quebec, and especially in the Montreal Metropolitan region. A catalyst that makes the chemistry work more efficiently and more rapidly remains to be added. When that is done, the Greater Montreal Area will be able to claim a place within the nanotechnology centres of excellence that will be able to support complementary development in nanotechnology throughout the territory of Quebec.


Appendices


Appe

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es Nanotechnology Companies

Montreal SubsectorADS (American Dye Source) Baie d’Urfé NanomaterialsAdtek/PPM Photomask Montreal NanoelectronicsAngiogène Montreal BionanotechnologyAtomix Research Institute MontrealBioartificial Gel Technologies Montreal BionanotechnologyByosyntech Laval Canadian Electronic Powders Corp. Saint-Laurent Carbopur Montreal Cerestech Montreal NanomaterialsCNT Plasma Montreal (UQAM) Carbon nanotubesDalsa Semiconductor BromontÉnergie Gradek Montreal EnergyFermag Montreal NanomaterialsFormmat Technologies Montreal NanomaterialsHayka Membranes MontrealIatroQuest Verdun NanomaterialsInfolytica Montreal NanoelectronicsK & H Montreal NanoelectronicsLPM Technologies Saint-NicolasLumenon St-Laurent NanophotonicsMicrobridge Montreal NanoelectronicsMPB Technologies St-Laurent NanoelectronicsMDS Pharma Services St-Laurent Nanopharmaceuticals Nanometrix Montreal Self-AssemblyNexia Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue BionanotechnologyNova-Plasma Outremont NanoelectronicsPyrogenesis Montreal Nanomaterials (plasma)Silk Displays Inc Saint-LaurentSimpler Networks Montreal NanoelectronicsSkyepharma Verdun BionanotechnologySupratek Pharma Montreal NanopharmaceuticalsTechnologies Novimage Montreal Nanophotonics

NorthShoreSinlab Boisbriand Nanomaterials


SouthShoreAxis Photonics Varennes NanophotonicsBioMatera Boucherville Nanomaterials Groupe Minutia Boucherville Nanomaterials Hera Hydrogen Storage Systems Longueuil Nanomaterials Organic Vision Brossard Nanoelectronics Pharma Laser Boucherville Nanophotonics Plasma Ionique Varennes Bionanotechnology

OutsidethemetropolitanareaBioMatera Inc Jonquière Fiso Technologies Québec IatroQuest Ile-des-Sœurs Infectio Diagnostic Sainte-Foy MF2 Design Trois-Rivières NanoMed Inc St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Nanox Québec Fiso Technologies Québec Quantiscript Sherbrooke St-Jean Photochime St-Jean-sur-Richelieu SiliCycle Inc Québec Technologies CYAD Ste-Foy Tekna Plasma Systèmes Sherbrooke Transmateria St-Augustin-de-Desmaures


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es University Research Units on CMM Territory N.B.: Several of these units are multidisciplinary and inter-university. Below they are listed under the institution that acts as the head of the network.

École Polytechnique Chaire de recherche du Canada en physique de la matière condensée

Chaire de recherche industrielle CRSNG en plasmas basse pression

Centre de caractérisation miscroscopique des matériaux

Centre de recherche sur les nanothérapeutiques

Groupe de recherche en biomécanique et biomatériaux (GRBB)

Laboratoire de nanorobotique

Laboratoire de recherche en biomatériaux

Laboratoire pour l’analyse des surfaces et des matériaux

Université de Montréal Chaire de recherche du Canada en biomatériaux polymériques

Chaire de recherche du Canada en libération contrôlée des médicaments

Chaire de recherche du Canada en matériaux supramoléculaires

Chaire de recherche du Canada sur les nanostructures et interfaces conductrices d’électricité

Groupe d’études des protéines membranaires

Regroupement québécois sur les matériaux de pointe

Réseau québécois de recherche en synthèse organique

École Polytechnique and Université de Montréal Thin Film Physics and Technology Research Centre

Institute of Biomedical Engineering


McGill UniversityCanada Research Chair in Experimental Nanomechanics

Canada Research Chair in Advanced Composite Materials

Advanced Materials Institute and Tools for Nanoscience Facility

Artificial Cells and Organs Research Centre

Centre for Biorecognition and Biosensors (CBB)

Centre for the Physics of Materials

Plasma Technology Research Centre

Research Centre for Self-Assembled and Self-Ordered Structures

Biomaterials Research Group

Electronic Devices and Materials Research Group

Microelectronics and Computer System Laboratory

NanoScience and Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) Group

NanoEngineering Research Group

Photonic System Group

Polymer McGill

Université du Québec à MontréalChaire de recherche du Canada en chimie thérapeutique

École de technologie supérieure Laboratoire sur les alliages à mémoire et les systèmes intelligents (LAMSI)

INRS–Energy, Materials and Telecommunications Chaire de recherche du Canada en plasmas appliqués aux technologies de micro et de nanofabrication pour le développement de composants radiofréquences (RF) et photoniques

