Team

MARIE-PIERRE IPPERSIEL, PH. D.

PRESIDENT AND CEO

Marie-Pierre Ippersiel is President and Chief Executive Officer at PRIMA Québec. Prior to this, she spent over six years working as Vice-President for the cleantech industry cluster Écotech Québec. Among other responsibilities, she managed the cluster’s operations, coordinated steering committees and developed a variety of content (dissertations, studies, etc.). As Research Advisor for the Montreal Metropolitan Community (MMC) between 2004 and 2010, she helped implement the primary tools used in the Greater Montréal Economic Development Plan, including the cluster strategy. In 2003, she produced a notice on innovation in Quebec municipalities for the Conseil de la science et de la technologie. Ms. Ippersiel holds a PhD in Urban Studies from the INRS – Centre Urbanisation Culture Société, where she focused on science/industry relations and technological support for SMEs in college technology transfer centres. She took part in the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference in 2017. She also sits on the boards of directors for NanoCanada, Green Surface Engineering for Advanced Manufacturing Strategic Network, ADRIQ, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) and she is co-chair of the Net-Zero Advisory Body.

mp.ippersiel@prima.ca
514 235-1627

514 284-0211, ext. 224

MICHEL LEFÈVRE, B. ING. PH. D.

DIRECTOR – PROGRAMS & INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS

Michel Lefèvre, Director – Programs and International collaborations, is responsible for the deployment of the various calls for projects in addition connecting with foreign partners. He also supports Quebec companies and academic researchers in their innovation projects in the field of advanced materials.  With over 20 years of experience in materials research, analysis and development, Mr. Lefèvre has developed an expertise in battery and fuel cell nanomaterials and energetic materials. As a Materials Science Engineer at the Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), he obtained his doctorate on non noble metal catalyst for oxygen reduction for fuel cells in 2003 from the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique – Énergie Matériaux et Télécommunication (INRS-EMT) while working under Prof. Dodelet, a world leader in the field. As a INRS Research Associate in Prof. Dodelet’s research group, he co-invented two patents and co-authored 42 publications in journals that include Science and Nature Communications. In 2010, he co-founded Canetique Electrocatalysis Inc., a start-up that emerged from his INRS research, and has taken part in the company’s R&D and management activities for 5 years.

michel.lefevre@prima.ca
514 241-3322

514 284-0211, ext. 227

SÉBASTIEN GARBARINO, PH. D.

DIRECTOR, INFRASTRUCTURES AND INNOVATION

Sébastien Garbarino will be joining PRIMA Québec as an Infrastructure and Innovation Consultant. Mr. Garbarino will be in charge of the Infrastructure en Recherche et Développement du Québec (IRDQ); a unique tool intended to support Quebec companies and academic researchers in their innovation projects in the field of advanced materials.

With over 15 years of experience in materials research and development, Mr. Garbarino is an expert in the field of chemistry and nanomaterials for energy storage and conversion systems. After obtaining his Master’s Degree in Organic, Analytical and Marine Environmental Chemistry from the Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (France) in 2002, he completed his PhD in Electrochemistry in 2007 at University College Cork (Ireland) as part of the Surface Active Sites and Exhaust Fumes European network. With a passion for materials structuring (meso to nano) in the field of electrocatalysis, functionalized nanoparticles and the development of sensors and microsupercapacitors, Mr. Garbarino will pursue his post-doctoral training at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique – Energie Matériaux et Télécommunication (INRS-EMT).

As a INRS Research Associate in Prof. Guay’s research group since 2011, he co-invented three patents and co-authored 65 publications. Mr. Garbarino has also been recognized by a number of innovation contests (including the FRQNT and NSERC), granting him considerable knowledge of Quebec’s innovation ecosystem and funding opportunities.

sebastien.garbarino@prima.ca
438 504-6068

514 284-0211, ext. 226

STÉPHANE RUGGERI, PH. D.

ADVISOR, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Stéphane Ruggeri is acting as technology and innovation advisor. Prior to this, Stéphane was a senior chemist-électrochemist, research and development specialist for 12 years, where he has developed his network of Quebec and American companies. He has also developed NRC-PARI, Mitacs research grants and tax credits for research projects with breakthrough electrochemistry technology applied to the industry.

With a master’s degree in electrochemistry acquired at the National School of Electrochemistry and Electrometallurgy of Grenoble (ENSEEG) in 1998, Stéphane received a Ph.D. in Energy and Materials in 2002 at the National Institute of Scientific Research-Energy Materials and Telecommunication (INRS-EMT). Passionate by the storage of hydrogen and nanomaterials, he will continue his post-doctoral training with Mr. Jean-Pol Dodelet on fuel cells as part of a NSERC Research Chair with General Motors, at the National Institute of Scientific Research-Energy Materials and Telecommunications (INRS-EMT). He is author and co-author of 12 peer-reviewed publications.

As a technology and innovation advisor, Stéphane develops and animates the ecosystem for the industrial and advanced materials research community. In collaboration with Nanocanada, he leads a Canadian health and safety working group on nanotechnology and advanced materials, CASHINAM.

stephane.ruggeri@prima.ca
514 233-9864

514 284-0211, ext. 231

CLOÉ BOUCHARD-AUBIN, Chemist, MBA

ADVISOR, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Cloé Bouchard-Aubin joins the PRIMA Québec team as a innovation and technology advisor. In 2013, she completed her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and began her professional career working on various research and development projects in the field of bioproducts. This allowed her to be the co-inventor of three patents. Cloé completed her MBA at HEC Montréal in 2021 and in addition a microprogram in technological innovation and commercialization at Polytechnique Montréal.

Cloé’s role is to assist in setting up calls for projects, managing various databases while helping to facilitate networking between the industrial and research community in the advanced materials ecosystem.

cloe.bouchard-aubin@prima.ca
514 632-2429

514 284-0211, poste 225

LAURA SALATIAN-WEY

ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS MANAGER

Laura Salatian-Wey joins our team as administrative and financial affairs manager. She began her professional career in 2008 as a social worker with a diploma in Social and Family Economy Advisor whose core business is based on expertise in areas of daily life: consumption, housing, employment, budget, food or health. Laura then obtained her Masters in teaching, education and training at the University of Aix- Marseille (France) in 2014, with a specialty in Medico-Social Sciences and Techniques which allowed her to teach and train students for their social and professional integration in the social and health fields.

Since arriving in Canada in 2019, Laura has shifted to more administrative jobs in order to develop her skills and put her organizational skills forward. With her rigor, her investment and her problem solving skills, she will provide logistical support to the entire team, be responsible for the different databases needed for the coordination of various projects and funding.

laura.salatian@prima.ca

438 338-2357

514 284-0211, ext. 223