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The INRS Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the second round of FISES (Fonds pour l'innovation et le soutien à l'entrepreneuriat scientifique) 2024-2025 scholarships, offered in collaboration with the Service des partenariats stratégiques et du soutien à l'innovation (SePSSI) of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). Congratulations to students Kayoum Djedidi and Navid Ghane, who each received a bursary to support their entrepreneurial project based on their research work at INRS.
Kayoum Djedidi, Ph.D. in telecommunications, Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications: $2,000
“Winning the FISES scholarship is much more than financial support, it's a mark of confidence that touches me deeply. As a committed international student and founder of a startup driven by the values of accessibility, education and social impact, this recognition gives me the impetus to continue believing that science and entrepreneurship can really make a difference. It reminds me that every effort, every night of doubt, every moment of resilience has meaning. It's also a message of hope for all those who, like me, have come from afar with dreams in their heads: it's possible to build, to have an impact, and to be supported along the way. I accept this award with gratitude and responsibility.“
His project: OORB (Open Organic Robotics) is a start-up that democratizes robotics through an innovative open-source cloud platform, supported by AI agents. It makes it easier to design, simulate and deploy real robots, using a user-friendly visual interface. It combines 3D modeling, intelligent code generation (via language models) and ROS2 (Robot Operating System) integration. The aim is to make robot creation accessible, even without extensive technical expertise. To initiate users, OORB also offers Robodog, a 3D-printable quadruped educational robot, and RALL-P, an all-terrain modular robotic platform. At the same time, the company is developing a community of manufacturers and educators around open hardware projects, combining cutting-edge technologies and pedagogy, in the service of open innovation. The team is currently in the start-up phase.
Navid Ghane, PhD in energy and materials science, Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications: $1,000
“Winning this scholarship is a tremendous honour, and I am deeply grateful to the INRS Foundation and SePSSI for this meaningful recognition of the entrepreneurial spirit within the INRS community.
Beyond its financial value, receiving this award is incredibly heartwarming and encouraging as I pursue my passion and ambitions, which are reflected in my entrepreneurial project. It motivates me to continue moving forward with confidence and purpose.
This recognition also provides a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded innovators, researchers, investors, and potential collaborators who share a vision for a more sustainable future. I warmly welcome future conversations and partnerships that can help turn this vision into impactful outcomes.
Most importantly, this scholarship empowers me to take tangible steps toward my lifelong mission: making a meaningful contribution in the global effort to combat climate change. For that, I am sincerely thankful.”
His project: Development of an innovative, cost-effective electrocatalyst that efficiently converts CO2 into formic acid using renewable electricity and water. This clean and sustainable electrochemical process reduces production costs, making it competitive with fossil fuel-based production, while avoiding millions of tons of CO2 emissions and supporting the multi-billion dollar formic acid market in key sectors such as agriculture. Navid and his team are in the early stages of market or impact validation of their idea.
We would like to acknowledge the essential contribution of the members of the selection committee, whose expertise and generosity contributed to the success of this second edition of the competition. Our thanks to Caroline Montminy, Vice-President of Burgundy Asset Management and member of the Board of Directors of the INRS Foundation, Marc-André St-Yves, INRS graduate and Lead Research and Innovation at Espace Inc, Élise Comtois, Executive Director of the INRS Foundation, and Karine Souffez, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation Support at INRS, for their invaluable collaboration.
Our warm thanks also go to Louise Savard, scientific entrepreneurship advisor at INRS, for the support she provides to all the winners of this new program. Thanks to the commitment of all these people, the FISES grants are becoming an inspiring engine to foster innovation and encourage the next generation to explore new entrepreneurial avenues for our student community.
Keep an eye out for next year's competition.