Research

Trustworthy AI at the center of ANITI program

This ANITI Cluster will build on the achievements of ANITI since 2019, including results and international recognition in trustworthy and certifiable AI achieved by building on hybrid AI – the integration of symbolic approaches with machine learning – and significantly expanding the substantial and ongoing research-industry partnerships across numerous AI development and innovation projects. This is particularly important in sectors like transportation and industry 4.0 robotics, where trust is crucial due to interactions between machines and humans.

Since its designation as a Cluster in 2024, our research plan has focused on understanding and developing trustworthy AI methods that can bring the benefits of the latest generation of AI models to critical areas, notably in sectors of excellence in the Toulouse region.

A set of wide-ranging, comprehensive and ambitious measures are proposed to support research

Chairs of Scientific Excellence (4-year duration)

ANITI’s Chairs of Scientific Excellence aim to foster high-level research, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and innovation through several complementary formats:

1. Starting (SC) and Advanced (SA) Chairs
   These individual Chairs are designed to support scientific excellence and productivity from principal investigators (PIs), while also encouraging collaborative work across laboratories and disciplines.
2. Synergy Chairs (SynC)
   Inspired by the ERC Synergy model, these multi-PI Chairs (up to four PIs) are created to drive transformation in Toulouse’s sectors of excellence. They focus on fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, especially in fields where AI is an emerging driver of innovation.
3. Industrial Chairs (IndC)
   These Chairs are built from the outset as strong partnerships between academic and industrial actors, focused on specific application challenges requiring cutting-edge research. Industrial partners are expected to provide substantial financial support for the Chair.
4. International Attractiveness Chairs (IAC)
   To reinforce ANITI’s global presence, these Chairs are designed to attract internationally recognized researchers and integrate them into ANITI’s ecosystem.

To launch this initiative, ANITI opened a call for proposals in February 2023, accompanied by outreach and networking activities to connect academia and industry.

The call received 51 proposals, and an international jury conducted a rigorous selection process. Ultimately, 18 Chairs were awarded:

• 8 Individual Chairs (SC or SA)
• 3 Synergy Chairs (SynC)
• 6 Industrial Chairs (IndC)
• 2 International Attractiveness Chairs (IAC)

Collaborative/integrative research programs (IP).

ANITI’s research and technology transfer roadmap is also structured around so-called integrative programs, designed to develop trustworthy AI—that is, AI that is effective, safe, and ethical. These programs are central to our strategy for addressing the multidisciplinary challenges of fundamental research, development, and the integration of artificial intelligence into ANITI’s key application sectors: Transport, Industry of the Future, and the Environment.

They serve as focal points for interaction among ANITI’s Chairs and our broader academic and industrial ecosystem. Over time, the programs will be enriched by a variety of projects, ranging from fundamental research to demonstrators, in line with our long-term goals and in response to new opportunities and scientific progress.

ANITI is committed to allocating dedicated resources to leverage additional funding—whether private, public, or European—to support these projects. We also actively encourage the development of educational modules, especially those combining AI with other disciplines (AI + X).

Each integrative program fosters close collaboration among academic staff (Research Chairs, , researchers, faculty) and industry experts working within ANITI to enable seamless and sustained interaction.

Current integrative programs:

• DEEL team: Certifiable AI for Critical Embedded Systems (Approved)
• FOR: Trustworthy AI / GenAI for Critical Processes
• PhysimAI: AI for Simulation and Virtual Sensors
• IndustryXAI:
  • Adaptive cobots with natural interaction
  • Trustworthy AI for planning and supply chain optimization
  • Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) and anomaly detection
• AI4ENV:
  • Earth observation and digital twins
  • AI for climate modeling and forecasting
  • Decision-making to address climate change
• AI4Decarbo:
  • Sustainable AI for air traffic management (CO₂ / non-CO₂ trajectories)
  • Digital twins for more electric vehicles
  • Robust optimization for power systems
• ADoptAI:
  • Social acceptance of AI
  • Legal and regulatory aspects
  • Neuroergonomic approaches to improve human–AI interaction

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