Jean Michel Karam
{{Short description|Franco-Lebanese engineer and inventor (b. 1969)}}
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Jean-Michel Karam (born 1969) is a Lebanese engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur. His work spans microelectronics, telecommunications, information technology, mobile device repair software, hardware engineering, and cosmetics.{{Cite web |title="I want to build up the Netflix of Beauty", Jean-Michel Karam, IEVA |url=https://www.premiumbeautynews.com/en/i-want-to-build-up-the-netflix-of,17097 |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Premium Beauty News |language=en}}
Education
Karam was born in Lebanon, the third of four children. His father initially served in the army before transitioning into the business industry.[https://www.ievagroup.com/en/group/ IEVA website, We are the future of beauty, retrieved September 19, 2024]
In 1990, he moved to France to pursue higher education, obtaining an electrical engineering degree in 1993 from ESIEE Paris and a master's degree in microelectronics from Université de Paris VII. In 1996, he completed a PhD in microelectronics at the INPG.[https://theses.hal.science/tel-00345390v1/file/Karam.Jean-Michel_1996_these.pdf HAL Thesis website, Karam, Jean-Michael, 1996: Méthodes et outils pour la conception et la fabrication des microsystèmes’]
Career
In 1994, Karam began his career as a research engineer at the TIMA-CM (Techniques de l'Informatique et de la Micro-électronique pour l'Architecture Informatique) laboratory in Grenoble, France.[https://www.lsa-conso.fr/annuaire-professionnels-grande-consommation/karam-jean-michel/153988 LSA Conso website, Jean-Michel Karam, article dated November 21, 2013] He later became a Research Director, overseeing a team focused on developing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
In November 1997, Karam founded his first company, MEMSCAP, a supplier of products based on MEMS technology.
On 2 March 2001, MEMSCAP became a publicly traded company on Eurolist C of the NYSE Euronext, Paris.{{cite web|last=Karam|first=Jean Michel|title=Memscap|url=http://www.memscap.com/jean-michel-karam|access-date=2013-05-17|archive-date=2018-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925060156/http://www.memscap.com/jean-michel-karam|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Karam |first=Jean Michel |title=Lindedin Jean Michel Karam |url=http://fr.linkedin.com/pub/jean-michel-karam/0/724/172 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615223959/http://fr.linkedin.com/pub/jean-michel-karam/0/724/172 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-15 }}
In 2010, Karam spun off INTUISKIN from MEMSCAP, launching the skincare brand IOMA. Véra Strubi, former president of Thierry Mugler, joined the board of directors of MEMSCAP in 2007.[https://echanges.dila.gouv.fr/OPENDATA/AMF/MAN/2010/08/FCMAN134424_20100811.pdf Echanges website, Vera Strubi joins Memscap Board of Director, article by Aurore Foulon dated April 3, 2007]
{{as of|2024}}, Karam serves as the Chairman and CEO of both MEMSCAP and INTUISKIN/IOMA. He is also the president of the LEYLA charity, a non-profit association focused on combating orphan and rare diseases.[https://www.orpha.net/fr/institutions/institution/138354 Orpha website, Association Leyla, retrieved September 19, 2024]
Karam currently holds over 80 patents and has worked on several scientific and economic publications.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
IEVA
In 2016, Karam founded IEVA alongside David Moulinier,[https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/222164-56#funding Pitchbook website, Ieva Group Overview] who currently serves as Managing Director. IEVA works in combining microelectronics, sensors, and artificial intelligence with personalized cosmetics research.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
Awards
Karam and his company have received awards including:
- EU Business News award for ‘Best Personalised Beauty CEO’ in 2023[https://www.eubusinessnews.com/winners/ieva-group/ EU Business News website, IEVA Group]
- U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) of the United States Department of Commerce – Award of Excellence for international commercial development (2012)
- SEMICON MicroNanoSystems Innovation Award (2009)BusinessWire News [http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091007006310/en/MEMSCAP-2009-SEMICON-Award-MicroNanoSystems-Innovation MEMSCAP Gets 2009 SEMICON Award for MicroNanoSystems Innovation]
References
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Category:French electrical engineers
Category:French businesspeople
Category:French people of Lebanese descent
Category:People from Matn District
Category:Research directors of the French National Centre for Scientific Research