Artificial intelligence serving the environment and health
The University of Montpellier is one of 22 institutions selected by the French National Research Agency (ANR) as part of its call for proposals for "doctoral contracts in AI." Six theses applying AI to MUSE environment and health topics will thus be co-financed.
It was a national promise to double the number of doctors trained in artificial intelligence. This was a priority for the government following the parliamentary mission on artificial intelligence led by MP Cédric Villani and presented at the "All for humanity"day in March 2018. To achieve this goal, the National Research Agency launched a call for projects on artificial intelligence, offering co-financing of €60,000 for each of 274 theses.
Montpellier in the AI landscape
This is an opportunity for UM to seize, as highlighted by its Vice President for Open Science and Research Data, Anne Laurent: "We have some real gems in Montpellier in the field of artificial intelligence. We organize many events, and our researchers are well-known." Thisserves as a reminder that Montpellier also has its own strengths and is a major player in the French AI landscape.
The recently established Montpellier Institute of Data Science (ISDM) is a testament to this. Inaugurated last January, it aims to structure the data landscape in Montpellier and the surrounding region, creating new synergies and exchanges in this rapidly evolving field. The ISDM provides human and material resources, links to existing resources and best practice guides, advice on suitable training courses, and more.
Six co-funded theses
In the end, six theses will be co-financed by the ANR and the University of Montpellier and its partners. The focus will be on the scientific challenges of AI in relation to the environment and health, the major themes of MUSE. "Our project, called Axium, offers a multidisciplinary approach to artificial intelligence," explains Anne Laurent. The scientific challenges of AI are not limited to mathematicians or computer scientists; they also concern lawyers, biologists, agronomists, and economists. All disciplines will undergo transformations linked to the development of data science, and this project is a real lever to support them."
These measures are welcome in this high-pressure sector, where preventing brain drain abroad can sometimes be a challenge, as the Vice President notes: "It is not always easy to attract and retain our artificial intelligence students, as private companies offer interesting and often well-paid projects."With this new co-financing, the University of Montpellier is working to develop its scientific community skilled in artificial intelligence and reaffirming its desire to make its mark in this essential field.