Quebec Photonic Network YEAR IN REVIEW GERMANY - FRANCE Trade Missions UNITED STATES GERMANY CHINA - CANADA Trade Fairs Photonics West Laser World of Photonics, Munich Laser World of Photonics, China Photonics North QUEBEC CITY - MONTREAL QPN Rendezvous ABB - CMC Electronics - Photon etc. - COPL - MPBC SEMINAR Optics-photonics serving aeronautics CAE - Bombardier - CMC Electronics - Pratt & Whitney - Aero Montreal Jane Bachynski, President of MPB Communications
2015 Year in Review Summary Editorial 2015-01 Rendezvous at ABB Photonics West 2015 Laser World of Photonics - China 2015 2015-03 Rendezvous at CMC Electronics Tour in Germany 2015-05 Rendezvous at Photon etc. Photonics North 2015 Laser World of Photonics - Munich 2015 2015-09 Rendezvous at the COPL QPN 2015 Seminar 2015-12 Rendezvous at MPB Communications Annual General Meeting Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review Vol. 2, No. 1 Editor in chief: Mireille Jean Created by: Denis Jean, duonet@videotron.ca Production editing: Dominique Poirier Photographs: Quebec Photonic Network and contributors Published by the Quebec Photonic Network. Copyright 2016 Quebec Photonic Network. All reproduction, translation, and adaptation rights are reserved. Quebec Photonic Network Montreal Office 407K-355, rue Peel Montreal QC H3C 2G9 Quebec City Office 2740, rue Einstein Quebec QC G1P 4S4 Tel.: 514 368-1677 Toll free: 866 344-1677 www.photonquebec.org The QPN welcomes new members! In 2015, the QPN, whose team already consisted of Mireille Jean and Françoise Lee, welcomed Laurence Déziel to events management and Félicien Legrand to member support. On the cover page Jane Bachynski, President of MPB Communica ons Ms. Bachynski made a noteworthy presenta on of the company and its achievements at the QPN Rendezvous held on December 14, 2015. 2 - Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review
Editorial The scope and importance of Quebec photonics are secrets that are too closely kept. All Quebecers should be proud of this leading sector, which relies upon modern research infrastructures, interna onally renowned and experienced researchers, innova ve technologies and excep onal exper se. Quebec s photonics ecosystem affects technologies and economics, but also has an impact on all aspects of human life, such as telecommunica ons, health, entertainment, green technologies, security, aerospace, transporta on industries, and more. In 2015, the Quebec Photonic Network made it a priority to have their scope and importance known and recognized here and abroad. Notably, the QPN gained recogni on with poten al buyers and suppliers, federal and provincial government representa ves, offering a diversified program which comprised five QPN Rendezvous, four exhibi ons (Munich, San Francisco, O awa, Shanghai), one seminar on the theme of Photonics serving Aerospace, newsle ers, and much more. The QPN team worked for countless hours to organize, manage and carry out this audacious program. However, the 2015 program s resounding success is mainly the result of the par cipa on of our members and friends who answered our call in such great numbers. For the QPN, 2015 was a year of consolida on. First of all, there was the consolida- on of its members with a renewal rate of nearly 80% and an increase of 55% in new members. Then, there was the financial consolida on with a balanced distribu on of revenue between membership revenues, event registra on fees, partnerships and government support. Finally, 2015 was further marked by consolida on with the addi on of two new staff members. I would like to underscore the board of directors involvement in ini a ng a strategic planning exercise during the year. This planning illustrates the progress the QPN has experienced during that past few years. The aim is to con nue progressing at this rate and even faster. This planning will translate into the development of a new QPN vision and mission. Lastly, I wish to thank those who contributed to the QPN s success in 2015. Thanks to our partners whose support is essen al to the pursuit of our mission. Thanks to our collaborators who transform our events into great successes. Thanks to the members of the Board of Directors who always eagerly support our projects, whatever they may be. Thanks to my incredible team composed of dedicated and talented individuals. Finally, thanks to you, members of the Quebec Photonic Network; it is with you and for you that we make every effort to offer you an ambi ous and diversified annual program. Here s to next year. Mireille Jean CEO Quebec Photonic Network Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review - 3
