The University of Montpellier and the Nîmes University Hospital have strengthened their collaboration
On September 2, the Nîmes university hospital community gathered for an after-work event featuring Philippe Augé, president of the University of Montpellier, and Frédéric Rimattei, director general of the Nîmes University Hospital, and Michel Prudhomme, Chair of the Medical Board of the Nîmes University Hospital. The event highlighted the collaborative efforts between the two institutions in the areas of research and innovation over the past several years, in the presence of Véronique Dominguez-Guillaumel, Vice-Rector for Higher Education, Research, and Innovation for the Occitanie academic region.
For many years, the University of Montpellier and the Nîmes University Hospital have joined forces to combine academic excellence with medical innovation. Their partnership is carried out primarily through the I-Site and the Montpellier University Innovation Hub (PUI), of which the University Hospital is a founding member.
The after-work event highlighted this momentum through a presentation of the university hospital’s innovation strategy and three flagship projects carried out under the PUI program. The evening concluded with the launch of a new joint call for proposals in translational research.
Encourage new ideas
The Nîmes University Hospital has reiterated its commitment to fostering and supporting new ideas—whether technological, medical, or organizational—to improve the quality of care and enhance its appeal. With more than €3.5 million invested each year and research areas ranging from neuroscience to oncology, the institution is actively integrated into the regional academic and scientific ecosystem.
This strategy is part of the PARI 2030 program, which serves as a key driver of the university hospital’s influence and the region’s socioeconomic development.
Coordinated by the University of Montpellier, the University Innovation Hub brings together 14 founding members. It promotes collaboration with the socio-economic sector, technology transfer, and the creation of startups. With its 5,000 researchers and 350 annual partnerships, it serves as a driving force for innovation in the Montpellier–Nîmes region.
Three innovative projects presented
Three projects supported by the PUI demonstrated the synergy between university research and clinical needs:
- PEASY: an innovative medical device for managing male urinary incontinence, led by Xavier Garric.
- 3D4 PEDIA: a 3D printing project in pediatric pharmaceuticals led by Ian Soulairol in partnership with MB Therapeutics.
- DM CONNECT: a digital platform designed to improve the coordination of patient care pathways, developed by Laure Roux.
All three received funding through PUI programs such as the Montpellier Innovation Booster and Companies and Campus.
A new call for proposals
Finally, the event marked the launch of a call for Research , jointly funded by the University of Montpellier and the Nîmes University Hospital with a total of 100,000 euros. The goal is to strengthen cooperation between researchers, clinicians, and industry partners, and to accelerate the transition from basic research to concrete clinical applications.
According to Philippe Augé, president of the University of Montpellier, “this shared vision reflects our ambition: to work together to build a center of excellence in healthcare on a European scale.”