Project Overview
ILIADE (Innovation through pLants and Artificial Intelligence for inDia and France) is a Franco-Indian initiative in higher education, research, and innovation. It is coordinated by the University of La Réunion (France) and the Vellore Institute of Technology (India), in partnership with several French and Indian universities and research institutes.
The project is designed to address major health challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, especially infectious and metabolic diseases, by leveraging biotechnology from natural products, medicinal plants, and computational tools (including Artificial Intelligence).
It aims to train a new generation of bioengineers and researchers through joint Master’s and doctoral programmes, and to build a sustainable Franco-Indian academic and scientific ecosystem.
Objectives
Develop a common higher-education curriculum: a Master in Biotechnology, evolving from a twinning degree into a dual degree, with two tracks:
Biotechnology specialized in Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy
Biotechnology specialized in Computer & Artificial Intelligence applied to Biomedical Data
Integrate doctoral training: joint PhD programmes (“sandwich theses” and cotutelle) involving alternating stays in France and India.
Strengthen Franco-Indian research collaborations in biosciences, medicinal plants, and computational health sciences.
Link academic research with the socio-economic sector, ensuring strong professional integration for graduates through internships, industrial partnerships, and entrepreneurship.
Planned Activities
1. Educational Programmes
Launch of the Master’s degree with up to 45 students per year in M1 and 20 in M2.
Courses delivered in English, combining hybrid formats (60% virtual, 40% in-person).
Inclusion of transversal skills (languages, research methodology, entrepreneurship).
A mandatory semester-long internship in research labs, hospitals, industries, or innovation clusters.
2. Doctoral Programmes
About 4 doctoral students per year, enrolled in cotutelle PhD programmes.
Access to joint graduate schools and research labs across the consortium.
Training in disciplinary expertise, interdisciplinary methods, and transversal skills (ethics, open science, career preparation).
3. Research Cooperation
Development of joint research projects on:
Medicinal plants and natural products for health
Infectious and metabolic diseases
AI and biomedical data analysis
Organization of international conferences, workshops, and thematic schools (summer/winter), focused on One Health, zoonoses, and medicinal plants applications.
4. Science and Society
Launch of the programme “ILIADE Life Sciences and Societies” to bridge life sciences, humanities, and traditional practices.
Public engagement through conferences, exhibitions, and science festivals (e.g., Fête de la Science).
Promotion of open science and ethical practices.
5. Economic and Industrial Partnerships
Collaboration with research centres, hospitals, pharmaceutical and biotech companies in India and France.
Encouragement of CIFRE PhDs (industrial doctoral fellowships).
Development of entrepreneurship incubation, notably through the CIMAP incubator.
Creation of micro-certifications for lifelong learning and professional upskilling.
6. Governance
A steering committee (COPIL) co-chaired by UR and VIT.
Two expert committees for each scientific axis (medicinal plants & AI in health).
An ethics and deontology committee plus an appointed mediator.
Regular workshops and meetings for project monitoring and evaluation.
Expected Results (by Year 5)
At least 180 students will graduate with a Master’s degree.
At least 8 doctoral candidates will complete or begin joint PhD programmes.
Strong Franco-Indian networks of young researchers established.
New publications, joint projects, and industrial partnerships.
Enhanced academic mobility between France, India, and the Indo-Pacific region.
