IMT Atlantique was created in 2017. It is a very young institution, but nevertheless covers a sufficiently broad spectrum of activities to be able to create synergies and cross-fertilisation between its different research areas and thus develop interdisciplinary research on a human scale into technologies, industrial networks and systems and the environment.
One of the strengths of IMT Atlantique is therefore its ability to approach engineering through interdisciplinarity, and in particular by strengthening the links between the physical world and the digital world, or between social sciences and scientific and technological progress.
ISTI - Integrated Scientific and Technological Initiatives
This interdisciplinarity is embodied in the very structure of IMT Atlantique, through transversal initiatives (ISTI - Integrated Scientific and Technological Initiatives) for academic and industrial research, in the fields of Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Industry of the Future, Distributed Computing and iOT or Human Enhancement and Health. The aim of these initiatives is to ensure IMT Atlantique's key positioning in strategic areas, disciplinary fields, domains of application, or societal challenges, by focusing on cross-departmental activities that may involve all of our research departments.
Interdisciplinary research projects
IMT Atlantique's interdisciplinarity is also expressed at a program level, from Engineering diploma/Masters level right through to Doctorate level, through the increased and systematic presence of interdisciplinary research projects and other RLSs (Rich Learning Situations) addressing engineering issues at the system level.
SPIN PhD Program
The SPIN PhD program also embraces this interdisciplinary dimension, including fundamental research, applied research, and everything in between.
Human resources
IMT Atlantique's interdisciplinarity is also expressed through its provision of human resources, such as the appointment of researchers as heads/directors of research departments (e.g. LUSSI department), chaire Research Consortia, and PhD programs, as well as other general interdisciplinary research projects.
Enhancing technological scope
IMT Atlantique's strategy is also characterised by enhanced technological reach, as illustrated by its work on intelligent sensors and NBIC technologies (Nanotechnologies, Biotechnologies, Computing and Cognitive Sciences).
Our specific facilities
IMT Atlantique draws on its nationally and internationally recognised technological expertise and takes a strong stance on cross-sector technological convergence. This expertise, which is almost unique in France, is based directly on platforms with high potential for research and industrial innovation, in particular ARAGO and SMART. The creation of new materials and devices must be considered a common and founding base for all strategic applications, and in itself constitutes one of IMT Atlantique's specific domains of expertise. IMT Atlantique provides specific physical facilities both for general interdisciplinary research and for interdisciplinary research in scientific fields.
