ACFAS-6th edition of the Genius in Business competition: congratulations to Laurence Picard, winner of the jury’s second prize, a value of more than $10,000 in consulting services and a scholarship.

30 March 2022

On March 29, 2022, six finalist teams presented their innovative commercialization projects resulting from university research live on Facebook to a panel of experts and the general public in the hope of winning one of the four prestigious prizes offered in the 6th edition of the Genius in Business competition.

Laurence Picard, a member of the CRMR, and her team presented the LOC connexion project, about the self-locking connector, a product developed in the laboratories of Université Laval. Laurence is a doctoral student under the direction of Pierre Blanchet at the Industrial Research Chair on Eco-responsible Wood Construction (CIRCERB).

Congratulations to Laurence Picard who won the jury’s second prize, worth over $10,000 in consulting services and a bursary!

LOC connexion

Simplifying off-site construction processes

LOC connexion’s goal is to commercialize a mechanical device for the rapid and efficient construction of modular buildings, i.e., buildings that are assembled from factory-made modules. LOC connectors are located in the floor of the modules and contain an automated locking system that permanently links a module to the module below. No additional handling is required: no more lag bolts and multiple bolts required to secure modules together, no more unfinished areas in the modules.

LOC maximizes the benefits of prefabrication by minimizing assembly time and site work, as well as facilitating factory work. The business plan includes the development and maturation of the technology, the manufacturing, sales and distribution of the product, as well as the expertise associated with the use of the technology.

Members of the team

Laurence Picard (Université Laval)
Xavier Picard (Université Laval)

Mentor

Gad Sabbatier (Axelys)

Discover the other teams and their projects here .

Watch the final of the competition here

Jury

The jury for this year’s was composed of :

Simon Dandavino, MBA, Ph. D.
Director of Operations, Next AI

Anne-Marie Hubert, C. M., FCPA, FCA, LL. D
Managing Partner for Eastern Canada, EY Canada

Frédéric Letendre
Lawyer, Founding Partner, YULEX

Damien Silès
Executive Director, Montreal Innovation District

Isabelle Vézina, MDI, MBA, BAA
Senior Director, Innovation and Operations, Quebec Innovation Council