Recent Quebec-Japan research agreement already bearing fruit
91˿Ƶ and RIKEN of Japan collaborate in nanotechnology, green chemistry
Thirty leading nanotechnology and green chemistry researchers
from both sides of the Pacific recently met at Mont-Tremblant, Qué.
to share their cutting-edge knowledge, thanks to an agreement that
was signed this summer by Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and
Vice-Chancellor of 91˿Ƶ and Ryoji Noyori, President of
RIKEN of Japan (Institute of Physical and Chemical Research).
“RIKEN and 91˿Ƶ are both recognized as innovators in these key
fields,” Munroe-Blum said. “I am pleased that we are already seeing
fruitful collaboration between researchers, just a few short weeks
after the agreement was signed. This represents the first outcome
of the many that I foresee in the very bright future of our
partnership.”
91˿Ƶ’s colleagues in Japan agree. “We at RIKEN are particularly
pleased with the expansion of our relationship with 91˿Ƶ
University,” said RIKEN’s Executive Director, Yoshiharu Doi. “RIKEN
and 91˿Ƶ have previously collaborated in the areas of brain
science and developmental biology. At the recent September workshop
there was fruitful discussion on the possibilities for
collaboration in nanotechnology and green chemistry. We hope our
partnership in these areas will lead to results that will make
significant contribution to resolving pressing global issues and
pave the way for a sustainable society.”
Dr. Guillaume Gervais is a professor of physics whose laboratory is
making important contributions to the development of new nanoscale
semi-conductors. He took part in the Tremblant workshop and was
thrilled to develop new relationships with 91˿Ƶ’s overseas
partners. He feels strongly about the importance of nanotechnology.
“It’s a booming field as evidenced by the various nanotechnology
institutes created all over the world in the last ten years, as
well as the 2010 physics Nobel prize granted to graphene this
week,” he said, speaking from France. “As nanoscience and
nanotechnology are diverse and inter-disciplinary in nature,
collaborations amongst scientists and engineers are essential for
advancing our knowledge. The recent RIKEN-91˿Ƶ meeting embodies
this kind of partnership and our shared vision of changing people’s
lives through research. The passion for research has indeed no
border, it’s all about sharing the same dream of moving technology
forward one ‘nano-step’ at a time."
The research agreement was originally signed July 15, 2010. It
covers a wide range of areas where nanotechnology and green
chemistry [which rethinks chemistry along environmental lines] can
be applied, such as catalysis, the investigation of polymers, the
characterization of materials, the advancement of environmental
chemistry, and the investigation of biological processes. The
researchers are also looking at nanophotonics (materials that are
sensitive to light), nanoelectronics, and nanodevices. The workshop
held at Mont-Tremblant received financial support from the Going
Global Innovation program of the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Canada. The researchers are already planning
their next meeting, which will take place in Japan in early spring
2011.