Dr. Jean-François Houle (Observer)

Dr. Jean-François Houle is Vice President of Engineering for the National Research
Council of Canada (NRC). He oversees R&D activities within the NRC’s Engineering
Division related to clean energy, industrial decarbonization, and climate change
adaptation and resilience. As the Executive Champion for the NRC’s Climate
Innovation strategic initiative, Dr. Houle is responsible for delivering a coordinated
strategy to develop innovative solutions to challenges arising from the global climate
crisis. As Executive Co-Sponsor for the NRC’s Departmental Sustainable
Development Strategy, Dr. Houle ensures that the NRC supports Canada’s Federal
Sustainable Development Strategy by identifying sustainability goals and targets, and implementing
actions aligned with the NRC’s mandate.

Dr. Houle joined the NRC’s Medical Devices Research Centre as Director of Research and Development
in 2014 and was appointed to General Manager in 2017. In March 2020, he became Vice-President of the
NRC’s Pandemic Response Challenge program, which brought together the best Canadian and
international researchers to fast-track R&D aimed at Canada’s COVID-19 gaps and challenges.

Dr. Houle has a deep interest and passion for translating leading-edge research into impactful
technologies that can catalyze the growth of Canadian companies and improve the lives of Canadians and
people around the world. Prior to joining the NRC, Dr. Houle spent 14 years leading business, corporate
and product development activities in privately-held and publicly-traded biotechnology firms at various
stages of development, from university spin-offs to more established companies. These activities led to
collaborative research, licensing and merger agreements as well as successful product launches and
financing events.

Dr. Houle holds a PhD in Experimental Medicine from McGill University.