Marie-Josée Blais was appointed in February 2016 as Assistant Deputy Minister for Science and Innovation. Her responsibilities include the development and implementation of Québec's research and innovation strategies. Previously, Marie-Josée held various strategic and management positions in public organizations both in Quebec and abroad. As Director of International Collaborations and Director of the Coordination for International Affairs (now Export Québec), Marie-Josée has participated in several government missions.
From 1991 to 2001, she carried out various technology assessments in the United Kingdom and then in AETMIS. She is a member of the boards of directors of key partners in research and innovation (Fonds de recherche en santé du Québec, Génome Québec, Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec), and was recently appointed a member of the Commission de l’éthique en science et en technologie. She holds a Master's Degree in Public Health from the University of Montreal and a Certificate in Health Economics from the University of Aberdeen.
