Jean-Michel Karam (born 1969) is a Lebanese engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur. He has worked with microelectronics, telecommunications, information technology, mobile device repair software, hardware engineering, and cosmetics.
Education Karam was born in Lebanon, the third of four children. His father was in the army before going into business.IEVA website, We are the future of beauty, retrieved September 19, 2024
In 1990, he moved to France. He obtained 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.HAL Thesis website, Karam, Jean-Michael, 1996: Méthodes et outils pour la conception et la fabrication des microsystèmes’
Career In 1994, Karam became a research engineer at the TIMA-CM (Techniques de l'Informatique et de la Micro-électronique pour l'Architecture Informatique) laboratory in Grenoble, France.LSA Conso website, Jean-Michel Karam, article dated November 21, 2013 He later became a Research Director and led a team that developed microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).
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.
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.Echanges website, Vera Strubi joins Memscap Board of Director, article by Aurore Foulon dated April 3, 2007
, Karam is 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.Orpha website, Association Leyla, retrieved September 19, 2024
Karam currently holds over 80 patents and has worked on several scientific and economic publications.
IEVA
In 2016, Karam founded IEVA alongside David Moulinier,Pitchbook website, Ieva Group Overview who is currently the managing director. IEVA works in combining microelectronics, sensors, and artificial intelligence with personalized cosmetics research.
Awards Karam and his company have received awards including: EU Business News award for ‘Best Personalised Beauty CEO’ in 2023EU 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 MEMSCAP Gets 2009 SEMICON Award for MicroNanoSystems Innovation
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