Chaire de recherche du Canada en photonique ultra-rapide appliquée aux matériaux et aux systèmes

Plasma-Québec -- réseau thématique en sciences et applications avancées des plasmas

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Concordia UniversityCentre des composites Concordia

Centre for Advanced Vehicle Engineering

Wireless and Satellite Communications Lab

University Research Units Outside

the Metropolitan Area

Université Laval

Chaire de recherche du Canada en physique des polymères et des nanomatériauxChaire de recherche du Canada en protéomique

Chaire industrielle sur les nanomatériaux

Centre de recherche en sciences et en ingénierie des macromolécules

Centre de recherche sur les propriétés des interfaces et la catalyse

Centre de recherche sur la fonction, la structure et l’ingénierie des protéines

Centre d’optique, photonique et laser

International Neurophotonic Research and Training Centre

Canadian Institute for Photonic Innovations (Centre of Excellence)

Université de Sherbrooke Institut des matériaux et systèmes intelligents (IMSI)

Chaire de recherche du Canada matériaux quantiques

Chaire de recherche du Canada en microsystèmes énergétiques

Chaire de recherche du Canada en nanopharmacologie et microscopie à force atomique

Chaire de recherche du Canada en semiconducteurs quantiques

Centre de recherche sur la nanofabrication et la nanocaractérisation

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es Chaire de recherche en biophotonique et analyse des signaux

Centre de recherche en énergie, plasma et électrochimie

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi Centre universitaire de recherche sur l’aluminium (this centre includes six research units)

Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l’aluminium

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Institut de recherche sur l’hydrogène

Centre de recherche en pâtes et papiers

Université du Québec à Rimouski Institut des sciences de la mer Centre de recherche sur les biotechnologies marines

Université du Québec en Outaouais Chaire de recherche du Canada en photonique Laboratoire des systèmes spatiaux intelligents


Sources

Studies and Analyses ComplètementNano, Brousseau François, L’Actualité, 2002 LesNanotechnologies:delamanipulationdesatomesauxmatériauxetauxmachinesnanostructurés,présentation au colloque Sciences et technologies : des visées d’avenir, [Nanotechnology: frommanipulatingatomstomaterialsandnanostructuredmachines,presentationtotheScienceandTechnologyconference:futuresights], Chaker, Mohamed, Conseil de la science et de la technologie du Québec, 2000 Attention:dangerd’écophagie[Danger:Ecophagy], Chartier, Philippe, Québec Science, 2004 LesNanotechnologies:lamaîtrisedel’infinimentpetit[Nanotechnology:masteringtheinfinitelysmall], Conseil de la science et de la technologie, Avis au gouvernement du Québec. 2001 Nanobiotechnologie:Unprésentdébordantdepromesses[Nanobiotechnology:apresentoverflowingwithpromises], Conseil québécois de valorisation des biotechnologies, Collection BioTendance, vol. 1 no 1, 2003 TheYearinScience,Discover, 2004 Cequelesnanotechnologieschangerontdansnotrequotidien[Whatnanotechnologywillchangeinourdailylives], Dubé Catherine, Nanoboom, Québec Science, 2002SummaryoftheNanotechnologiesWorkshop, Canada Foundation for Innovation, 2001. Recherchepubliqueetinnovation:ProduitnationalduQuébec[PublicResearchandInnovation:AQuébecNationalProduct], Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec, Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies, Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture, Fragile, 2003Regroupementsstratégiques,Fichesdescriptives[Strategicgroups,Descriptions],Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies, 2003Créerdenouveauxmatériauxatomeparatome[Creatingnewmaterialsatombyatom], Lafleur Claude, Le Devoir, April 12, 2003CahierspécialInnovation,[specialreportoninnovation], La Tribune, Sherbrooke 2003It’saNanoWorld,McDonagh, Patrick, in McGill News, Winter 2003-2004Poudragenanométrique,Papineau, Jean-Marc, Plan, March 2003. Sciencefriction,Papineau, Jean-Marc, Plan, January-February 2004. SpécialNanosciences, Pour la science, no 290, December 2001. Portrait des activités de nanotechnologie au Québec [Portrait of Nanotechnology Activities inQuébec],Samson, Bélair, Deloitte & Touche in collaboration with NanoQuébec, 2003 Table métropolitaine pour l’emploi [Metropolitan Employment Issues Table], Secor, Projet Nanotechnologies (preliminary version), November 2002 Bigbattleovertinything, Shulgan Christopher, The Globe and Mail, March 1, 2003 Nanopharmacologie : Le collagène sous la loupe nanoscopique [Nanopharmacology: CollagenundertheNanoscopicMicroscope], Vallée Pierre, Le Devoir, April 12, 2003 L’innovation en nanotechnologie au Québec, Présentation aux 16e entretiens Jacques-Cartier

