Call for Applications | IVADO-Inria Initiative

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 professors in Quebec and Quebec professors 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 professors from France wishing to visit Quebec, the following are eligible for this 1st edition:
  • professors 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)
  • professors 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 professors wishing to visit France: eligible for this first edition are professors 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 professors 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 professors 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: 1st call for applications for funding of scientific visits closes
• June 12, 2025: applicants notified of results
• June 13, 2025: 2nd call for applications for funding of scientific visits opens
• Week of June 9, 2025: launch event for the exchange semester in Paris
• July 20, 2025: 2nd call for applications for funding of scientific visits closes
• 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)

Please note that applicants may only apply for and receive one award in this competition. Individuals who have already received a travel award in the first round are not eligible to apply again in this second round.

Submission procedure

• For professors from France wishing to visit Quebec: the application form can be downloaded here, together with a signed letter from the professor identified as collaborator/host for the purposes of the planned scientific visit
• For professors from Quebec wishing to visit France: the application form can be downloaded here, together with a signed letter from the professor 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 professor 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 professors from France wishing to visit Quebec: questions about the initiative and submission should be sent to inria-canada@inria.fr. French professors wishing to be put in touch with Quebec professors eligible for the exchange semester can write to the same alias.
• For Quebec professors wishing to visit France: questions about the initiative and submission should be sent to the following alias conferences@ivado.ca. Quebec professors wishing to be put in contact with French professors eligible for the exchange semester can write to the same alias.