Stéphane Ruggeri
PhD in Energy and Materials Sciences (2003)
Growth and Innovation Specialist, Développement économique de l'agglomération de Longueuil
“You have to remain open and curious. What you learn can be applied in many, sometimes unexpected, ways in various sectors.”
Originally from France, Stéphane Ruggeri chose INRS-EMT for his PhD to explore new horizons, both academic and cultural. Under the supervision of Professor Lionel Roué, he is involved in research into rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries. This choice was in line with his expertise in electrochemistry acquired during his master's studies.
Stéphane has fond memories of his years at INRS, where he benefited from a stimulating scientific environment and a strong sense of camaraderie. Sharing his time between INRS and Hydro-Québec's Varennes facilities, he pioneered the use of mechanical grinding for battery materials. For him, INRS represents a place where curiosity and continuous learning are cultivated, essential qualities he has put to good use throughout his career.
After completing his studies, Stéphane turned to industry, where he quickly put into practice the skills he had acquired at INRS. He began his career at the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Materials Institute, NRC-IMI, working on titanium foam hip prostheses, before returning to INRS with Professor Jean-Pol Dodelet, for a two-and-a-half-year post-doctorate, in collaboration with General Motors, on fuel cells for motor vehicles. This research, carried out at the Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications in Varennes, enabled him to be at the cutting edge of hydrogen innovation, a field that is currently booming.
He then moved on to a variety of roles, from research chemist and electrochemist in water treatment, to technology and innovation advisor at PRIMA Québec, to his current position as growth and innovation specialist with Développement économique de l'agglomération de Longueuil.
The collaborations and network developed at INRS have also left their mark on Stéphane. These ties continued long after his studies, notably through joint projects with other graduates he came across in his industrial and institutional positions. According to Stéphane, INRS not only trains researchers, but also creates a community of innovators capable of having a lasting impact on several industries.
In this role, Stéphane combines his passion for science with a desire to connect researchers, companies and startups in order to turn innovative ideas into concrete projects. “My aim is to show that innovation is possible with the right tools, the right people and the right financial resources,” he explains.
For Stéphane, research is a lever for societal and industrial transformation. Through his initiatives, he seeks to build bridges between fundamental scientific discoveries and their concrete application in industry. He is particularly proud to see projects he worked on 20 years ago, such as fuel cells, now becoming viable solutions to contemporary challenges such as the energy transition.
At the same time, Stéphane is involved in the creation of events and collaborative networks. He sees these initiatives as a way of encouraging the exchange of ideas, fostering synergies between researchers and companies, and highlighting the central role of innovation in economic development.
Stéphane encourages current students to see their degree as a springboard, not a final destination. “You have to remain open and curious. What you learn can be applied in many ways, sometimes unexpected, in various sectors.”
Today, Stéphane continues to build bridges between academia and industry, while keeping in touch with many INRS graduates. This network, which he describes as invaluable, reflects the lasting impact of the Institute on the careers of its former students.
[Interviewed in October 2024.]