Artificial Intelligence for the Environment and Health
The University of Montpellier is one of 22 institutions selected by the National Research Agency (ANR) as part of its call for proposals on “doctoral contracts in AI.” Six doctoral dissertations applying AI to the MUSE themes of environment and health will thus be co-funded.
It was a national pledge: to double the number of PhDs trained in artificial intelligence. This was a government priority following the parliamentary mission on artificial intelligence led by Representative Cédric Villani and presented during the“All for Humanity”event in March 2018. To achieve this goal, the National Research Agency launched a call for proposals on artificial intelligence, offering co-funding for 274 doctoral dissertations at a rate of €60,000 each.
Montpellier in the AI Landscape
This is an opportunityUM should seize,UM highlighted by its Vice President for Open Science and Research Data, Anne Laurent:“Here in Montpellier, we have some real gems in the field of artificial intelligence. We organize many events, and our researchers are well-regarded.”This serves as a reminder that Montpellier, too, has its own strengths and plays a significant role in France’s AI landscape.
The very recently established Montpellier Institute of Data Science (ISDM) is a prime example of this. Inaugurated last January, it aims to shape the data landscape in Montpellier and the surrounding region, and to foster new synergies and exchanges in this dynamic field. The ISDM provides human and material resources, links to existing resources and best-practice guides, advice on relevant training programs, and more.
Six co-funded dissertations
In the end, six doctoral dissertations will be co-funded by the ANR, the University of Montpellier, and its partners. The focus will be on the scientific challenges of AI as they relate to the environment and health—the major themes of MUSE.“Our project, called Axium, takes 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 academic disciplines will undergo transformations linked to the development of data science, and this project is a real catalyst for supporting them.”
These initiatives are welcome in this competitive sector, where preventing the brain drain abroad can sometimes be a challenge, as the Vice President notes:“It is not always easy to attract and retain our students in artificial intelligence because private companies offer interesting and often well-paid projects.”With this new co-funding, the University of Montpellier is working to develop its community of researchers specializing in artificial intelligence and reaffirms its commitment to making an impact in this essential field.