Environment friendly high performance measurement instruments help improve productivity Started in 1973, ABB Measurement and Analytics is is a well-established leader in in the the fields fields of of optics optics and and photonics in the Quebec region. The company employs over 220 220 people to to design, build build and and market market analytical products and level sensors for the oil & gas, chemicals, life life sciences, semi-conductors, metal metal processing, mining, water, defense & security and space industries. ABB ABB recently leveraged its its expertise in in these markets to expand into energy distribution by by adding a a health monitoring system system for for power power transformers to its portfolio. www.abb.com/measurement ABB ABB Inc. Inc. Measurement Measurement & Analytics Analytics Business Business Unit Unit Québec, Québec, Qc Qc Canada Canada ftir@ca.abb.com ftir@ca.abb.com There s a wide range of government Financing available. Our goal is to help you capitalize on these sources. Jean-Claude Cyr, CPA, CGA, D. Fisc. Senior Manager Tax cyr.jean-claude@rcgt.com Maxime Dufour, CPA, CA, MBA Manager Assurance dufour.maxime@rcgt.com Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton s service offering includes over 60 areas of expertise tailored Our innovation tax and subsidy program experts can support you throughout the claim process to maximize your R&D and innovation tax credits and subsidies. Contact them, they can help your business achieve its full potential for growth. rcgt.com 4 - Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review
2015-01 Rendezvous at ABB January A Call for Collaboration Mr. Jean-René Roy, ABB Canada Hub Business Unit Manager, Measurement and Analy cs, set the ball rolling by explaining that ABB s par cipa on in this rendezvous was intended as an invita on to generate value, not only for his business, but also for its par cipants. Central to this added value is the sharing of ABB s vision, a presenta on of its processes and most importantly, an invita on to work with ABB teams, whether as an employee or a supplier. Jean-René Roy Roundtable Discussion A Win-Win Partnership The exchanges that took place during this discussion highlighted the difficul es that SMEs face when they want to offer their products and services to the large corpora ons. Administra ve workload seems to be a generalized problem when it comes to becoming the supplier of a large corpora on. However, corpora ons appear to demonstrate a willingness to cut down on this workload in order to foster more opportuni es for exchange with SMEs. The prolifera on of exchange pla orms such as the roundtable discussion proposed by QPN at its rendezvous can only be profitable for both types of businesses. An Outstanding Collaboration The QPN would like to offer a special thank you to Marc Corriveau, General Manager at ABB, who eagerly agreed to host a QPN Rendezvous, and to Florent Bouguin, supervisor, Systems Engineering, who, in addi on to managing the overall logis cs for the event, also shared his taste for things done right and in a healthy way. Florent Bouguin New : International Commercialization Tips & Tricks The QPN s Rendezvous program was enhanced with a new presenta on that provides ps and tricks on different aspects of the interna onal commercializa on of technological SMEs. With this presenta on, the QPN aims to improve the performance of technological businesses in interna onal markets. Guests of Honour The rendezvous welcomed special guests Garry Vail and Jean-Noël Bérubé, the two founders of ABB-Bomem. Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review - 5
GIGACONCEPT.COM Photonics West 2015 February During Photonics West 2015, the QPN offered a diversified program that allowed par cipants to network, make themselves known, and to meet new people. It was an ambi ous program with three Quebec-World mee ngs, a pavilion of 6 exhibitors and industrial visits. We wish to thank all those who contributed to making Photonics West 2015 a resounding success. The QPN Pavilion, redesigned The 2015 QPN Pavilion comprised an exhibi on area and another area for the ac vi es on offer, where QPN members could hold B2B mee ngs. Thanks to the new and colourful design of its banners, the QPN image received a makeover. The QPN proudly promoted Quebec photonics by distribu ng the 2014 Year in Review and a brochure with details of the exhibitors. A special thanks to the Quebec Ministry of Economy, Innova on and Export and Canada Economic Development for making it possible to organize this Pavilion. Quebec-World Meetings Ini ated in 2014, Quebec-World mee ngs were a huge success during this edi on. It held the three following events: Quebec-USA, Quebec-France and Quebec-China. During these mee ngs, par cipa ng businesses had the opportunity to individually introduce themselves and talk over refreshments offered at the end of each event. Quebec - USA Quebec - France Quebec - China 6 - Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review