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[Nanotechnology Innovation in Québec, Presentation to the 16th Entretiens Jacques-Cartier],Willis, Clive, January 2004 UneinfrastructureennanotechnologiepourlarégiondeMontréal[ANanotechnologyInfrastructurefortheMontrealRegion],Willis, Clive, assisted by Johanne Émond, Montréal Technovision and Emploi Québec, 2002 2002-2020 : la vie technologique, [2002-2020: Technological Life], Hors série, Courrier international

Internet Sites Agence Science Presse — www.sciencepresse.qc.ca Canadian Nanobusiness Alliance — www.nanobusiness.ca Centre d’étude sur l’emploi et la technologie — www.cetech.gouv.qc.ca Canada Research Chairs — www.chairs.gc.ca National Research Council Canada — www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca (and links to network institutions) Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council — www.nserc.ca Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies — www.fqrnt.gouv.qc.ca Nanoelectronicsplanet.comNanometrix — www.nanometrixinc.com NanoPic — www.physics.mcgill.ca NanoQuébec — www.nanoquebec.ca Nanotechnologies.qc.ca Nanotechnology Now — www.nanotech-now.com NanoXchange.com Radio-Canada, Découverte and Les années lumière documentary programs — www.radio-Canada.ca Plasma Québec network — www.plasmaquebec.ca Strategis.ic.gc.ca University and research centre sites Sites of associations and organizations mentioned in the text

Technical Support from the Ministries Involved Alain Planckaert, ministère du Développement économique et régional et de la recherche (MDERR) Martin Roberge, ministère du Développement économique et régional et de la recherche (MDERR) Alboury Ndiaye, ministère du Développement économique et régional et de la recherche (MDERR)


Individuals Consulted Mohamed Chaker, holder of the research Chair in plasmas applied to microtechnologies and nanomanufacturing for the development of RF and photonic components, and Director of the Energy Centre at the INRS- Energy, Materials and Telecommunications.

Robert Sing, Nanotechnologies Coordinator, École Polytechnique and Université de Montréal.

André Bazergui, lead partner of Innovitech and former director of École Polytechnique.

Clive Willis, Director General, NanoQuébec.

Alain Cloutier, Technology Advisor, MDERR

Nanotechnologies Cluster •�0

NanoQuébec

Board of Directors PresidentJean Gaulin, Company Director

Members Robert Nault, Secretary Treasurer, President MarketechMaher Boulos, President and General Director, Tekna Plasma Systems Jean Bourbonnais, President and Director of Corporate Affairs, IatroQuest CorporationEdwin Bourget, Vice Rector, Research, Université de Sherbrooke Alain Caillé, Vice Rector, Research, Université de Montréal Isabelle Deschamps, Vice-President and Partner, Capimont Technologies Robert Massé, Vice-President, Science and Technology, MDS Pharma Services Élie Saheb, President and General Director, Hydro-Québec – Technology and Industrial Development Roch Tremblay, President, Regroupement des collèges du Montréal Métropolitain

Non-voting Members Michèle Fortin, Associate Deputy Minister, Research, Science and Technology, MDERR Sylvie Dillard, President and General Director, Fonds québécois de recherche sur la nature et les technologies Georges Bossé, CMM Representative Jacques Langelier, Director, Island of Montréal, Canada Economic Development

Guest MembersMartin Galarneau, Associate Deputy Minister, Greater Montreal, ministère Affaires municipales, Sport et Loisir

Other Members Clive Willis, Director General, NanoQuébec Sylvain Cofsky, Director, Innovation and Corporate Affairs, NanoQuébec

General Management

Clive Willis, Director GeneralSylvain Cofsky, Director, Innovation and Corporate Affairs, NanoQuébecFrance Beaulieu, Executive Assistant

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Nanotechnologies Cluster •�1

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Research and Copywriting

Research Assistants

Language Editing

Graphic Design

Michel Lefèvre Clive WillisJeanne Morazain

Sylvain Cofsky Charles-Albert Ramsay Frédéric Simmonot Dominique Chichera

Pascale Detandt

Metropolitan Cluster Technical Committee

Michel-Marie Bellemare Economist – Regional Policy,

Ministère du Développement économique et régional et de la Recherche

Daniel-Joseph Chapdelaine Advisor – City Planning and Institutional Relations,

Ministère des Affaires municipales, du Sport et du Loisir

Yves Charette Coordinator – Economic Development,

Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal

André Gagnon Advisor – Industrial File Development,

Ministère du Développement économique et régional et de la Recherche

Michel Lefèvre Advisor – Economic Development,

Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal

Christine Phaneuf Advisor – Local and Regional Development,


Ramata Sanogo Economist – City Planning and Institutional Relations,


Francine Rivard Director – Regional Development Coordination,

Société générale de financement du Québec

Documents

Nanotechnologies Cluster - Observatoire Grand Montréalobservatoire.cmm.qc.ca/.../gm_nanotechnologies_eng.pdf · 2019-11-14 · a third industrial revolution. A complex challenge