Xavier-Henri Hervé to step down from District 3 leadership role

After 10 years, Xavier-Henri Hervé, BEng 87, DSc 11, will step down as executive director of Concordia’s District 3 Innovation Hub. Hervé has been at the helm of the hub since 2014 when he co-founded it.

District 3 is now a key part of Concordia’s innovation ecosystem, earning recognition as a top incubator in Quebec and forging lasting partnerships with government, industry, and other academic institutions.

Hervé’s decision comes as Concordia embarks on the next phase of its innovation strategy, which will build on the strong foundation laid by District 3. “Serving as the District 3 Executive Director has been both thrilling and rewarding, thanks to a dedicated team and our community’s innovation agenda, we’ve built the right framework for new leadership to carry the hub’s mission forward.” Hervé notes.

The District 3 team’s achievements under Hervé include securing multi-year funding from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (M.E.I.E.), forging multi-university partnerships through I-INC, and playing a leadership role in national networks such as the Canadian Tech Network. A consistent recipient of awards throughout this-decade long journey, his strategic focus on building long-lasting partnerships has been instrumental in positioning Concordia as a leader in several entrepreneurial ecosystems.

"From the beginning, thanks to the support we received from Concordia President Graham Carr and his active endorsement of the ‘next-gen university’, we could do things differently,” Hervé says.

“We focused on advancing an open, collaborative ecosystem that enables entrepreneurs to thrive and succeed. Our programs and services have always been open to all, representing a diversity of cultures, backgrounds, and ideas. This has fostered not only creative solutions but a global mindset.

“This is an exciting time for District 3 and Concordia as a whole; the next chapter will build on the incredible work we’ve done and push new boundaries."

Committed to innovation

Carr commended Hervé’s contributions: “I’ve worked with Xavier in various roles, as VP of research, provost and now president, since the inception of D3. He’s been a mentor to me about innovation, and over the years I developed a real appreciation for the new ideas and ways of doing things that he’s brought to our university’s culture, and which sometimes disrupted that culture!

“D3 has become a pillar in the university’s next-gen agenda, inspiring students, startup founders, mentors, governments and donors,” Carr adds. “As we launch the university’s next 50 years, our future innovation agenda will build on Xavier’s legacy and vision.”

Hervé’s next focus will be on advancing neurodiversity innovation. He will take a more active role as president of Autism House, where he will lead a large-scale housing project for the neurodiverse community.

“While I’m stepping away from District 3, my commitment to innovation remains as strong as ever, particularly in the realm of neurodiversity,” Hervé says. “I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Concordia.”

Find out more about Concordia’s District 3 Innovation Hub.