IVADO announces the creation of six new research chairs in artificial intelligence with the support of the Fonds de recherche du Québec

Montreal, September 29, 2025 — IVADO is pleased to announce the launch of six new research chairs in artificial intelligence, established with the support of the Fonds de recherche du Québec. These chairs, awarded to professors from IVADO’s five university partners (Université de Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal, HEC Montréal, Université Laval, and McGill University), aim to advance knowledge and train the next generation of top researchers in AI. 

The creation of these chairs will help advance the priorities of IVADO’s R³AI initiative for robust, reasoning, and responsible AI, by enabling a deeper understanding of complex phenomena, the design of innovative technological approaches, and the tackling of diverse challenges in areas such as complex data analysis, multilingual processing, the integration of AI into social interactions, ethical governance, and the assessment of AI’s economic impacts. 

The six research chairs are awarded to: 

  • ​​Amine Mhedhbi (Polytechnique Montréal) 
    Chair in Multimodal Data Engineering 
    Design of new data management systems capable of handling and optimizing complex queries on both structured and unstructured data, paving the way for more efficient and robust management of multimodal data. 
  • Ayla Rigouts-Terryn (Université de Montréal, Mila) 
    Chair “At the Crossroads of Languages and AI: Towards a Synergy Between Language Expertise and Computational Innovation” 
    Exploring the synergy between linguistics and AI to improve the development, evaluation, and application of AI systems, with a focus on multilingualism, low-resource languages, and machine translation.
  • Guillaume Dumas (Université de Montréal, CHU Sainte-Justine, Mila) 
    Chair in Social Neuro-AI and Inter-Personalized Psychiatry 
    This chair proposes a paradigm shift in artificial intelligence and psychiatry by placing social dynamics at the forefront. Its goal is to transform care through the study and computational modelling of brain-to-brain interactions, while also paving the way for the development of artificial agents inspired by the workings of the social brain. 
  • Marzia Angela Cremona (Université Laval, CHU de Québec) 
    Chair in Statistical Learning 
    Development of statistical and machine learning methods to analyze complex data in biomedicine and social sciences, with a focus on functional data represented as curves and surfaces.
  • Warut Khern-am-nuai (Université McGill) 
    Chair in Economics and Ethics of Artificial Intelligence 
    Analyzing the economic and social impacts of AI by developing ethical frameworks and recommendations for responsible adoption in businesses and public policy.
  • Joé T. Martineau (HEC Montréal) 
    Chair in organizational ethics and AI governance 
    Announced in December 2024, this chair, supported by HEC Montréal, Confiance IA, and IVADO, focuses on developing theoretical and practical knowledge to help organizations address AI-related ethical challenges and ensure responsible deployment. 

“These chairs pave the way for new discoveries and novel perspectives on artificial intelligence, which is at the core of R³AI’s interdisciplinary vision. We are delighted to see these six recipients appointed, demonstrating Quebec’s ability to mobilize top talent to push the frontiers of research while shedding light on the profound transformations shaping our societies.” 

— Aaron Courville, Scientific Director, IVADO 

​“We are very proud to see Quebec’s AI ecosystem further strengthened through the creation of these six research chairs, highlighting the excellence and talent of our researchers. By bridging scientific innovation with major societal challenges, these chairs will drive economic and social development in our province, while reinforcing our leadership in responsible and ethical AI.” 

— Rémi Quirion, Chief Scientist of Quebec 

About IVADO 

IVADO is an interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral research and knowledge mobilization consortium whose mission is to develop and promote a robust, reasoning and responsible AI. Led by Université de Montréal with four university partners (Polytechnique Montréal, HEC Montréal, Université Laval and McGill University), IVADO brings together research centers, government bodies and industry members to co-build ambitious cross-sectoral initiatives with the goal of fostering a paradigm shift for AI and its adoption. 

About the Fonds de recherche du Québec 

Reporting to the Minister of Economy and Innovation, the Fonds de recherche du Québec are mandated to ensure the strategic and coherent development of research in Quebec, provide financial support, foster researcher training, establish partnerships essential to fulfilling their mission, and promote and support knowledge mobilization.