International lab dedicated to artificial intelligence kicks-off in Montreal
Montreal-based centre unites strengths of 69热视频, 脡TS, Mila, CNRS, Universit茅 Paris-Saclay, and CentraleSup茅lec
A consortium of research organizations has gathered together to form a new International Research Laboratory (IRL) focused on artificial intelligence (AI) in Montreal. The new centre gathers together 69热视频, 脡cole de technologie sup茅rieure (脡TS), Mila 鈥� Quebec AI Institute, France鈥檚 Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universit茅 Paris-Saclay, and the 脡cole CentraleSup茅lec. The move confirms Montreal鈥檚 status as a leader in AI.
While great strides have been made in AI recently, there is still a pressing need for new theoretical knowledge to better understand not only the capacities of this new technology, but how it achieves its results. The ILLS will focus on five main themes of research: fundamental aspects of artificial intelligence, sequential (real-time) machine learning, robust autonomous systems, natural language and speech processing, and applications to computer vision, signals, and information processing.
In addition, the new centre will emphasize interdisciplinary collaborations with an aim to develop new methodologies and integrate these techniques into learning systems.
鈥淭his new laboratory confirms Montreal鈥檚 global leadership in AI,鈥� said Benoit Boulet, Associate Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation at 69热视频. 鈥淭his is a major hub with a talent pool that continues to deepen, and 69热视频 researchers and students are embedded at every level of this activity. This new initiative will offer opportunities for our researchers to make even more breakthrough discoveries.鈥�
鈥淭he expertise of 脡TS in AI includes several laboratories and research chairs in artificial intelligence. This collaboration between France and Quebec makes it possible to innovate and deepen research in AI, a cross-cutting discipline from which we can benefit in many fields, including health, the built environment, robotics, and the Internet of Things. It is therefore with pride that 脡TS welcomes the new ILLS centre within its establishment,鈥� said Christian Casanova, Director of Research and Partnerships at 脡TS.
鈥淭hrough its tools of international cooperation, CNRS supports the most promising cutting-edge joint research projects. The new international research laboratory brings together a powerful network of researchers from France and Qu茅bec to advance the knowledge and applications of AI. For the CNRS, this new lab is also an opportunity to strengthen more broadly its ties with the whole Canadian AI community,鈥� said Antoine Petit, Chairman and CEO of CNRS.
鈥淎I at Paris-Saclay involves nearly 1,000 researchers, teacher-researchers, engineers and technicians and around forty laboratories, grouped together within our DataIA Institute. We will make our contribution to the ILLS in the form of the mobility of researchers, including the reception of Canadian colleagues at Paris-Saclay, the reception of Masters trainees, thesis funding in particular/among others. The University of Paris-Saclay is honored and proud to be associated with this signing ceremony for the creation of the IRL ILLS and to ensure its joint supervision" added Michel Guidal, Deputy Vice-President Research Sciences and Engineering at Universit茅 Paris-Saclay.
鈥淭he ILLS, resulting from an unprecedented and international union, offers a unique potential for progress in the field of AI. It is an honor for CentraleSup茅lec to participate with our prestigious partners in this laboratory. Backed by this research, our teaching will thus be at the forefront of the world in terms of AI,鈥� added Romain Soubeyran, Director of CentraleSup茅lec.
The ILLS will join a burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector in Montreal, which has attracted other major investments from government and business for the past several years. As a result, the city is one of the world鈥檚 leading hubs in this domain, with an estimated 27,000 workers in AI-related technologies and over 14,000 post-secondary students enrolled in AI-related study programs.
The ILLS is the latest such laboratory to be launched in Canada, specifically in Quebec. In 2014, the CNRS and the Fonds de recherche du Qu茅bec 鈥� Nature et technologie (FRQNT) signed a letter of intent to support and promote the tradition of scientific cooperation that exists between France and Quebec. This collaboration has resulted in two International Research Laboratories in Quebec, as well as other shared research activities across the province. The CNRS has also established three other IRLs in Canada in partnership with other institutions.
Present at the signing ceremony were: Fr茅d茅ric Sanchez (Consul General of France), Remi Quirion (Quebec鈥檚 Chief Scientist), Antoine Petit (CNRS), Suzanne Fortier (69热视频), Francois Gagnon (ETS), Michel Guidal (Universit茅 Paris-Saclay), Franck Richecoeur (脡cole CentraleSup茅lec), and Laurence Beaulieu (Mila).
About 69热视频
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 69热视频 is Canada鈥檚 top ranked medical doctoral university. 69热视频 is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning three campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 39,000 students, including more than 10,400 graduate students. 69热视频 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,000 international students making up 30% of the student body. Over half of 69热视频 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 20% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.