Photonics West 2015 (cont d) February Two Goals Achieved During Industrial Visits Not only did Quebec par cipants have the opportunity to visit UC Berkeley, Iris AO and Lawrence Berkeley Labs, but they also had the chance to speak with French and American representa ves who also par cipated in these visits. The new ini a ve made it possible to meet passionate researchers and to discover amazing infrastructures. Congratulations to the Quebec Exhibitors Thanks to the presence of 19 QPN members as exhibitors, the province of Quebec shone once again this year. Indeed, these businesses showcase Quebec talent all over the world. norpix DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING SOFTWARE AND SOLUTIONS www.norpix.com Thanks to our partners Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review - 7
PROUD PARTNER OF THE RPQ FOR OVER 10 YEARS THE BENCHMARK FOR IP SINCE 1892 SINCE 1892 LAWYERS, PATENT AND TRADEMARK AGENTS Montreal and Quebec City robic.ca 8 - Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review
Laser World of Photonics China March The QPN, represented by Gui Jun Li (Françoise Lee), par- cipated in Laser WoP China 2015. This par cipa on led to B2B mee ngs, industrial visits, the organiza on of a booth, and to the idea of se ng up a QPN Space in China. Quebec-China B2B Meetings In addi on to represen ng and promo ng its members at these mee ngs, the QPN organized more than 40 B2B mee ngs between Quebec and Chinese businesses. Mandated by the MEIE to organize these events, the QPN iden fied, requested, and managed the organiza on of these events. Quebec businesses that benefited from this opportunity are the following: INO Avensys Optech TeraXion CorAc ve QPS Photronics O/E Land In order to organize these mee ngs, the QPN received invaluable collabora on from the following Chinese partners: Science & Technology Commision of Shanghai Pudong New Area Pudong Optoelectronics Industry Associa on of Shanghai China Opto-Electronics Manufacturing Associa on Shanghai Optoelectronics Trade Associa on Wuxi Hi-Tech Business Incubator & Development Co., Ltd. Industrial Visits During this ac vity, the Quebec delega on had the chance to discover the products and explore the facili es of two pres gious Chinese businesses: Shanghai New Industrial Opto-Electronics ZTE Some Statistics Visitors Fields of Exper se: Optics 39% Others 11 % 40291 visitors 8% Increase Electrical engineering/electronic engineering/ semiconductors 30 % Precision engineering 10% Tool manufacturing 8% Mechanical engineering Colleges/Universi es 6% Non-university research centres Automo ve engineering 6% Service/commerce 5% Medica on/biotechnology 5% Pharmaceu cal Avia on/aerospace/transporta on 4% QPN Space in China? 715 exhibitors 20 countries 14% Increase A space where businesses could meet poten al clients, where brochures, catalogues, samples, and other promo- onal materials of Quebec businesses would be permanently displayed, and where joint Quebec-China ac vi es could be organized. This is what a QPN Space in China would be like. Several opportuni es have opened up and are presently being studied. We will be following up on this ma er Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review - 9
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2015-03 Rendezvous at CMC Electronics March Rarely do we get an opportunity to visit CMC Electronics. Indeed, the American company carefully guards its industrial secrets. Hence, the rendezvous held in March 2015 was the golden opportunity for par cipants to visit the facili es where CMC Electronics manufactures, develops, and puts the finishing touches on its avia on products. The presenta ons given by Marc Gagné and Jocelyn Lauzon, respec vely Manager of the Microelectronic Group and Program and Electro-Op cal Products Manager, allowed to be er understand how to do business with CMC Electronics. The networking opportuni es that followed allowed the company representa ves to find out about new SME technologies that could poten ally meet some of their needs. International Commercialization Tips & Tricks: Three Models of How to Do International Business Jean-Pascal Hébert, Director of Emerging Markets and Channels at Eleven Wireless, explained, during the presenta on on interna onal marke ng, that there are three models for marke ng yourself on an interna onal level. Businesses must choose a model according to their type of business, but most importantly, according to their business level of commercial advancement. To begin with, there is the direct sales model, which generally applies to businesses addressing a niche market in which added value is important. Then there is the model for businesses that market through an intermediary (partner) to iden fy, solicit and sell to a client. Finally, there is the model for businesses that use a distribu on channel. This model works well when the product is aimed at a broader