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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.
MPP: What is the mission of EDAM Industry Professors?
Our mission is to support and develop the international positioning of the EDAM program, meaning establishing EDAM in Europe. EDAM is all the more able to offer innovative approaches as we look at industry actors in Europe that are facing challenges in the current economic crisis. For example, companies are often focused on tradition, and on and their strengths. As they face new challenges, they need to completely integrate the value chain in the overall design of their business. At EDAM, integration of research, education and industry engagement is central to what we do. With Prof. Carlos Aguiar, the leader of the Design Studio, we have been developing a dynamic communications strategy. We are developing a short, compelling definition of what EDAM is about, both for participants and for potential contacts.
 EDAM’s integration of research, education and industry engagement MPP: What are some of your key aims?
As Industry Professor, I am pushing our students and faculty to position themselves relative to industry needs. I am also trying to represent the concerns of industry inside EDAM. In this way, we can make our desired relationship with industry an integral part of our research and educational platform.
MPP: What would you like to say about your contribution to EDAM so far?
I have helped to sharpen our mission and how we approach it—I have worked on developing our platform. I am optimistic that we can develop new national and international affiliate relationships between now and the start of the new academic year, provided we can develop projects that fit the agenda of potential industry affiliates. |
