On August 30, the State and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region (AuRA) signed a joint State-Region roadmap on artificial intelligence in order to articulate their strategies in this area. This AI roadmap was signed by Catherine Staron, Vice-President of the AuRA Region, and Sylvain Pelleteret, Deputy Secretary General for Regional Affairs.
In the field of AI, the AuRA region already has many assets:
- An ecosystem of research and training excellence in machine learning and embedded AI in particular, but also in related fields such as robotics, medical imaging, medical technologies, etc., with leading players such as the CEA, LETI, INRIA and the MIAI Institute, France’s leading institution in the Shanghai thematic ranking for computer science and engineering;
- More than 300 companies providing AI solutions;
- A leading position in embedded AI.
Catherine Staron has moreover declared:
“The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region is the leading industrial region in France and one of the most successful in Europe in Higher Education, research and innovation. With Laurent Wauquiez, and the entire regional executive, we therefore believe in the capacity of our ecosystem, particularly academic and economic, to make Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes the European leader in artificial intelligence in all its components: innovation, training, digital transformation of companies … This roadmap that we sign with the State confirms our common ambition to support this industry of the future!”
Making Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes a benchmark region for AI
This roadmap is part of the France 2030 plan set up by the State, as well as the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2022-2028 plan for the economy, training, and innovation to serve employment and our territories, adopted by the Regional Council’s Plenary Assembly on June 29.
The objective of this roadmap is therefore to ” make Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes a benchmark region for AI on a European and international scale, by strengthening the visibility of its players, using AI as a lever for competitiveness of the territory’s companies, developing strategic projects (in health, energy, mobility, industry of the future) and promoting a trusted AI for citizens.”
It thus aims to support applied research, training and the dissemination of AI technologies in regional SMEs, and the development of software and hardware solutions that will enable the creation of independent French and European design, manufacturing and dissemination channels.
It is structured according to the 4 axes of the regional strategy adopted in October 2020 by the Regional Council:
- Promote research and accelerate its technological transfer by bringing together academic actors and companies
In particular, the Region has launched the first “AI Challenges” that fund 6 research theses on AI that may be of interest to companies, such as computer vision applied to health. Major R&D projects have also been supported: for example, Textil’IA, which promotes the pooling of expertise and R&D resources in the textile industry.
- Federating the regional ecosystem and structuring the AI offer in line with companies’ expectations
To this end, a network bringing together regional laboratories with expertise in AI has been created, and an overview of 300 companies offering AI solutions has been produced. In addition, the France 2030 government and regional programs will help finance R&D and industrialization projects.
- To train and disseminate an AI culture within companies and society
Via Compétences has carried out a mapping of existing AI training courses and new courses have been developed. In addition, the roadmap accompanies the transformation of professions caused by the use of AI. Finally, an awareness program for the general public and schoolchildren is being implemented.
- Facilitate and support the dissemination and integration of AI in regional VSEs and SMEs
SMEs wishing to develop their activity thanks to AI can benefit from support and funding within the framework of regional technology transfer schemes (such as Easytech) or national diagnostic schemes (Diag’IA). Popularization webinars and an educational kit allow business leaders and their employees to anticipate the changes brought about by AI.
Numerous experts and operators, alongside the State and the Region, will support product and service projects, in order to differentiate them by integrating AI.
Françoise NOARS, Secretary General for Regional Affairs of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, concludes:
“The signing of this joint State-Region roadmap illustrates the perfect local variation of the national acceleration strategy for artificial intelligence, which is part of the France 2030 plan. The plan aims to stimulate the industrialization of innovation in France and to create tomorrow’s technological leaders, thanks to a national investment of €54 billion, including €1.5 billion to promote the development of artificial intelligence in all sectors of activity. The roadmap will allow all industries in our region to strengthen their competitiveness and thus maintain Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes as the leading industrial region in France. It will be deployed with the involvement of all the players in the local ecosystem: clusters, government services and local authorities, all of whom are mobilized to successfully appropriate this new technology for our industrial fabric.”
Translated from L’Etat et la région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes annoncent la signature d’une feuille de route commune en matière d’IA
