From November 23 to 29, 2025, InnovÉÉ led a Québec delegation to Hauts-de-France and Paris, as part of a technical and strategic mission organised in partnership with Pôle MEDEE.
This mission, co-funded by the Commission permanente de coopération franco-québécoise (CPCFQ) as part of the ARCÉÉ project and by InnovÉÉ, aimed to strengthen research and innovation collaborations in the key areas of electric energy, power electronics, transportation electrification and industrial technologies.
A mission at the crossroads of science, industry and the energy transition, bringing together researchers, innovative businesses, technical centres and institutional stakeholders from both regions.
A Delegation Committed to Accelerating Collaborative Innovation
The Québec delegation brought together 11 participants from businesses, universities and research centres, representing a diversity of complementary profiles united by a common goal: to develop structuring collaborations and concrete projects in energy innovation.
Participants:
- Arthur Fink, Scientific and R&D Director – Voltrinov
- Charles Gagné-Bourque, Co-founder – Ukko Solutions ; President – Sycle Tech
- Denis Gingras, Professor and Director of the LIV – Université de Sherbrooke
- Feng Alexandre Wang, President and CEO – Eagle Hydraulic Group
- François Allard, Assistant Professor – INRS-EMT
- Hussein Ibrahim, Director – Centre national intégré du manufacturier intelligent (CNIMI)
- Mathieu Lapointe, Managing Partner, Technology – Phar Veille Stratégique
- Mohammad Latifi, Professor and Researcher – Polytechnique Montréal
- Philippe Gaumond, Director – BeOnyx Robotics
- Samira Aghaee Sarbarze, CEO and Co-founder – NeoCtech
- William W. Reynolds, Chief Executive and Financial Officer – Eleqtrion
An Official Reception at the Délégation générale du Québec in Paris
On November 25, the delegation was welcomed at the residence of the Délégué général du Québec in Paris, Mr. Henri-Paul Rousseau, on the occasion of the first mission to France by Mr. Christopher Skeete, Québec's Minister responsible for International Relations and La Francophonie. This special moment highlighted the strategic importance of the Québec–Hauts-de-France partnership in energy innovation.
High-Level Visits to French Laboratories and Technical Centres
Participants had access to leading scientific and industrial infrastructure:
Exploration of R&D platforms in smart grids, energy storage, renewable energy, signal quality and control systems.
CETIM – Senlis
Discovery of mechanical and vibration testing capabilities, as well as industrial equipment electrification.
Laboratoire Roberval – UTC Compiègne
Discussions on multiphysics modelling, mechatronics and integrated systems.
Presentations and demonstrations related to electric, automated and connected vehicles.
LTI (Université de Picardie Jules Verne)
Discussions on innovations in industrial processes and advanced materials.
A focus on electrotechnical systems and their environmental impact.
CRITT M2A – Bruay-la-Buissière
A visit to facilities dedicated to testing and technologies for electric mobility.
In-depth discussions on conversion systems, advanced electrical grids and industrial control systems.
Productive Networking at the Conseil régional des Hauts-de-France in Lille
On November 28, a session of presentations and discussions brought together the delegation and several key French organisations: Pôle Mécatech, JEMA Power, CALYOS, Nord France Invest, ARIA Hauts-de-France, JUNIA, L2EP and several academic partners.
This meeting helped identify several potential collaborative projects, as well as mobilise funding mechanisms such as Horizon Europe, PSOprograms, ANR, FRQ and the Énergie Électrique 4.0 program..
InnovÉÉ warmly thanks Pôle MEDEE for co-organising the mission, the CPCFQ for its financial support through the ARCÉÉ project, the Délégation générale du Québec in Paris, the French partners who took part, and all delegation members for their commitment.
In the coming months, InnovÉÉ will continue to consolidate the projects identified, support members in their funding efforts, and structure long-term collaborations between Québec and Hauts-de-France.
This mission marks a major milestone in the internationalisation of Québec's electric energy ecosystem, and it is only the beginning.