market and when the product requires li le representa on. Marketing/R&D Communications The roundtable discussion of the rendezvous dealt with the some mes challenging communica ons between the R&D and marke ng teams. Yet, everyone agrees that communica on between both par es has a posi ve impact. Marke ng informa on influences R&D so that future products be er meet targeted markets needs. Similarly, informa on from the R&D department helps propose innova ve solu ons to clients. Certain ideas have been brought forward to improve Marke ng/r&d communica ons, such as implemen ng official exchange processes, redesigning the workplace to promote the intermingling of teams, organizing seminars to promote exchanges or even strategically posi oning the coffee machine. Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review - 11
Tour in Germany April Quebec Photonic Network Tour in Germany In April, QPN set out on a commercial mission in Germany. The aim was two-fold: Firstly, to learn more about the German business model, which appears to be func oning quite well, and secondly, to begin the process of bringing the Quebec photonics sector closer to that of Germany. The QPN took advantage of this opportunity to strengthen its es with French photonics by making a brief detour via this country. The QPN received a warm welcome at every mee ng, and had the chance to exchange with people who are passionate, not only about science and technology, but also about the impact their discoveries have on society. In addi on, major modern photonic infrastructures available to experienced researchers were toured. Naturally, the QPN took advantage of this mission to promote Quebec s photonics talent and know-how. An Outstanding Collaboration The mission was a success thanks to two people for whom the QPN has the greatest respect. They are two pillars of German photonics. It is thanks to their generosity, commitment, and extensive contact network that the QPN was able to meet incredible people. The QPN would like to thank these two great men who are now more than just collaborators. They are also friends. Thank you Horst Sickinger of Bayern Photonics and Klaus Schindler of Optonet. Thank you! Tour Figures 2044 kilometres 38 mee ngs 26 businesses 13 visits 5 days 5 ci es 2 countries Visi ng these facili es where equipment that is used worldwide is designed and manufactured was an honour for the QPN. The thoroughness of businesses and organiza ons we visited was striking. We were constantly met by intelligent, warm, generous people. Thanks to all who welcomed us with open arms. 12 - Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review
Tour in Germany (cont d) April Little Anecdotes from our Trip Souvenir Photos Thinking I was about to discover the warm old-world spring season, I had only brought along a light raincoat. Huge mistake! It was cold, really cold. Trains were cancelled due to strong winds and Berlin was hit by a hail storm. It was unbelievable. For my Berlin-Paris flight, I travelled with Germanwings. I am not afraid of flying, but I began to worry when the flight attendant, upon welcoming us on board, reassured us that they would make sure the pilots were not le alone in the cockpit. Those were their instruc ons following a recent plane crash. Mireille Jean Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review - 13
2015-05 Rendezvous at Photon etc. May With Creativity as the Theme Collabora on, coopera on, innova on: Photon etc. is all of that. And it was in the spirit of these quali es that the company hosted a QPN Rendezvous, the theme of which was crea vity. The warm, friendly atmosphere found in the offices of Photon etc. suggests that great teamwork is conducive to the development of ideas. And in fact, the staff at Photon etc. is so crea ve that they are coming up with more ideas than they can bring to market. This is why Photon etc. adopted a technology transfer approach and took part in crea ng new businesses like Nüvü Cameras. International Commercialization Tips & Tricks: Inspiration from Cirque du Soleil Jean David, who was the marke ng vice-president for Cirque du Soleil for 15 years, cap vated a endees by sharing his experiences with that organiza on. Strangely enough, the problem faced by the Cirque in its early days is similar to the one challenging our innova ve companies. Ini ally, the show offered by Cirque du Soleil did not meet any demand on the market. So, the challenge was to find what event-related need the new circus formula could fill and then fill it they did! A Good Problem to Have The rendezvous roundtable discussion broached a recurring problem in high-tech companies: What do you do when a company like Photon etc. develops technology that s so advanced that the needs it meets haven t yet been iden fied? The ques on was discussed enthusias cally by the rendezvous par