Five researchers receive the 2021 “Montpellier University of Excellence” Innovation Awards
The jury for the 3rd edition of the “Montpellier University of Excellence” Innovation Awards, chaired by Franck Molina, Director of SyS2Diag and winner of the 2020 Innovation Award, proposes to honor five researchers from the campus who are engaged in innovative initiatives that open up new economic, technological, or societal avenues for new applications.
François Pierrot, Executive Director of I-SITE MUSE, and Magali Roubieu, Administrative Director, flank Franck Molina, winner of the 2020 edition and Chair of the jury for the 2021 Montpellier University of Excellence Innovation Awards
A total of 24 applications were received. Following deliberations, the jury selected the most outstanding proposal in terms of impact, as well as the innovative and cutting-edge nature of the innovation presented, for each of the five research clusters of the Montpellier University of Excellence. The winners will each receive a prize of €3,000.
The five 2021 Innovation Awards are:
Magali GIES, Postdoctoral Researcher at CIRAD (UMR Qualisud)
Agronomy – Environment – Biodiversity Division
Magali Gies earned her Ph.D. in 2019 from the University of Montpellier, during which she developed a functional food made from fermented, probiotic, plant-based grains that has cholesterol-lowering potential thanks to the inclusion of phytosterols. Malnutrition and overnutrition are global issues affecting all populations, regardless of socioeconomic background. This food product is therefore intended for populations in newly industrialized countries, where the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is growing exponentially. Today, Magali Gies continues her research through the PROMET project (funded by MUSE) as a postdoctoral researcher at CIRAD.
Alain THIERRY, Researcher at Inserm (UMR IRCM – Montpellier Research Institute)
Biology and Health Division
Alain Thierry is currently an Inserm Research Director at the IRCM and leads the “Precision Medicine Biomarkers in Oncology” team. Fifteen years ago, he began fundamental research on circulating DNA, which quickly revealed significant potential for clinical applications and innovation. Today, this research enables the selection of treatment options, the detection of residual disease after surgery, the monitoring of recurrence, and the detection of treatment resistance. Alain Thierry’s team is considered one of the world’s leading teams in this field.
Habib BELAID, Postdoctoral Researcher at the CNRS (UMR IEM European Institute of Membranes)
Chemistry Division
Habib Belaid is a postdoctoral researcher atthe European Institute of Membranes (IEM) in Montpellier. His work focuses on the synthesis and characterization of biomaterials for healthcare applications. His research has led to the development of new formulations of printable composite materials with biocompatible and bioresorbable properties, as well as bioactive and antibacterial properties. The launch of a new product and service will address a major health challenge in the field of bone tissue engineering in dentistry and oncology.
Vincent CREUZE, Professor the University of Montpellier (UMR LIRMM – Montpellier Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics, and Microelectronics)
Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, and Systems
Vincent Creuze’s work focuses on the “small” underwater robots weighing less than 100 kg developed at the LIRMM. These innovations are now used daily by French archaeologists at depths of up to 2,500 meters, both for scientific missions aimed at studying and preserving cultural heritage and for missions in the public interest. Vincent Creuze has been working since 2014 in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Department of Underwater and Submerged Archaeological Research. Thanks to these innovations, France is currently the first country to utilize robots specialized in underwater archaeology on a daily basis. This French expertise in deep-sea archaeology is recognized worldwide by archaeologists and scientists and has received significant media coverage.
Sophie SPRING, Assistant Professor at the University of Montpellier (UMR MRM – Montpellier Research Management)
Social Sciences Division
Sophie Spring has developed a serious game designed to raise awareness among aspiring entrepreneurs about the challenges of corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSR). Incubagame is a free game, open to everyone, and available for download on computers, phones, or tablets. Players can play as many times as they like and have access to simple, user-friendly educational resources. The goal of the game is to explore key aspects of starting a business—such as whether the project is a good fit for the entrepreneur, market positioning, and legal and financial structures—while incorporating CSR considerations from the very beginning of the project development phase.
About the Innovation Awards
The “Montpellier University of Excellence Innovation Awards,” launched in March 2019, aim to recognize researchers, Professors staff members from institutions and organizations within the MUSE consortium who are at the forefront of innovation initiatives in each of the five MUSE research clusters, focusing on projects of a particularly innovative nature, especially in terms of their expected impact. A call for applications is distributed to all staff, and submissions are evaluated by a jury composed of prominent figures from the worlds of higher education, research, and the socio-economic sector.
- Watch a video recap of the 2020 Innovation Award on the University of Montpellier’s YouTube channel