The University of Montpellier and the Nîmes University Hospital have strengthened their joint efforts
On September 2, the Nîmes university hospital community gathered for an after-work event with Philippe Augé, president of the University of Montpellier, and Frédéric Rimattei, executive director of the Nîmes University Hospital, and Michel Prudhomme, Chair of the Nîmes University Hospital’s Medical Committee. The event provided an opportunity to highlight the collaborative efforts that the two institutions have been pursuing for several years in the areas of research and innovation, in the presence of Véronique Dominguez-Guillaumel, Deputy 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 dynamic through a presentation of the University Hospital’s innovation strategy and three flagship projects carried out as part of the PUI. The evening concluded with the launch of a new joint call for projects in translational research.
Encourage new ideas
The Nîmes University Hospital has reaffirmed 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 euros invested each year and research areas ranging from neuroscience to oncology, the hospital is actively integrated into the region’s 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 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 ” projects, jointly funded by the University of Montpellier and the Nîmes University Hospital with 100,000 euros. The goal is to strengthen cooperation among 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 momentum illustrates our ambition: to work together to build a center of excellence in health care on a European scale.”