Home > News > Joseph Sifakis is appointed as head of the INRIA-Schneider Electric research chair in association with Digiteo
Scientific and industrial partnerships
Joseph Sifakis is appointed as head of the INRIA-Schneider Electric research chair in association with Digiteo
Since 1st September, Joseph Sifakis, the winner of the Turing prize in 2007, has been heading the new research chair into intelligent onboard systems founded by INRIA, Schneider Electric and the Digiteo network.
A centre of scientific excellence in Grenoble, France
In 2007, INRIA, Schneider Electric and Digiteo joined forces to create a research chair specialising in intelligent onboard systems and intelligent energy management in Grenoble. The aim was to draw outstanding scientific expertise to the city of Grenoble in a field which is likely to have high socio-economic stakes in the future: numerical engineering. The venture is being run in partnership with a unit which forms part of the Digiteo network based at the Plateau de Saclay centre in the Ile-de-France (greater Paris) region. In March 2007, INRIA chose Joseph Sifakis to head the research chair from among a constellation of brilliant candidates. Joseph Sifakis is a specialist in critical onboard systems and a senior research scientist at France's CNRS national science and research institute, as well as being the founder of laboratoire Verimag. He also has extensive experience of transferring research results to industrial partners. Joseph Sifakis was recently awarded the 2007 Turing prize jointly with Edmund Clarke and Allen Emerson for their work on Model Checking.
On 1st September 2008, Joseph Sifakis assumed his post as head of the new research chair based at the Meylan Montbonnot site in Grenoble, which he will hold for a term of three years. One of the first tasks facing him will be to assemble a team of the best research scientists and post-doctoral academics in the field of numerical engineering.
A new form of partnership to draw top talent
By founding this new research chair, INRIA is pursuing its policy of transferring technology through successful scientific and industrial partnerships. INRIA has also inaugurated a new cooperation model, designed to draw and retain the best scientists in France to our regions. The formation of a research chair by a public body, a private company and a foundation will ensure that it has sufficient financial means to draw the best talent in the field and ensure that they have access to advanced equipment and facilities and are paid internationally competitive salaries.
Testimonials
Joseph Sifakis, Head of the research chair
This research chair will further bolster the ongoing efforts to develop a world class centre for research into intelligent onboard systems in Grenoble. It will bolster the human resources involved and improve the synergies between the main research establishments in Grenoble. Its dual sponsorship structure is designed to ensure that it can boast a high quality research programme and work in close cooperation with industrial players in the Grenoble area.
Maurice Robin, Head of Digiteo
Led by a leading scientist, and focusing on one of Digiteo’s core disciplines, the INRIA-Schneider Electric research chair is an outstanding example of the kind of projects sponsored by companies which Digiteo wishes to develop and promote.
Eric Pilaud, Chief Executive Officer in charge of Strategy, Clients and Technology, Services & Projects at Schneider Electric
The choice of Joseph Sifakis to head the INRIA-Schneider Electric-Digiteo research chair confirms the determination of Schneider Electric to back Research ventures by providing them with first class human and financial resources. Schneider Electric has once again demonstrated its commitment to the development and bolstering of a world-class centre of scientific excellence in the Grenoble region.
Model Checking is a reliable and efficient technology used for checking complex systems. It is nowadays extensively used in both hardware and software development.
Since 1966, the Turing Prize, which is named after the English mathematician Alan Turing, has been awarded to leading scientists to reward major and lasting technological impact of their research into computer science. It is awarded each year by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
Since 1st September, Joseph Sifakis, the winner of the Turing prize in 2007, has been heading the new research chair into intelligent onboard systems founded by INRIA, Schneider Electric and the Digiteo network. 
Joseph Sifakis, Head of the research chair
This research chair will further bolster the ongoing efforts to develop a world class centre for research into intelligent onboard systems in Grenoble. It will bolster the human resources involved and improve the synergies between the main research establishments in Grenoble. Its dual sponsorship structure is designed to ensure that it can boast a high quality research programme and work in close cooperation with industrial players in the Grenoble area. 
Maurice Robin, Head of Digiteo
Eric Pilaud, Chief Executive Officer in charge of Strategy, Clients and Technology, Services & Projects at Schneider Electric