cipants. Once again, crea vity was in the spotlight, with the facilita on of François Lavallée, from Aliter Concept, who helped make the ac vity an excep onally lively one. Discussions in subgroups made it possible to talk and debate various ideas. Special Visit and Presentations Marc Verhaeghen, a specialist in photoluminescence imaging, Simon Lessard, an expert on infrared cameras, and Daniel Gagnon, an op cal filter and tunable source professional, together introduced the group to the facili es and labs at Photon etc. Par cipants had the opportunity to rediscover the uniqueness of Photon etc., its team and infrastructure. Rendezvous Captured on Film Photon etc. was profiled in a video produced by Cartouche Média on behalf of McGill University, for a series presen ng case studies on Canadian expor ng companies. The videos are made available online at ie-scholars.net in Canada and in several universi- es around the world. Thanks to this unique opportunity, the May 2015 Rendezvous at Photon etc. was immortalized. 14 - Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review
Photonics North 2015 June The QPN used a summery approach to represent its members at Photonics North 2015 in O awa. With special support from Robic, the QPN invited visitors to enjoy an excellent cup of coffee. The QPN took advantage of its presence at Photonics North to gather informa on for its Quebec op cs-photonics directory present at its 2015 Seminar. Several companies used the opportunity to become QPN members, in order to enjoy the benefits that come from being a member of the network. An Original Approach This year, the QPN used an innova ve approach to present its services and its par cipa ng members at Photonics North, by offering original bookmarks in summery colours. In addi on to QPN s 2014 Year in Review, it also distributed these six special bookmarks: - The Des na on China service - QPN Rendezvous - Annual seminar - The QPN s vision and mission - The QPN team - Invita on to have a coffee, courtesy of Robic Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review - 15
Laser World of Photonics Munich June Quebec-Bavaria: A Friendship that s Stronger than Ever In 1989, a partnership agreement between Quebec and Bavaria was created to promote commercial, scien fic, technological and cultural exchanges between the two regions. In the same spirit, a new coopera on agreement on research and technology was signed last September. The QPN s par cipa on and the program proposed to Munich s World of Photonics (WoP) are part of a willingness by these two regions, which share a strength in op cs-photonics, to work together. On this occasion, the QPN demonstrated leadership that greatly helped in organizing significant ac vi es, not only for Quebec but also for Canada and the German partners. This resulted in the crea on of a special ac vity on the financing of interna onal projects, an invita on to a end a recep on given by the Delegate General in Munich, a cocktail recep on held at the Canadian Pavilion, the organiza on of industrial visits, and the showcasing of five companies in the Quebec Space. Thanks to all who made a contribu on, small or large, to the organiza on of a program of such magnitude. Special thanks to Jennifer Decker of the Canadian Embassy and Peter Freier of the Quebec Delega on in Munich. A Noteworthy Quebec Space in a Remarkable Canadian Pavilion Located within a revamped and improved Canadian Pavilion, the Quebec Space hosted five companies and a QPN booth, where visitors could learn about the talents of our network s members. Several Quebec companies also exhibited in other halls. A cocktail party was held at the Canadian Pavilion, amidst networking and the rekindling of acquaintances. Discovering German Companies Several industrial visits were organized during the 2015 Laser WoP. The companies Qiop q and Menlo Systems opened their doors to Quebec representa ves, who had the chance to learn about their products, technology, teams and, especially, their produc on and development infrastructure. Many thanks to our hosts! We hope to return the favour soon. 16 - Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review
