Smart and sustainable communication networks by Messaoud Ahmed Ouameur, UQTR.
PULR Technologies by Francois Menard, President.
Lime Microsystems by Tristan Martin, Manager.
TechNUM Quebec by Manon Duclos, CEO.
VTE Zone – Energy Transition Valley by Alain Lemieux, DG.
ISEQ by Geneviève Ouellet, President, Faxiom Electronix.
Biofood hub by Jennifer Larouche, Coordinator, Laval University.
PROMPT by Jinny Plourde, Program Director.
DigiHub by Dominique Oury, Business support manager.
NUMANA by François Borelli, Chairman and CEO.
Title: Smart and sustainable communication networks
Speaker: Messaoud Ahmed Ouameur, UQTR.
- Summary - It is anticipated that the next generation communication system, 6G, would meet previously unexpected-of demands on system performance, including throughput, latency, massive connections, and so on. We are looking forward to Internet of Things (IoT) applications in a number of domains, such as smart cities, smart factories, smart homes, smart grids, e-health, smart farming, and smart transportation, along with new services that offer rich experiences, like truly immersive VR/AR/MR (XR), etc., in the 6G era, when everything is hyper-connected, including humans. But given the variety of networking entities, various application needs, and resource limitations in IoT contexts, new and sustainable hardware and software improvements are required. Larger device counts and multi-access settings are expected in future IoT systems, necessitating the effective use of various wireless spectrum types, such as Sub-6 GHz, millimeter-wave, and telecom technologies. In addition to making it more difficult to maintain a net zero carbon emission rate, the proliferation of IoT devices makes it more difficult to accomplish the objectives of COP26. Creating an IoT design that maximizes resource use and can handle the limitations of IoT devices is essential to addressing these issues. Energy-efficient communication networks can be designed and implemented in a variety of attractive ways. Holographic multiple-input-multiple-output (H-MIMO), intelligent reflecting surface (IRS), and AI-native air interface are a few instances of these technologies. Therefore, Prof. Ahmed Ouameur will begin the discussion by outlining his vision for the smart radio environment from three perspectives: the infrastructure level, the algorithm level, and the device (hardware) level. He will wrap up by discussing the most recent findings of his team's research on physics-aware IRS-assisted communication.
— Biography — Messaoud Ahmed Ouameur received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the National Institute of Electronics and Electricity (INELEC), Boumerdes, Algeria, in 1998, an MBA from the Graduate School of International Studies at Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea, in 2000, and a Master of Science and Doctorate (with distinction) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières (UQTR), QC, Canada, in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Before joining UQTR in 2018, Dr. Ahmed Ouameur was a radio systems expert at NUTAQ Innovation, Quebec, Canada. There he was a major system architect and design engineer for several software radio development systems, including Titan MIMO, a 23 x 32 massive MIMO testbed. As a professor at UQTR, his research interests include real-time embedded systems, parallel and distributed processing with applications to distributed massive MIMO, reconfigurable smart surfaces, deep learning and machine learning for communication systems, and the Internet of Things with a focus on embedded AI using approximate computing.
Speaker: Francois Menard, President.
— Biography — François Ménard is President of PULR Technologies Inc. and CEO of Cooldat.ai. With over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, he has founded several companies and holds patents. At PULR Technologies, he leads the development of innovative fiber optic products, while at Cooldat.ai, he focuses on leveraging AI for data-driven decision-making. A recognized leader in his field, he frequently speaks at industry conferences and contributes to various technological advancements.
Speaker: Tristan Martin, Manager.
— Biography — Tristan Martin is an independent embedded systems professional. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Université de Moncton and a master's degree in computer engineering from École Polytechnique. He owns Altus Technologies, a LoRa cold chain monitoring service provider, and Nutaq, a 5G test and measurement equipment provider. He is also a sales representative for Enclustra, an FPGA module provider, and Lime Microsystems, a provider of RF chips, SDR modules, and 5G network equipment.
