Launched during the French President’s state visit to the UK, the Entente CordIAle Paris-Saclay – Oxford-Cambridge AI Initiative unites Institut Polytechnique de Paris, HEC Paris, Université Paris-Saclay, Oxford, and Cambridge to advance AI for science, business, and society.
At its core, Hi! PARIS plays a key role in driving this €70M partnership, supporting joint research, PhD programs, mobility initiatives, and industry collaboration to foster responsible and sovereign AI.
In February 2025, nearly five years after the creation of the Center, we hosted a dinner to thank our corporate donors for their continued support and commitment. It was an opportunity to reflect on the progress we’ve made together and to reaffirm the importance of the partnerships that have helped shape Hi! PARIS into what it is today. When Hi! PARIS was launched in 2020 by Institut Polytechnique de Paris and HEC Paris, and later joined by Inria, CNRS, and UTT, the goal was clear: to build an ambitious and internationally visible center for research, education, and innovation in artificial intelligence and data science. From the beginning, our corporate donors have played a central role in supporting this vision, not only financially, but also intellectually, by sharing their priorities and contributing to the development of our initiatives, research agenda, and educational programs. Pictured from left to right: Éloïc Peyrache, Dean of HEC Paris; Thierry Coulhon, President of Institut Polytechnique de Paris; Philippe Baptiste, French Minister for Research and Higher Education and Michael I. Jordan, Professor at UC Berkeley. Over the past five years, these partnerships have enabled us to launch and fund research projects at the crossroads of science, business, and society; support chair holders, fellows, postdoctoral researchers, and PhD students working on key AI challenges; host events that connect academic and industrial communities; and develop interdisciplinary teaching programs to train the next generation of AI and data talent. These achievements would not have been possible without the trust and involvement of our donors. Together, we’ve helped build a center that stands for scientific excellence, responsible innovation, and collaboration across sectors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrEHR_vHhcg A committed community of donors The strength of Hi! PARIS lies not only in its academic and scientific foundations, but also in the commitment of its corporate donors. Partners such as L’Oréal, Capgemini, TotalEnergies, VINCI, and Schneider Electric bring a diverse range of perspectives from industry, technology, and energy to infrastructure and innovation united by a shared belief: that artificial intelligence and data science must be developed in a way that serves society. Each of them brings a unique perspective, and their support goes far beyond funding. They contribute ideas, challenge us to stay relevant, and help us anchor our work in the real world. This richness of backgrounds and their shared values of excellence, responsibility, and openness reinforce Hi! PARIS’s mission to bridge science, business, and society. One of the most concrete illustrations of this collaboration is our white book Visions of Business: Driving Business Innovation with Data & AI. This 48-page publication brings together real-world use cases from our corporate donors and highlights how they are leveraging AI to address key challenges in beauty, energy, retail, infrastructure, and beyond. Pictured from left to right: Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman of the Board at L’Oréal; Laurent Bataille, President of Schneider Electric France; Philippe Rambach, Chief AI Officer at Schneider Electric; Delphine Colson, Executive Director of the HEC Foundation; Marie-Noëlle Semeria, Chief Innovation Officer at TotalEnergies; Céline Brucker, General Manager at L’Oréal France; Joëlle Barral, Director of Research at Google DeepMind; and Julia Peyre, Head of AI Strategy and Innovation at Schneider Electric. Building the future of AI together The scientific perspectives opened by the researchers, professors, and students involved in Hi! PARIS require resources that match their ambition. The trust and engagement of our partners are essential to sustaining this effort. As we look ahead, we remain committed to deepening these relationships and continuing to work hand in hand to address the evolving challenges of artificial intelligence. From sustainability to trustworthy AI, from ethics to real-world applications, we believe the conversation between researchers and industry has never been more essential. The anniversary dinner was a warm and meaningful moment a way to celebrate what we’ve built together and to thank each partner, personally, for believing in our mission. To all our donors: thank you for your support, your time, and your ideas. We look forward to the next chapter and to continuing this journey with you.
