BIOPHOTONICS IN QUEBEC AND CANADA

Project - Benchmarking biophotonic science and technology in Quebec and Canada
Client - Québec Biophotonique (Québec Cité de l'optique)

Description - Québec Biophotonique, in association with Université Laval, Université de Sherbrooke and Québec Cité de l’optique, commissioned Science-Metrix to conduct a benchmarking study of Quebec’s scientific and technological activities in the field of biophotonics (the use of photonics for biomedical applications). Québec Biophotonique coordinates biophotonics development in Quebec. One of its missions is therefore to facilitate convergence between optics/photonics and life sciences. To accomplish this, Québec Biophotonique plays an important role in gathering information and conducting and commissioning studies on the development of biophotonics.
By measuring scientific production (scientometrics), the study presents hot spots and key players (research centres, researchers and companies) in biophotonics at the provincial level. The study also presents historic trends and factors that have influenced recent developments in the field in Quebec, Canada and abroad.

According to the results of a multicriteria analysis, Canada ranks fifth in the world in biophotonics. The United States comes first, followed closely by Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Among the provinces, Ontario dominates with 42 % of Canadian publications, followed by Quebec (19.1% of Canadian publications) and British Columbia (17.8 %).

The main goal of this study was to increase awareness among governmental agencies, funding bodies, public organisations and researchers regarding the state of biophotonics in Quebec, Canada and the world. The study met its objectives by supplying the leaders of Québec Biophotonique with an objective quantitative overview of the field in Canada.

STUDY REPORT

Science-Metrix. 2002.
Étude de positionnement du Québec dans le domaine de la biophotonique. Prepared for Québec Biophotonique (Québec Cité de l'optique, Université Laval and Université de Sherbrooke) by Science-Metrix, 41 pages.
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