A Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Inria and the University of Waterloo (Canada), in the presence of our Minister of Higher Education and Research, Sylvie Retailleau, Charmaine Dean, Vice-President of Research at the University of Waterloo, and Cécile Vigouroux, Director of International Relations at Inria. This agreement is part of the achievements of the Canada-France Joint Committee for Science, which aims to build bridges between the French and Canadian research ecosystems in science, technology and innovation.
The University of Waterloo plays a world-renowned role in the digital sciences, and has built up a number of structures:
- The David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science is now Canada’s largest university-based computer science research center.
- The University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing was created in 2016, in the list of Canadian top 3 centers for quantum computing, with Vancouver and Sherbrooke.
- One of Canada’s three major AI centers revolves around the Universities of Toronto (and its Machine Learning Group) and Waterloo (Waterloo Artificial Intelligence Institute created in 2018), CIFAR (an Inria partner) and the Vector Institute.
The MoU aims to strengthen existing collaborations, in particular with our RESIST, LOKI, POTIOC, FLOWERS, AGORA, ZENITH and LFANT project teams and also to foster new scientific collaborations focused on a few key areas such as quantum, AI, cybersecurity and digital health.
Sylvie Retailleau, French Ministry of Higher Education and Research “I’m delighted with this strengthened cooperation between Inria and the University of Waterloo. This agreement is emblematic of the shared approach of Canada and France to the major challenge of artificial intelligence. This shared vision, affirmed by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2018, will enable concrete advances, to the benefit of the French and Canadian populations.“
Bruno Sportisse, Inria CEA: “Inria is fully committed to strengthening the partnership between France and Canada, whether in AI or quantum technologies. This strategic agreement with the University of Waterloo will open up new opportunities, in coherence with our French academic partners, particularly research universities. Inria is honored that the signing of this agreement took place in the presence of the French Minister of Higher Education and Research, Madame Sylvie Retailleau.”
(Traduction from Inria article: https://www.inria.fr/en/node/739245)
For more information: https://uwaterloo.ca/news/strengthening-our-canada-france-research-collaboration.