As governments, researchers, and industry leaders gathered in Paris to confront the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence, Hi! PARIS brought its expertise to key discussions on AI and its impact on science, business & society. Across the Week for Action on AI, the consortium led by HEC Paris, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Inria, CNRS and Université de Technologie de Troyes helped steer the conversation on how AI can drive scientific progress, support the public good, and impact global economies. A Stage for Science at the AI Action Summit On February 6-7, Hi! PARIS Cluster 2030 supported the organization of the Scientific Days at the AI Action Summit, bringing together leading researchers and experts to discuss AI’s role in taking forward global challenges. Topics such as AI’s impact on climate, health, inequality, and the future of work were discussed during the conference. With a rich program, the 2-days featured 94 speakers across 12 plenary sessions, 9 keynote speeches, 7 specialized symposiums, and 9 roundtables. More than 3,800 participants attended the discussions and presentations, including researchers, educators, students, businesses, entrepreneurs, and numerous national and international institutions and organizations such as the UN, the OECD, and the National Commission for AI. Thierry Coulhon (Institut Polytechnique de Paris), Anne Bouverot (President’s Special Envoy for the #AI Action Summit), Laura Chaubard (École polytechnique), Michael Jordan (Member of the Scientific Advisory Board, Hi! PARIS), and Eric Moulines (Scientific Co-director, Hi! PARIS). Our research affiliates took part in the discussions during the Scientific Days sharing their expertise across key topics such as generative AI, machine learning theory, trustworthy AI, and sustainable AI development. Vicky Kalogeiton, Professor at École polytechnique, spoke at the “Frontiers in Generative AI” symposium, presenting her work on multimodal generative models that create video content from text and audio inputs, with applications in media production and medical imaging. Vianney Perchet, also Professor at École polytechnique, contributed to the “Mathematics of Machine Learning” symposium, highlighting new mathematical tools to improve the reliability and efficiency of machine learning models. Aymeric Dieuleveut, Professor at École Polytechnique, participated in the “Road to Trustworthy AI” symposium, focusing on fairness and privacy in AI systems, two critical issues as machine learning becomes increasingly embedded in fields like finance and healthcare. Thomas Le Goff, Associate Professor at Télécom Paris, joined the “AI for a Sustainable Future” symposium, addressing the environmental impact of AI and exploring solutions for developing energy-efficient algorithms and sustainable computing infrastructures. Replay the sessions: Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLDUYm_46n0 Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiEiIhOArwI HEC Paris professors and Hi! PARIS affiliates have shared their research on how artificial intelligence is changing society and businesses. Their work aligns with the main themes discussed at the AI Action Summit. It looks at how AI is impacting key areas such as public services, the future of work, creative industries, misinformation, and trust. The research also highlights the need for strong governance, ethical considerations, and adaptation as AI continues to shape different sectors. Read more: “AI Technology: On a Razor’s Edge?” Women & Girls in Science Day: What’s Next for Gender Equality in STEM? The event celebrated the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (UNESCO), emphasizing the need for greater gender equality in STEM fields. Despite progress, women remain underrepresented, making up only 22% of STEM jobs in G20 countries. The discussion highlighted the importance of addressing biases from a young age, encouraging girls to pursue scientific careers, and the role of representation and role models. Various initiatives, including a global campaign urging participation and support for women in science, were introduced to inspire young girls and dismantle stereotypes. The panelists shared personal experiences and insights on fostering a welcoming environment in STEM and the necessity of engaging both girls and boys in these conversations to promote inclusivity and diversity. From left to right: Anne-Laure Sellier (HEC Paris), Ariane Thomas (L’Oréal), Maud Tournoud (Schneider Electric), Karine Vasselin (Capgemini), Elisabeth Richard (Femmes@Numérique), Charlotte Laclau (Télécom Paris), Lidia Brito (UNESCO). The roundtable concluded with a clear message: change requires collective action. Governments, schools, companies, families, and individuals all play a role. From early childhood to the workplace, we must: Encourage girls to explore STEM through play and creativity. Train teachers to recognize and address gender biases. Showcase diverse STEM careers that align with girls’ desire to make an impact. Provide mentorship and peer support networks. Ensure that STEM environments, classrooms, labs, and offices are safe, inclusive, and welcoming. Watch the replay of the roundtable here! Looking Ahead with Hi! PARIS Cluster 2030 The week also marked the next step for Hi! PARIS Cluster 2030, a project aimed at positioning the center as a global leader in AI and data science research. Bringing together over 300 professors and researchers from HEC Paris and Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Cluster 2030 will support advanced research and strengthen collaborations with businesses and public institutions. Through its involvement in the AI Action Summit, Hi! PARIS continues to advance research and contribute to the major conversations on AI’s future from ensuring AI serves the public good to rethinking work, fostering innovation, and developing trusted systems.
On January 24, 2025, Hi! PARIS presented its “Hi! PARIS Cluster 2030” project during a ministerial visit, highlighting its role in France’s “IA-clusters” initiative. Backed by €70 million through France 2030, the center focuses on advancing AI research, innovation, and education for societal impact.
The “AI, Science, and Society” Scientific Conference, taking place on February 6–7, 2025, at the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, will bring together experts from research, industry, and policy. This two-day event will explore AI’s transformative role in fields such as biology, physics, mathematics, economics, and ethics, as part of the French Government’s AI Action Summit program.
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Judged on its excellence regarding teaching, research, innovation and technological transfer, as well as on the variety of its training, the consortium led by HEC Paris and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris (École polytechnique, ENSTA, ENSAE, Telecom Paris, Telecom SudParis) and bringing together Inria, the CNRS, the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées and the Université de Technologie de Troyes, wins the Project Call Cluster AI.
L’Hémicycle’s special issue showcases the Hi! PARIS Center’s achievements and vision, highlighting how it drives excellence in AI and data science research, education, and innovation.
In a bold move to challenge prevailing norms, Hi! PARIS Center organized a roundtable discussion on gender diversity in science, featuring a predominantly male panel to underscore the urgent need for systemic change. The event aimed to emphasize the pivotal role that both men and women play in driving meaningful progress towards gender equality in STEM fields.
Over the past 3 years, Hi! PARIS has achieved significant growth, driven by community support and collaborative efforts. The Meet&Greet was an opportunity to reflect on these achievements and express gratitude towards everyone who contributed to the center’s success.
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