François Adam is the Executive Director of the Innovative Vehicle Institute (IVI), a non-profit organization whose mission is to support companies in the research, development and deployment of innovative technologies in the field of transportation. We met with him to discuss the IVI, but also autonomous transportation and what the arrival of these new technologies means for Quebec.
Tell us a little more about the IVI’s mission and how, concretely, you work day-to-day with Quebec transport companies? What services do you offer?
The Innovative Vehicle Institute is one of Quebec’s 59 College Centres for Technology Transfer (CCTTs). Our goal is to support companies that wish to develop innovative products using cutting-edge technology. Our team of about thirty people offers several services to companies, including applied research, technical assistance and advanced training related to various innovative transport projects, both in electrification and in autonomous vehicles.
How does the IVI distinguish itself from other Quebec organizations present in the electric and intelligent transport ecosystem?
We put knowledge into practice. We support companies and transfer expertise to them. The IVI was among the first to focus on transportation electrification in Quebec. We have been running tests since 1996!
Three years ago, we also created the Arion program, a research and development project that specializes in the deployment of navigation systems to help Quebec industries adapt to the arrival of autonomous vehicles. We are therefore at the cutting edge of knowledge regarding vehicle intelligence.
How does Quebec stand out in terms of autonomous transportation?
We are truly innovative in the types of vehicles we produce. We have very advanced industries in the manufacture of specialized vehicles and utility vehicles. This positions us very well on the international stage.
Quebec, Montreal in particular, is also an important hub for artificial intelligence and deep learning. Quebec researchers are rapidly accelerating the technologies underlying autonomous driving.
Moreover, Quebec is very innovative in the development of photonics technologies, that is, in the development of sensors used for motion detection and for reading road signage.
What are the potential advantages of autonomous transportation for Quebec?
Improved safety. Humans make mistakes that can have serious consequences. The arrival of autonomous transportation will greatly reduce the number of road accidents.
The greatest benefit, however, is not for individuals but mainly for public transportation. Shared services and specialized vehicles will be able to accomplish very specific tasks without human assistance. This will certainly be a major revolution.
Is Quebec well prepared for the arrival of these new technologies?
No! Absolutely not. We see it every day at the IVI: Quebec companies have a lot to do to prepare for the arrival of transportation electrification and autonomous driving technologies. For SMEs, there is a large gap to bridge.
We must also invest in training the workforce and new talent. There is not enough demand to build training programs in educational institutions, but perhaps demand would increase quickly if those programs existed? It’s the chicken-or-egg problem right now. I believe, however, that demand will grow strongly in the coming years. We need to prepare for it now!
