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At a signing ceremony in Lisbon on May 30, 2009, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology formalized a $35 million collaboration aimed at enhancing both institutions’ efforts in nanoscience and nanotechnology research and education.

We recently spoke with Jean Pol Piquard about his business, teaching and consulting careers—how they led him to become EDAM Industry Professor at FEUP (Porto), and why developing “projects that fit the agenda of potential industry affiliates” is key to the EDAM mission.

EDAM Industry Professor Jean Pol Picard

MPP: What is your background?
I am Belgian, and received my degrees in civil engineering and management in Belgium. For many years my career was in management, sales, marketing and global projects for European industrial companies. I have been based in Portugal since 1988, where I first assumed management roles in Portuguese companies. Since 1995 I have taught and have consulted on issues involving the internationalization of companies and clusters, as well as on international marketing.

MPP: How did you connect with the MIT Portugal Program?
In 2008 Prof. António Torres Marques [Coordinator of the EDAM program at Porto] contacted me to discuss project development and internationalization challenges for the EDAM [Engineering Design and Advanced Manufacturing] program. I saw this as an interesting opportunity, one that would complement my teaching and consulting. I applied to become an EDAM Industry Professor. I and Prof. Eduardo Beira (at the University of Minho) now hold those positions.

Bio-Engineering students from the MIT Portugal Program recently got a boost to their BioTeams go-to-market innovation projects during visits to two research centers, and in project presentations before an invited panel of experts. 

On Tuesday, July 7, 2007, the MIT Portugal Program will hold a high-profile conference at the Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon for members of Portugal's scientific and entrepreneurial communities—leaders from research centers and universities as well as CEOs and R&D executives from companies, innovation and engineering centers.