Laser World of Photonics Munich (cont d) June Spending Quebec s National Holiday with the Delegate General On June 25, to mark Quebec s Na onal Holiday, Munich s Delegate General, Claude Trudelle, and his wife, hosted a recep on at their home, for about one hundred handpicked guests. In addi on to the dignitaries, a number of Bavarian Francophiles from various areas were also on hand. Quebec s op cs-photonics community was well represented, with about ten members in a endance. In its discussions at the recep on with the Delegate General and the Canadian Consul, the QPN was able to present the importance of op cs-photonics in day-to-day life, as well as Quebec s standing in this area. A Quebec-Canada-Germany Meeting During the 2015 tour, in a mee ng organized by Jennifer Decker, who was then a technical advisor with the Canadian Embassy, the idea emerged of holding an ac vity with interna onal collabora on from Canada and Germany, to highlight the policies affec ng research and development projects. This idea was made a reality on June 23, when a mee ng was held between Quebec, Canada and Germany. Some 30 people listened a en- vely to talks by companies and research centres, and to a presenta on of Canadian and German financial aid programs. The QPN is proud to have ins gated this event and hopes to repeat the experience in the future at other interna onal events. List of Presenters - Jennifer Decker, Canadian Embassy - Mireille Jean, Quebec Photonic Network - Georg Nagel, German Funding Program - Gerd Marowky, German Photonic Incubator - Lars Unnebrink, German Photonics Projects - Chris an Hahn, InnoLas Photonics GmbH - Dr. Wilfried Kaiser, Ranovus Inc. - Jens Nolte, Polytec GmbH - Dwayne Miller, University of Toronto/Max Planck Ins tute Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review - 17
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2015-09 Rendezvous at the COPL September The rendezvous at COPL was a flagship moment in 2015. Entrepreneurs, researchers and students had the opportunity to meet, share their views and socialize. Included in the event were speed-da ng networking, job offers, exchanges of business cards and discussions on scien fic entrepreneurship. The rendezvous achieved its goal of crea ng a forum for entrepreneurs and university researchers and students, who seldom have a chance to work together. A visit of the COPL labs and a range of presenta ons facilitated discussions between these two groups, who o en work in isola on. The students also had a chance to have their say: representa ves of Laval University s photonics-op cs student group (Regroupement des étudiants en photonique et op que de Laval, or REPOL) presented their ac vi es and areas of interest. Does Scientific Entrepreneurship Exist? In order for fundamental research to yield economic benefits, discoveries must be transformed into business projects. Scien fic entrepreneurship therefore is a requirement. This topic was the focus of the a ernoon s discussions. At first glance, scien- sts seem not to see the a rac on of entrepreneurship. The source of this problem may reside in the university environment, which may not be conducive to developing entrepreneurship. For instance, there does not seem to be any university infrastructure to iden fy and promote entrepreneurial inclina ons among young researchers. Hopefully it s only a ma er of me before we see more scien fic entrepreneurial careers start to emerge. Problems with Hosting Foreign Students It s not always easy to take in students or trainees from other countries. Par cipants were introduced to this topic by a specialist, Pierre-É enne Morand, a lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright. He presented the main challenges (and avenues for solu ons) in hiring foreign students. Students Seeking Employers Employers Seeking Students For this rendezvous, a bulle n board was made available to students looking for work, and to employers looking for new employees. Using a speed-da ng format, the two groups were given an opportunity to meet onsite and to discuss future associa ons. This job break proved to be a great catalyst for contacts between students and employers! Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review - 19
www.cctt-optech.ca Enhance your product range and increase sales potential Fiber sensor Lighting Biomedical imaging Objectives Metrology Microsystem From components to added value systems LENSES FIBRE LED 20 - Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review
QPN 2015 Seminar October The theme of the 2015 QPN Seminar was Op- cs-photonics Serving Aeronau cs. Hosted in partnership with Aero Montreal, the program included tes monials, B2B mee ngs, talks and numerous networking opportuni es between the op cs-photonics and aerospace industries. The QPN especially wants to thank the Aero Montreal team for its valuable contribu on, as well as CAE, which hosted the 2015 QPN Symposium. The Views of Four Large Aeronautics Companies In the morning, four aeronau cs companies presented on how photonics impact on their products. Thanks to the par cipants in this presenta on, which was a high point of the day. Meetings with Work Providers Following on the heels of the aeronau cs companies talks, a number of speakers, par cipants and QPN members took the opportunity to introduce themselves, talk and make new contacts that will hopefully lead to future partnerships. In addi on, a panel discussion allowed par cipants to directly ques on the panelists and gain more in-depth knowledge about the procedures that must be followed with Quebec s major aeronau cs manufacturers. Fascinating Industrial Visits In the a ernoon, par cipants had to make a difficult choice between visi ng the CAE Systems facili es to learn about simulator manufacturing, or touring the plant where Bombardier Challenger aircra are fabricated. Whichever op on they chose, all par cipants were clearly sa sfied. Thanks again to the partners who so generously opened their doors to us. Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review - 21