Speaker: Manon Duclos, CEO.
— Biography — Manon Duclos is CEO of Technum Québec, one of Quebec's leading innovation zones specializing in electronics and semiconductors. With a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Université Laval and a master's degree in engineering management from Université de Sherbrooke, she has over 30 years of experience in innovation, quality, and organizational excellence. She has held strategic positions at IBM, Mitel Semiconductor, and Teledyne DALSA. Author of several guides on innovation and organizational excellence, she is a sought-after speaker. At Technum Québec, she continues to lead innovative collaborative projects and position the industry as a pillar of digital transformation in Quebec and internationally. With a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Université Laval and a master's degree in engineering management from Université de Sherbrooke, she has over 30 years of experience in innovation, quality, and organizational excellence. She has held strategic positions at IBM, Mitel Semiconductor, and Teledyne DALSA. Author of several guides on innovation and organizational excellence, she is a sought-after speaker. At Technum Québec, she continues to lead innovative collaborative projects and position the industry as a pillar of digital transformation in Quebec and internationally.
Speaker: Alain Lemieux, CEO.
— Biography — Alain Lemieux is the CEO of the Energy Transition Valley (VTE), where he leads initiatives to accelerate the energy transition and reduce the environmental footprint in urban, industrial, and port areas. With over 25 years of experience in the energy sector, Alain Lemieux has played a key role in developing innovative sustainable energy and decarbonization solutions. Under his leadership, VTE has become a national and global leader in the research, development, and industrialization of energy transition technologies.
Speaker: Geneviève Ouellet, President, Faxiom Electronix.
— Biography — Geneviève Ouellet is a former Chair of the Board of Directors of the Electronic Systems Industry of Quebec (ISEQ). She holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from the École Polytechnique de Montréal, specializing in telecommunications. She has experience in telecommunications, transportation, and electrical and electronic product production and development support companies. She currently represents Faxiom Electronix Inc. and E Cubed Components.
Speaker: Jennifer Larouche, Coordinator, Laval University.
— Biography — Jennifer Larouche is the coordinator of the Bio-Food Hub, where she fosters collaboration between researchers, industry, stakeholders, and government to drive innovation and build a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable bio-food sector. She holds a master's degree in animal science from Université Laval and has extensive expertise in sustainable food systems, particularly in the field of edible insects. Jennifer Larouche is involved in concrete projects to promote the circular economy and support the transition to more sustainable food systems.
Speaker: Jinny Plourde, Program Director.
— Biography — Jinny Plourde is the Director of Academic Programs at Prompt, where she oversees the development and management of collaborative innovation programs, quantum technologies, and greenhouse gas reduction initiatives. She holds a bachelor's degree in geomatics from Université Laval. With over 20 years of experience in the technology and innovation sector, Jinny has been instrumental in fostering partnerships between academia and industry to drive technological advancements.
Speaker: Dominique Oury, Business Support Manager.
— Biography — Dominique Oury is the Director of Incubation and International Development at DigiHub Shawinigan, Quebec, where he has been fostering entrepreneurial innovation since 2021. Throughout his career, he has held varied roles, ranging from Acting Deputy General Manager to Project Manager, and is deeply involved in the community, having held positions in organizations related to business, sports, and the arts. An expert in IT, market development, and business strategy, Dominique Oury is also the author of five books, demonstrating his diverse talents and commitment to professional excellence and cultural contributions.
Speaker: François Borelli, Chairman and CEO.
— Biography — François Borrelli serves as Numana's interim President and CEO, bringing more than five years of strategic leadership to the organization. He was Vice President of Partnership Development at PROMPT Québec and founder of OblikMind, a business management services company. He has also played a key role in launching several startups. With a master's degree in engineering management from the Université de Sherbrooke and a strong background in electronics and avionics, he combines technical expertise with business acumen.
