LIDD - Engineering for Sustainable Development Laboratory
A multidisciplinary laboratory
The objective of the Laboratoire d’ingénierie pour le développement durable (LIDD – Engineering laboratory for sustainable development) is to carry out projects that incorporate the principles of sustainable engineering.
The LIDD focuses on the areas of appropriate technologies and low-tech within the context of development assistance projects that are compatible with the socio-economic framework of targeted populations.
The Lab also specializes in implementing biomimicry principles and applying the biomimetic design methodology for reducing environmental impacts.
The LIDD has collaborated on numerous technological projects in polar environments in Antarctica.
Openness to the world, technology in service to society and protecting the environment are the foundation for LIDD activities
— Philippe Terrier, Co-Founder and Head of LIDD
Philippe Terrier, an Engineer with a Ph.D. in Biomimetic Design (ÉTS-HEC), is driven by the implementation of sustainable engineering principles. His areas of expertise include appropriate technologies, engineering in polar environments (Antarctica), biomimicry and biomimetic design.
Highlights and Media Engagement
2026
- "De l'ingénierie qui aide vraiment les gens" (in French), interview with Professor and LIDD Director Philippe Terrier on the show Pénélope, ICI Première, September 18, 2026.
- "Innovation et Low Tech" (in French), interview with Philippe Terrier on the show Les Imaginables, CIBL, March 6, 2026.
- "Les promesses et les illusions du biomimétisme" (in French), interview on the show Feu vert, ICI Première, January 18, 2026.
- "Un poêle pensé pour la rue" (in French), article from La Presse, November 13, 2025.
- "Pourrait-on être autonome en énergie en Antarctique?" (in French), interview on the show Moteur de recherche, ICI Première, September 8, 2025.
- 92nd Acfas Congress, symposium 22. "Au-delà de la technique : repenser la formation en génie pour la transition socio-écologique" (in French), May 6, 2025.
- Portrait du scientifique Philippe Terrier (in French), Moteur de recherche, ICI Première, May 2, 2025.
- "Un réchaud low-tech pour des personnes en situation d’itinérance" (in French), report by Marianne Desautels-Marissal for Radio-Canada Science, April 4, 2025.
- New publication in the journal Oeconomia Humana, April 2025. An article by Philippe Terrier, LIDD director, on engineering redirection and low tech: LA REDIRECTION ÉCOLOGIQUE : Entre ingénierie de la fermeture du capitalisme et projet démocratique (in French).
- Coverage on Radio-Canada Environnement of a LIDD project, April 2025: Radio-Canada Environnement | Le mouvement « low-tech » vise à créer des solutions pratiques sans recourir par défaut à la haute technologie (in French).
- "Des principes clés à l'opérationnalisation de la low-tech : vision croisée recherche et formation" as part of the Entretiens Jacques Cartier on tools for the sustainability and resilience of territories (in French), October 16, 2024.
- Lecture, "Le biomimétisme : le futur du génie," ÉTS Montréal, September 26, 2024.
- Talk by Philippe Terrier: panel discussion on biomimicry at the Musée de la civilisation de Québec, August 23, 2023.
- Philippe Terrier was co-director of the Summer School in Circular Economy (in French), from June 5 to 16, 2023.
- As part of the 90th Acfas Congress, LIDD is presenting a talk on engineering and low tech in the context of the Anthropocene (in French), May 12, 2023.
- During COP15 in Montréal, LIDD is taking part in two biomimicry-related events:
- Université et biodiversité : recherche et formation (in French);
- Biomimétisme et ingénierie durable : conception biomimétique.
- "Le Grand Prix, emblème d'une symbolique mortifère": An op-ed by Philippe Terrier published in Le Devoir (in French).
- LIDD members Idriss Amara and Philippe Terrier were inducted into the Université du Québec's Cercle d'excellence for their contribution to a teaching program (2019).
Partnership
The LIDD receives financial support from the Fonds de développement durable de l’Association étudiante de l’ÉTS (ÉTS student association sustainable development fund).
Is your organization interested in collaborating with the LIDD on projects that are consistent with our mission?
