Who are we?
The Plateforme d’Innovation Numérique et Quantique is a non-profit organization initiated by the University of Sherbrooke and the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy of Quebec in 2020.
In 2022, PINQ² has been entrusted by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy of Quebec with the mission to accelerate the digital transformation of Quebec companies with the mandate to operationalize the most powerful computing infrastructure in Quebec combining classical, quantum and hybrid technologies.
Our platform is based on classical, hybrid and quantum digital solutions and is accessible to all Quebec companies and to all university and college technology transfer center (CCTT) networks.
Why do business with us?
Did you know that only 40% of our Quebec companies have begun their digital transformation? And that only 2% of academic R&D investments contribute to digital innovation?
The platform PINQ² will become your reference in terms of digital transformation with its unique and transparent service and its predictive approach in terms of cost. In addition to receiving support tailored to your needs and benefiting from sustainable solutions, you will be in control of your digital transformation through the transfer of skills. Thus, the digital will not only be anchored in your company, but you will have acquired the knowledge necessary to ensure its sustainability.
Mission
“De-risking” business innovation, focusing on classical, hybrid and quantum digital solutions
Our mission is to accompany organizations towards an accelerated digital transformation, to enhance collaboration and simplify technology transfer between industry and research, and to train the talents of tomorrow.
Vision
To be recognized by our academic, industrial and financial partners as a gas pedal of innovation and the democratization of digital solutions
Values
PINQ²’s values are interdisciplinary collaboration, fairness between projects, safety, transparency and commitment to results for our clients.
The team
Board of Directors
Vice-rector, Development and Partnerships at the Université de Sherbrooke
Vincent Aimez is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and is Vice-Rector for Partnerships and Development. As vice-rector, he manages the University's Innovation Partnerships and Entrepreneurship strategy, including the Business Partnerships Group (GPA), which facilitates links between the UdeS and its partners at all levels. He is in charge of major projects for the UdeS such as the innovation zones in quantum sciences and technological applications on the one hand and on Digital Technologies on the other hand. He also contributed in collaboration with the MEI to the implementation of the Platform for Digital and Quantum Innovation (PINQ2) and the Integrated Innovation Chain regrouping the Institut Quantique (IQ), the Institut Interdisciplinaire d'Innovation Technologique (3IT) and the MiQro Innovation Collaboration Center (C2MI). He is currently working on the development of the solar technology park at the University of Sherbrooke, in partnership with Hydro-Sherbrooke. As a researcher, he is the co-founder of the CNRS International Mixed Unit "Nanotechnologies Nanosystems Laboratory (LN2)" which has become a point of contact between Europe and North America in the field of micro-nanotechnologies.
Vice-Rector for Research, Creation and Innovation at Université Laval
Eugénie Brouillet is Vice-Rector of Research, Creation and Innovation at Université Laval. She is also a lawyer and full professor at the Faculty of Law, which she led as Dean from 2012 to 2017, after having served as Vice-Dean of Undergraduate Studies (2010-2012).
Her areas of research are constitutional law, particularly Canadian and comparative federalism in a multinational context and the protection of human rights and freedoms. She sits on numerous boards of directors, including the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Centraide Québec Chaudière-Appalaches and MILA.
President of CanTRA
Ghyslain Goulet is President and CEO of the Accélérateur de Création d'Entreprises Technologiques (ACET Banque Nationale).
This manager has 25 years of experience in strategic coaching for executives of large companies, technology SMEs and in economic development. He is a dynamic leader known for his business sense, his ability to grasp issues, his mobilization skills and his ability to develop trusting interpersonal relationships. He is distinguished by his results orientation.
Sarah Jenna, Co-founder & CEO MIMS.ai
As co-founder and CEO of MIMs (My Intelligent Machines), Sarah Jenna leverages her expertise in cellular and microbiological genomics to provide life science companies with cutting-edge integrative genomics skills to develop personalized medical care and more efficient agricultural processes. Sarah received her PhD in Cell Biology and Microbiology from the University of Aix-Marseille in France in 1998. Since 2006, she is also the director of the Laboratoire de génomique intégrative et signalisation cellulaire at UQÀM.
President of LexRock.IA
For more than 25 years, Alain Lavoie has been a very involved leader in the ICT ecosystem in Quebec. He is an expert in the world of digital transformation, information management and automatic natural language processing (NLP).
In 2019, he co-founded LexRock AI: a platform using artificial intelligence, allowing the analysis, extraction and comparison of information from unstructured documents, intended for different business sectors (- Finance- Insurance- Legal- Cybersecurity). The LexRock AI platform allows for the anonymization of information, offering a solution to help companies comply with data protection regulations.
Alain is mainly known for defending the interests of small and medium-sized businesses in information technology and sits on numerous committees and boards of directors.
Julie is a partner and co-leader of business sectors at Levio. Levio is a business and IT transformation firm and one of the fastest growing companies in Canada. It now has close to 2000 employees in 5 countries.
Julie has over 24 years of experience in the financial institutions industry in leadership roles. Prior to joining Levio, she was the Canadian Small and Medium Business Leader for TD Bank. She led a team of advisors across Canada who supported clients in their business needs, earning J.D. Power recognition in 2022 as the financial institution with the best customer satisfaction for small business. Prior to joining TD in 2020, she was Senior Vice President, Transformation at National Bank of Canada. She oversaw the acceleration of business efficiency, digital reach, large-scale project management and cultural transformation of that organization, bringing new ways of working. Previously, she led contact centers and was vice president of human resources focused on talent, leadership and engagement. Prior to joining the financial industry, she was a labor and employment attorney.
Vice President of Global Alliances
Kinova
David Mac Farlane is a highly motivated, dynamic and resourceful leader with over 20 years of professional experience in business and corporate development, and now in politics and policy; with an outstanding track record of creating and closing investment deals. He has successfully developed and negotiated partnerships with institutions, governments and businesses in Canada, the United States and Europe. He has succeeded through hard work, luck, business acumen and his ability to understand people, macroeconomic and political influences, and global trade and investment flows.
Ms. Trépanier participated in the privatization of SIM, which she chaired for 20 years, during which time she created Cognibox, of which she is still a shareholder and member of the board of directors. She has also received several awards and distinctions during her career, including the CEO of the Year award from Investissement Québec and the Pythagoras award, which recognizes graduates of the UQTR with an outstanding career.
Partnerships
