Mr. Laurent Gouznes

Group Vice-president
European R&D and Public Affairs General Manager
STMicroelectronics

Since 1993, Laurent Gouznes has been in charge, within the Strategic Planning Group, of developing large investment and research programs in relation with public authorities in France and Europe. He has contributed to large projects of 200mm (Crolles 1, Rousset 2000) and 300mm (Crolles 2) factories, as well as to the establishment of the Eureka projects MEDEA, MEDEA+, and CATRENE, and to the development of partnerships between STMicrolectronices and various laboratories (>100 collaborations and 200 current research projects). Promoting a new industrial policy for growth, he has also strongly contributed to the concept of poles of competitiveness and to the programs developed by AII. The question of factors affecting industry competitiveness has also led to him presenting numerous economic studies aiming at bringing to the attention of public authorities the importance and urgency of a reform of corporate tax, the importance of Research Tax Credit, the impact of the euro/dollar exchange rate on industrial decisions, etc Finally, he has participated greatly in the promotion and the development of nanotechnologies in France, chairing the National Network of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies, whose missions were to bring together public and private research communities, to select projects on behalf of ANR, to organize the follow-up and the presentation of projects for the National Days of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies. The issue of ICT and sustainable development is now at the heart of his work.

Previously, he worked for seven years in an ICT company as project manager and technical director, where he developed many advanced software and expert systems for the aerospace industry (Alcatel Espace, Matra, Aerospatiale etc ) and other industries.

He started his professional life as a researcher at ONERA (National Aerospace Studies and Research Office) in the Department of Computer Studies and Research in the field of advanced environment symbolic programming and expert systems.

A graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique (1981), he received his engineering Doctorate, specializing in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence from Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse (1984, LASS/CNRS).

Representative Roles :

• Vice-President of SITELESC (Tubes & Semiconductors Industry Association),with responsibility for the Economic Commission, and Vice-President of FIEN (Electronic and Digital Industry Federation)
• Member of the board of the Research and Innovation Committee at MEDEF.

National-Level Roles :

• 2003-2007: President of the National Network for Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (R3N), which supervises the PNANP program of ANR, organization of annual days J3N, member of the Consultative Committee on ICT at ANR, Expert attached to the Economic and Social Council on Nanotechnologies
• Scientific Counselor at the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Technological and Scientific Choices (OPECST)
• Associate Member of the General Council for Information Technologies (CGTI)
• Member of the Superior Council for Research and Technology, representing MEDEF.