Research innovation: a shared dynamic between the University of Montpellier and Nîmes University Hospital

[Press release] - Published on September 8, 2025 in Press Room, Promotion

On Tuesday, September 2, an after-work event brought together the Nîmes university hospital community around Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier, Frédéric Rimattei, Director General of the Nîmes University Hospital, and Michel Prudhomme, President of the Medical Commission of the Nîmes University Hospital, in the presence of Véronique Dominguez-Guillaumel, Deputy Rector for Higher Education, Research Innovation for the Occitanie Academic Region, to discuss the shared dynamic between the two institutions.

For many years, Nîmes University Hospital and the University of Montpellier have shared a common ambition: to combine academic excellence, high-level research, and medical innovation. This partnership is particularly evident in the I-SITE and the Montpellier University Innovation Cluster (PUI), of which Nîmes University Hospital is a founding member.

This event highlighted this shared dynamic by presenting the innovation strategy of Nîmes University Hospital and Montpellier University through three flagship projects from the University Innovation Cluster, led by the University Hospital. Following the presentations, a new joint call for projects in translational research was officially launched, aimed at further strengthening the innovation dynamic for the benefit of patients, caregivers, and society.

The innovation strategy of Nîmes University Hospital

The innovation strategy of the Nîmes University Hospital aims to generate, support, and disseminate new ideas—technological, medical, or organizational—to improve care, optimize resources, and enhance the institution's appeal. This approach is based on a two-pronged dynamic: internal initiatives led by teams and external collaborations with academic, industrial, or start-up partners. A structured process, including a one-stop shop and support for project leaders, enables these ideas to be transformed into solutions tailored to the needs of patients, CHU professionals, and its partners.

The research strategy is structured around five strategic areas (infections and immune disorders, neurosciences, health data, critical care, and oncology) and draws on innovative research platforms to develop the personalized medicine of tomorrow. With an annual investment of more than €3.5 million and teams fully involved in research units supported by the University of Montpellier and national research organizations such as INSERM, the CHU is actively integrated into the regional, national, and European ecosystem. For example, the Nîmes University Hospital is a partner in the European project coordinated by the University of Montpellier, APOLLO 2028, which aims to offer innovative solutions to improve mental health and resilience at work. As part of the Nîmes University Hospital's Institutional Project and in line with the scientific roadmap for the Montpellier-Nîmes site, the University Hospital's Research Innovation Support Program, PARI 2030, is a lever for the hospital-university's influence and regional socio-economic development.

The PUI at the University of Montpellier in a nutshell

The Montpellier University Innovation Cluster (PUI) is a consortium of 14 founding members, coordinated by the University of Montpellier, which aims to strengthen collaborative research partnerships with the socio-economic world, encourage technology transfer, and support the creation of start-ups in the region. Part of the University of Montpellier's strategic priorities of "Feeding, Caring, Protecting," it draws on a dynamic scientific community of 5,000 scientific executives, more than 100 research units, and five research clusters: Agriculture-Environment-Biodiversity, Biology-Health, Chemistry, Mathematics-Computer Science-Physics-Systems, and Social Sciences. The University Innovation Cluster also brings together 5,000 scientists and 120 specialists in commercialization and partnerships, representing an average of 350 partnership contracts per year.

Projects serving patients and caregivers

Three projects supported by Montpellier's University Innovation Cluster (PUI) were presented. They demonstrate the ability of hospital and university teams to transform clinical needs into concrete solutions, thanks to the support of PUI initiatives such as Booster Innovation Montpellier (BIM) and Companies and Campus:

• PEASY: an innovative medical device for managing male urinary incontinence, developed by Professor Xavier Garric (University of Montpellier – IBMM, Nîmes University Hospital). Winner of the BIM award, it has received funding of nearly €44,000 and illustrates the synergy between clinical expertise and university research.
• 3D4 PEDIA: a pharmaceutical 3D printing project for pediatrics, led by Dr. Ian Soulairol (University of Montpellier – ICGM, Nîmes University Hospital), in collaboration with MB Therapeutics. Winner of the Companies and Campus program, he received €50,000 to develop personalized medicines tailored to children.
• DM CONNECT: an innovative digital platform led by Dr. Laure Roux (Nîmes University Hospital), aimed at improving the coordination of care pathways. Also a BIM winner, this project has received €26,000 in funding and draws on expertise in digital health and hospital engineering.

These initiatives embody the shared ambition of the University of Montpellier and Nîmes University Hospital: to innovate together, serving patients, caregivers, and research.

"The Nîmes University Hospital and the University of Montpellier are joining forces to make innovation and research a lever for regional development and improved healthcare. Our investments and scientific focus reflect our commitment to cutting-edge medicine, serving patients and caregivers. Our ambition is to position the University Hospital as a key player in healthcare innovation through its ability to bring together healthcare professionals, patients and users, start-ups, and manufacturers," says Frédéric Rimattei, Director General of Nîmes University Hospital.

A new call for projects: strengthening translational research

Beyond these successes, this after-work event also marks the launch of a joint call for projects entitled " Research ," led by the University of Montpellier and the Nîmes University Hospital. This call, with a budget of €100,000 (50% UM, 50% Nîmes University Hospital), aims to encourage new collaborations between researchers, clinicians, and industry by supporting initiatives capable of accelerating the transition from basic research to concrete clinical applications, in line with the strategic priorities of both institutions.

"The synergy between research and innovation is what makes us strong. Together, we want to build a European center of excellence in health," says Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier.

This call for projects is part of the national health innovation strategy and consolidates the Montpellier–Nîmes axis's position as a leading region for university hospital and biomedical innovation.