New collaborative International Research Laboratory launched
At the unveiling of a plaque to mark the launch of the new CROSSING lab, the French-Australian Laboratory for Humans-Autonomous Agents Teaming, are from left to right: Professor Peter Høj AC, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Adelaide; His Excellency Mr Jean-Pierre Thiebault, Ambassador of France; Mr Pierre-Eric Pommellet, Chief Executive Officer, Naval Group; The Honourable Steven Marshall MP, Premier of South Australia; Professor David Lloyd FTSE, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of South Australia; Professor Colin Sterling, Vice-Chancellor and President, Flinders University.
On the evening of Monday 22 February, a new International Research Laboratory (IRL) was launched at an event at the Art Gallery of South Australia. The IRL will focus on humans-autonomous agents teaming; an area of research at the interface of artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering, technology, human factors and psychology.
The French Australian Laboratory for Humans-Autonomous Agents Teaming, shortened to CROSSING, is a collaboration between the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, the University of South Australia, French technological university IMT Atlantique, and Naval Group, the only industrial partner.
An IRL is a flagship international collaboration mechanism used by CNRS, France’s leading scientific research centre. The new IRL is called CROSSING because it represents the crossover of ideas that is at the heart of this important collaboration.
The CROSSING Lab will join a network of more than 70 IRLs, but will become one of only five international research laboratories with industry partners in the world. It will join the ranks of other labs in global innovation hubs, including Singapore, China, Japan and the United States of America. Based in Adelaide, the CROSSING Lab will be a unique multidisciplinary facility in Australia that provides an opportunity for South Australia to be at the forefront of research into frontier technologies highly relevant to future industries.
L-R: Professor Peter Høj AC, Vice-Chancellor, University of Adelaide; Professor David Lloyd FTSE, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of South Australia; Professor Colin Sterling, President and Vice-Chancellor, Flinders University; The Honourable Steven Marshall MP, Premier of South Australia; François-Régis Boulvert, International Scientific Cooperation Director, Naval Group.
The launch event was attended in person by the Premier of South Australia the Hon. Steven Marshall, and the French Ambassador to Australia, his Excellency Mr Jean-Pierre Thébault. Also attending via video conference was Australia’s Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Ms Gillian Bird. Additional attendees included the CEO of Naval Group, Pierre-Eric Pommellet, and the Vice-Chancellors of the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia and Flinders University. Remotely from Paris, the CEO of CNRS, Professor Antoine Petit, and IMT Atlantique Vice-President Ms Anne Beauval, also joined a discussion panel about the new research laboratory.
The IRL will directly contribute to growing South Australian hi-tech industries such as space, oil and gas, manufacturing and mining, defence and space industries by:
- Undertaking world-class research in the emerging field of human-machine interaction, developing new ways of efficient, ethical and human-centred collaboration with autonomous systems
- Upskilling and educating personnel within industry and academia, building both capability and capacity through co-design and co-investment
- Enhancing international collaboration between South Australia and France to attract and retain top scientific talent from industry and academia
- Establishing translation pathways to allow research to move from the laboratory into industry and operational use.
For further information about CROSSING, please see the official media release.