Polytechnique Montréal announced the creation of the Institute on Sustainable Engineering and Net Zero Economy (IIDEC – Institut de l’ingénierie durable et de l’économie carboneutre). The new institute will focus on solving environmental and social challenges associated with issues of sustainable economic development.
“As one of the major universities offering engineering training and research in Canada, Polytechnique Montréal is a driving force in the creation of talent, knowledge, and innovation for the benefit of Québec. Technology transfer is an integral part of IIDEC’s mission,” said Phillippe Tanguy, president of Polytechnique Montréal.
There are currently 32 research centres and units dedicated to sustainable development projects at the university. By relying on these research strengths and through the use of cutting-edge technological platforms, the IIDEC aims to accelerate the transfer of laboratory research results to industry users. The establishment of IIDEC will also allow the development of a structured, collaborative, innovation ecosystem open to all stakeholders in sustainable development, all across the country.
Lead by CIRAIG founder, Chemical Engineering Professor Réjean Samson, IIDEC’s founding committee includes notable members from the Polytechnique community, from the private sector (Henri-Paul Rousseau, François Perras, Sylvain Langis), and from public administration (John Knubley).
IIDEC’s development will focus on these areas of expertise:
- Green energy and chemistry
- Plastics
- Water
- Critical metals and minerals
- Electrification and decarbonisation of transportation
- Waste Management
- Recyclable organic printed electronics
- Life cycle impact, social acceptability, technology and analysis
The IIDEC is also planning to implement a collaborative model with the public and private sectors, in order to create innovative solutions to reduce carbon footprints.
“We want to accelerate innovation and contribute to the competitiveness of companies that choose to engage in a sustainable, circular, and carbon neutral economy. We want to make a practical contribution to the industry’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Projects developed will take into account health, safety, environmental conservation, integrity, and social acceptability,” said Samson.
Established in 1873, Polytechnique Montréal is one of Canada’s largest engineering education and research universities. It ranks first in Quebec in terms of the scope of its engineering research activities, and is located on the Université de Montréal campus – North America’s largest Francophone university campus.
