Launch of the 3IA Côte d'Azur AI-Cluster: A New Era for Artificial Intelligence

This event, organized at the Inria Center of Université Côte d'Azur in Sophia Antipolis, brought together consortium members, industrial partners, local elected officials, as well as researchers from the AI ecosystem.
 

National Recognition and International Ambition

The 3IA Côte d'Azur Institute, one of the four "Interdisciplinary Institutes of Artificial Intelligence" certified in France since 2019, obtained the AI-cluster label in May 2024. This distinction is part of the national Artificial Intelligence strategy initiated in 2018, aiming to position France as a leading global player in AI.

Thanks to this certification, 3IA Côte d'Azur strengthens its commitment to research, training, and innovation in AI, with a particular focus on health and smart, secure territories. The 3IA Côte d'Azur 2030 project thus aims to:

• Develop 33 academic chairs and attract 5 international chairs
• Host 70 doctoral and postdoctoral researchers
• Support the creation of three international research units
• Offer more than 20 new excellence programs to train 1,600 students annually
• Encourage innovation through two new industrial programs and strengthening existing initiatives such as 3IA TechPool and Start-It-Up

A Launch Evening Centered on Innovation and Collaboration

During this inaugural evening, Charles Bouveyron (Director of 3IA Côte d'Azur), Nicholas Ayache (Scientific Director of the Institute), and Diana Sebbar (Executive Director of Idex and Major AI Projects) - representing 3IA Côte d'Azur - highlighted the challenges and expectations related to this certification.

Speeches by Jean Leonetti (Mayor of Antibes and President of the Sophia Antipolis Urban Community), Emmanuel Roux (Deputy Rector for Higher Education), Jeanick Brisswalter (President of Université Côte d'Azur), and Bruno Sportisse (CEO of Inria) emphasized the strategic importance of the project for the scientific and economic influence of the region.

The presentation of the official logo of 3IA Côte d'Azur 2030 symbolically marked the beginning of this new phase of expansion and collaboration between academia and industry. The event concluded in a convivial atmosphere with a musical cocktail reception, animated by a group of doctoral students and by the creatively named band "Rage Against the Machine Learning," composed of researchers from the Institute.

A Growing Ecosystem

The 3IA Côte d'Azur is now the only AI-cluster in the Sud Region and forms an integral part of the national scientific excellence strategy. In partnership with renowned institutions such as Centrale Méditerranée, CNRS, Inria, Inserm, EURECOM, SKEMA Business School, and the École de l'air et de l'espace, it benefits from a solid research and innovation ecosystem.

With already 16 million euros of valued industrial investments, the Institute aims to strengthen collaborations with the private sector and become an essential hub for companies wishing to integrate AI into their strategies. The 3IA Côte d'Azur 2030 AI-Cluster thus establishes itself as a center of excellence that aims to shape the future of artificial intelligence in France and internationally.

The 3IA Côte d'Azur AI-cluster is not limited to research; it also promotes exchanges and skills development among stakeholders in the field. Starting in 2025, regular events will be held throughout the year:

• 3IA Talents Day (1 event per year)
• AI & Companies Week (4 events per year)
• AI Hackathon (1 event per year)
• Afterwork sessions and AI lunches (4 events per year)

Acknowledgments

The entire 3IA Côte d'Azur team extends its sincere thanks to Maureen Clerc (Director of the Inria Center at Université Côte d'Azur) and her teams for enabling this event, as well as to the elected officials, academic and industrial partners, representatives of local authorities, chair holders, researchers, doctoral and postdoctoral students who participated, marking the official beginning of the Institute's second season.