Professor Denis Laurendeau, Laval University, is widely known for his pioneering research in 3D sensing and modelling. He has provided key contributions, both fundamental and applicative, to an emerging meta-discipline that combines reality and virtuality through sensing, modelling, simulation and machine intelligence, such as in robotics or biomedecine. His research, always conducted in a collaborative spirit, has provided an outstanding intellectual and experimental environment for a large group of young researchers, many of whom have become leaders in their own endeavours or created new companies that have now achieved world class level.