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HomeBusiness SectorServices industryArtificial Intelligence in Hauts-de-France

Artificial Intelligence

in Hauts-de-France

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a strategic transformation leverage for companies in all sectors. Due to increasing global competition, companies need to innovate and draw on dynamic ecosystems to develop high-performance, liable solutions. The Hauts-de-France Region is positioning itself as a prime-choice for companies in the IA sector looking to expand thanks to a dynamic environment, access to talent and skills and important innovation infrastructure.
Nord France Invest

A dynamic environment for AI
in Hauts-de-France

With 17,522 digital companies in 2021, 95% of them SMEs, and more than 45,750 jobs, the Hauts-de-France region confirms its attractiveness for the sector. With +1,285 jobs created over the past year, the share of digital employment has been rising steadily for a decade.

A few key figures to illustrate this dynamic

  • + 20 startups specialized in AI
  • 400 researchers in Artificial Intelligence
  • 3 major cities for academic research: Lille, Compiègne and Valenciennes
  • 5th region with the most innovation structures

Companies already settled in AI
in Hauts-de-France

Major international companies are present in the region such as: OVH, IBM, Microsoft or Capgemini alongside unicorns like Exotec, as well as fast-growing startups.

ontbo

Transforming every interaction into a unique and fully personalized emotional experience through ethical AI.

wavely

Acoustic measurement and anomaly detection through AI

hoastabee

Hive management through AI

jagger & lewis

Pets health management trough AI & connected devices

Access to talent & skills in the IA sector
in Hauts-de-France

The development of AI relies heavily on talent & skills. The Hauts-de-France Region offers an important pool of talent with:

  • 253,000 students
  • 4,770 IT graduates in 2020, ranking the region 4th nationally
  • 80 IT degrees (bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate)
  • 15 master’s degrees from leading schools such as Polytech Lille, UTC Compiègne and Ecole Centrale de Lille
AI

In the field of AI and Data, there are 29 certifying training courses (according to the Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles (RNCP) by France compétences). 77% of these training courses lead to a Master’s degree and 74% of them last between 2 and 3 years. On top of that, they are available to students as well as people who are getting back into education as well as apprenticeships.

A few examples of training courses:

  • Training for IA/ Data developer by Simplon Lille
  • Training for digital engineers with a specialization in AI by Junia Lille
  • Training in Computer engineering with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science by the University of Compiègne (the institution is creating a true cluster for Artificial Intelligence)

 

Clusters and hubs specialized in AI
in Hauts-de-France

The Hauts-de-France Region is the 5th French Region with regards to the number of innovation structures, with 24 centers dedicated to the digital sector, among which 12 of them are located in Lille. Those strategic structures offer tailored support to companies in the IA sector.

euratechnologies-300x115

Euratechnologies

Considered one of the major incubators in Europe, Euratechnologies supports 300 projects every year and has raised 500 million euros since 2009. Its offer has:

  • A soft-landing program for international companies
  • An incubator and an accelerator for stratups (on the top 3 in Europe)
  • Flexible real estate solutions for Tech companies

Euratechnologies offers many training courses. One of them is a program entirely dedicated to Artificial Intelligence for companies incubated there. It is aimed at managers and employees looking to integrate AI into their processes.

Agglomération Saint Quentin

Robotics hub in Saint Quentin

This hub dedicated to tech and robotics aims to support companies in this sector via prototype development platforms, public funding, an incubator and the French Tech label.
A few key figures:

  • +20 companies specializing in cloud robotics and connected objects
  • +2,000 students
  • 33 research units
  • 850 research professors
Cité de l'IA logo

Cité de l’IA

The Cité de l’IA was created to support companies in their artificial intelligence-related challenges. Its aim is to have synergies between regional stakeholders: companies, institutions, academia and research.

Their IA Booster France 2023 program aims to guide French SMEs and ETIs in integrating AI into their processes.

Its unique feature is that it is led and governed by AI user companies for AI user companies. This allows tailor-made support adapted to the challenges faced by companies.

Key figures:

  • 2,000 members in the Lille metropolitan area
  • 80 active members
  • 800 qualified AI contacts
  • 60 referenced partners
Logo-CITC-Gris-1

CITC Hauts-de-France

The CITC Hauts-de-France is an innovation hub dedicated to IoT. It offers an R&D centre, services to companies and a number of training programs for Artificial Intelligence.
The CITC also represents:

  • 6 000 visitors
  • 141 members
  • 40 projects
  • 894 people trained

They have a number of European projects incorporating new technologies, including AI. For example, the SecuWeb project aims to strengthen data security in companies via innovative technologies: AI, 5G, Blockchain etc.

inria

INRIA

INRIA is a R&D center specialized in the digital world. They have expertise in data science, artificial intelligence, software engineering, digital health and digital sustainability.

It represents:

  • 3 900 students
  • 1 620 PHD students
  • 220 projects
  • 10 research centers
  • 74 ERC funding
  • +100 nationalities
  • 15 project teams
  • 10 startups created

The CNRS is the research center born of the association between Inria Lille – Nord Europe, the Université d’Artois, the Université de Lille and the Université de Picardie Jules Verne. This synergy between academic stakeholders is helping the creation of an industry of excellence in the field of artificial intelligence in the Hauts-de-France region.

Research and Development in AI
in Hauts-de-France

Many laboratories in the Hauts-de-France region are helping advance research and development in the field of AI. These include :

  • CRIStAL (Centre de Recherche en Informatique, Signal et Automatique de Lille) : With 31 research teams and 488 members, CRIStAL tackles major topics such as AI, cybersecurity, digital health and robotics. It brings together interdisciplinary experts to address priority societal challenges.
  • CRIL (Centre de Recherche en Informatique de Lens) : The only laboratory in France dedicated to symbolic AI, CRIL designs autonomous intelligent systems based on human reasoning.
  • LAMIH (Valenciennes Laboratory): LAMIH covers fields such as mobility, safety and AI innovation applied to the industry.
  • Heudiasyc (Compiègne): Associated with the CNRS, Heudiasyc specializes in computer science, automation, robotics and artificial intelligence. It leads several research projects in collaboration with academic and industrial stakeholders.
  • Project humAIn: This multi-institutional project aims to structure regional AI research by focusing on the explicability and acceptability of systems. Its ambition is to double the number of students trained in AI, and to offer training tailored to the needs of companies.

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