2015-12 Rendezvous at MPBC December Special Political Program The theme during the rendezvous at MPB Communica ons was poli cs. In offering this special program, the QPN aimed to reconcile the views of industry and government representa ves. A few concerns had been raised regarding the loss of tax credits, austerity measures and other issues. Several government representa ves accepted our invita on. They shared their great desire to offer be er-adapted programs for technological entrepreneurs. The QPN was pleased to welcome Saul Polo, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Economy, Science and Innova on; Marie-Josée Blais, Interim Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Innova on; Jean Séguin, Assistant Deputy Minister, External Trade; Sylvain Thériault, Op cs-photonics-telecom Coordinator at MEIE; Andrei Ionescu, NSERC; and Yves Lavoie, manager at CED. Each of them presented programs that support technological entrepreneurship. Thanks to all for accep ng our invita on and for par cipa ng. A er this face-to-face rendezvous, par cipants felt not only reassured but also be er informed about the programs offered and about their future. Learning about MPB Communications It s a rare opportunity to be introduced to MPB Communica ons by its president! Jane Bachynski, who gave a notable and appreciated presenta on, also honoured par cipants by presen ng the company that has hosted her achievements. She also graciously involved the members of her team; some of MPBC s excep onal achievements were highlighted by op cal designer Jonathan Lavoie, business development officer Claude e Linton, and manager for Canada La n America Jimmy Herrera. A Thought-Provoking Discussion During the round-table discussion, par cipants talked about the most suppor ve programs for their business. Everyone wanted to talk about tax credit cuts. This was an opportunity to explore various avenues for improving the support available to businesses, including the crea on of a support program for the commercializa- on of technology products, whose format would be similar to the R&D tax credits. We re certain to hear more about this issue in the future. An Original and Effective Networking Speed-Dating Through a speed-da ng networking session, par cipants were able to exchange business cards in a lively session that was enjoyed by all. 22 - Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review
Annual General Meeting Taking stock of the year 2015 was a sizeable job undertaken by the Board of Directors of the Quebec Photonic Network at the AGM on October 22, 2015. At the rendezvous, par cipants were given a chance to fully appreciate the work accomplished over the year during the auditor s presenta on of the financial statements, which also looked back at the network s various ac vi es. 2015-2016 Board of Directors 2015 Achievements The QPN team is proud of the calendar of events it offered in 2015, including five QPN Rendezvous, two interna onal tours (Germany, France), four interna onal exhibi ons, three special projects (including the 2014 Year in Review), the revamping of the website and the produc on of the Quebec op cs-photonics directory. And that s on top of publishing four newsle ers and two special bulle ns. Par cipants sa sfac on with QPN ac vi es was rated at over 90%, confirming the quality and relevance of the 2015 calendar of events. And the network is s ll developing. Board members took advantage of this excellent year to push forward by undertaking a strategic planning process that will define the network s direc- ons over the coming years. Hassan Kassi Chairman Sébas en Blais-Ouelle e Director Richard Kirouac Treasurer Charles Leduc Director Isabelle Girard Secretary Stéphane Chabot Director Yves Chevalier Director Denis Lafrance Director Yves Lemire Director Marie-Chris ne Ferland Director Marc Corriveau Director Mireille Jean President & CEO Marie-Claude Gagné Observer Sylvain Thériault Observer Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review - 23
Thanks to our major partners Thanks to our special collaborators Thanks to our interna onal collaborators Quebec Photonic Network Montreal office 407K-355 rue Peel, Montreal QC H3C 2G9 Quebec City office 2740 rue Einstein, Quebec QC G1P 4S4 Tel.: 514 368-1677 www.photonquebec.org 24 - Quebec Photonic Network 2015 Year in Review