Introducing IVADO’s Scientific Thematic Semester Program

IVADO is proud to announce the launch of its Thematic Semester program, a key initiative of the R³AI program developed with the support of the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF).  This program aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) through an ambitious lineup of scientific events. These semesters will gather leading and emerging researchers, scholars, and experts from diverse fields to focus on pressing topics that are likely to open new avenues and lead to transformative developments aligned with R³AI or other critical areas of AI.

Each Thematic Semester will span 4 to 6 months and include a rich array of events such as workshops, conferences, seminars, and roundtables, primarily hosted in Montreal, aimed at sparking discussion and generating new insights. A dedicated scientific committee of national and international experts will oversee the semester, ensuring it addresses the most pressing challenges in the field.

Luc Vinet, IVADO’s CEO, emphasized the importance of this initiative:
“This Thematic Semester program is an original and important part of our mission to stimulate and support high-impact advances in AI research, its applications and its responsible adoption. By bringing together the brightest minds from all disciplines here in Montreal and generating their interactions, we will bring about discoveries and innovations that might not have happened without this framework.”

Foutse Khomh, IVADO’s Scientific Co-Director of Scientific and International Activities, added:
“The flexibility and interdisciplinary approach of the Thematic Semesters will enable us to tackle emerging challenges in AI with the depth and focus they deserve. This program is a testament to IVADO’s commitment to nurturing talent, advancing cutting-edge research in AI, while addressing critical societal needs.”

Key Highlights:

• Thematic Semesters will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, combining established and emerging perspectives to push AI research forward.
• IVADO will host 4 Thematic Semesters per year designed to actively engage and support the global scientific community.
• Each semester will feature approximately four major in-person events (for example workshops, seminars, summer schools), designed to generate actionable insights and spark groundbreaking ideas through collaborative engagement.
• Thematic Semesters will prioritize international diversity, ensuring a rich mix of participants, speakers, and program organizers from around the world to foster global perspectives in AI research.

A new program for Visiting Scholars

In the coming weeks, IVADO will also launch its new Visiting Scholar Program. This R³AI initiative is designed to align with the thematic semesters and to attract prominent professors, postdoctoral researchers, and leading researchers, both nationally and internationally, to IVADO. Open to specialists from a wide range of disciplines, the program offers financial support and stays of 2 to 6 months, fostering in-depth academic collaboration and enriching local educational initiatives.

The Thematic Semester program reflects IVADO’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI research and developing responsible, robust, and reasoning AI solutions. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for the announcement of the themes for 2025 and 2026 and for more details on the call for proposals open to the community for future Thematic Semesters.