IVADO and Inria have joined forces to organize a Franco-Quebec semester of exchanges around artificial intelligence, with the aim of facilitating encounters and strengthening existing links between the French and Quebec research ecosystems in the field of artificial intelligence.

The first edition of this initiative will include

  • A launch and networking event the week of June 9 in Paris
  • Scientific visits by French researchers in Quebec and Quebec researchers in France, lasting from 2 to 5 weeks between mid-June and mid-November
  • A closing scientific conference in the fall in Montreal.

Eligibility

Visiting projects must be in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and are particularly encouraged in the following sub-themes, in connection with the programs currently implemented by IVADO:

  • AI and health, AI and neuroscience
  • Machine learning, Automatic natural language processing
  • Responsible and ethical governance of AI, Trusted AI
  • AI and materials science
  • AI and the environment
  • AI, supply chains and mobility systems

Visiting projects can be part of an existing collaboration or initiate a new Franco-Quebec collaboration.

  • For researchers from France wishing to visit Quebec, the following are eligible for this 1st edition:
    • researchers who are members of Inria project-teams (excluding post-docs and PhD students, who are invited to apply to the Mitacs Globalink program for their mobility to Canada)
    • researchers affiliated with one of the 9 IA Clusters selected as part of the France 2030 plan: PR[AI]RIE, MIAI Cluster, Hi! PARIS, PostGenAI@Paris, ENACT, DATAAI-Cluster, ANITI IA Cluster, 3IA Côte d’Azur 2030, SequoIA.
  • For Quebec researchers wishing to visit France: eligible for this first edition are researchers affiliated with one of IVADO’s five university partners (Université de Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal, HEC Montréal, McGill University, Université Laval).

Terms and conditions of financial support

  • For researchers from France wishing to visit Quebec: plane tickets and local expenses are covered by a lump sum calculated pro rata to the duration of the stay (between 2,500 and 4,500 euros). Between 10 and 15 research stays will be funded under this call for proposals.
  • For Quebec researchers wishing to visit France: airfare and local expenses are covered by a lump sum prorated to the duration of the stay (between $4,000 and $7,000 CDN). Up to 10 research visits will be funded under this call for proposals.

Calendar

  • May 30, 2025: call for applications for funding of scientific visits closes
  • June 13, 2025: applicants notified of results
  • Week of June 9, 2025: launch event for the exchange semester in Paris
  • Between mid-June and mid-November 2025: scientific visits of 2 to 5 weeks
  • In autumn 2025: closing scientific conference in Montreal (in hybrid mode)

Submission procedure

  • For researchers from France wishing to visit Quebec: the application form can be downloaded here, together with a signed letter from the researcher identified as collaborator/host for the purposes of the planned scientific visit
  • For researchers from Quebec wishing to visit France: the application form can be downloaded here, together with a signed letter from the researcher identified as collaborator/host for the purposes of the planned scientific visit: the application form can be downloaded here, along with a signed letter from the researcher identified or a representative of one of the Regroupements as collaborator/host for the purposes of the planned scientific visit

Contacts and setting up contacts

  • For researchers from France wishing to visit Quebec: questions about the initiative and submission should be sent to inria-canada@inria.fr. French researchers wishing to be put in touch with Quebec researchers eligible for the exchange semester can write to the same alias.
  • For Quebec researchers wishing to visit France: questions about the initiative and submission should be sent to the following alias conferences@ivado.ca. Quebec researchers wishing to be put in contact with French researchers eligible for the exchange semester can write to the same alias.

 

About Inria

Inria is France’s national institute for research in digital science and technology, and since January 2024 has been responsible for the Agence de programmes dans le numérique (Digital Programs Agency), designed to strengthen the collective dynamics of higher education and research.

About IVADO

IVADO is an interdisciplinary, cross-sector research, training and knowledge mobilization consortium whose mission is to build and promote robust, reasoning and responsible artificial intelligence.