Université Paris-Saclay and its partners at Viva Technology 2024

A major international event, Viva Technology brings together innovation and transformations which tackle the major societal, environmental, economic and human challenges of today and tomorrow.

Université Paris-Saclay is the only university in France to have its own stand at the event. It will be joined on stand B56 by its four Grandes Écoles and founding members of the university - AgroParisTech, CentraleSupélec, ENS Paris-Saclay and Institut d'Optique Graduate School, two national research organisations - Inria and ONERA, as well as the Paris-Saclay Technology Transfer Acceleration Office (SATT), the IncubAlliance incubator and the DATAIA artificial intelligence research institute. Several start-ups from the region and the Paris-Saclay university community will also be present on the stand.

At the heart of a technology cluster that accounts for 15% of French R&D, Université Paris-Saclay has chosen to make innovation a central part of its strategy, placing it on the same level as research and education and fully incorporating it into its missions.

In July 2023, the university was awarded the official University Innovation Cluster label (PUI - pôle universitaire d’innovation), as part of the government’s France 2030 investment plan. The Université Paris-Saclay Innovation Cluster brings together 13 key players from the area’s innovation ecosystem and 15 partners. The Viva Technology event will be a key opportunity to position the PUI in the region and raise its international profile.

Projects/start-ups featuring on the university's stand:

Physics

• CEiSCAT: Led by Jean-Jacques Greffet, Professor at the Charles Fabry Laboratory (LCF - Univ. Paris-Saclay, IOGS, CNRS) in the Nanophotonics group, the CEiSCAT project (Cavity Enhanced interferential Scattering) is supported by the IncubAlliance incubator. It is based on a resonant cavity-enhanced microscopy technique that detects individual nanoparticles without the need for labelling. This will make it possible to measure their mass and concentration, detect aggregates and measure affinities. Present on 22 May
• iUMTEK: Founded in 2017 by engineer Ronald Berger-Lefébure in partnership with CEA Paris-Saclay and based on research carried out within the Physical Chemistry Service (SPC - Univ. Paris-Saclay, CEA), iUMTEK develops cutting-edge instruments which can detect and quantify all of the elements of Mendeleev's periodic table, from samples or even directly throughout the production process. The proposed technology promises to help manufacturers working in the context of the circular economy. Present on 22 May
• NcodiN: Co-founded in 2023 by Francesco Manegatti (CEO), Bruno Garbin (CTO) and Fabrice Raineri (CSO), NcodiN emerged from the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (C2N – Univ. Paris-Saclay, CNRS, CEA, Univ. Paris-Cité) and is backed by CentraleSupélec's accelerator, 21st. It aims to develop a revolutionary optical interposer that will redefine system integration in high-performance computing processors and artificial intelligence. Its patented nano-optoelectronic devices, integrated on silicon, provide ultra-fast, energy-efficient die-to-die interconnections. Present on 24 May
• POSITHÔT: POSITHÔT was founded in 2015 by Jean-Michel Rey, a CEA research engineer, as a result of his basic research at CEA Paris-Saclay. POSITHÔT develops services and equipment for the measurement of defect densities in materials using non-destructive testing and with sub-micrometer resolution. This technology can be used to analyse materials and is particularly well suited to the aerospace and defence sectors. Present on 25 May
• Skyted: Founded in 2021 by Stephane Hersen (CEO) and Frank Simon (CTO) from the Multi-physics Department for Energy (DMPE - Univ. Paris-Saclay, ONERA), Skyted designs advanced technological solutions and services to support neo-nomadism and hybrid work while reducing voice impact. Due to an acoustic innovation inspired by aeronautics, the technology effectively absorbs 80% of vocal frequencies. This breakthrough ensures exceptionally clear conversations, even in noisy environments, whilst preserving the privacy of exchanges. Present on 23 May
• Windlair: This deep tech start-up was founded in 2022 by Armin Taghizad, an expert helicopter coordinator at ONERA, and two senior business managers, Robert Roma and Novine Taghizad, with support from SATT Paris-Saclay. A spin-off from ONERA, Windlair develops and builds a long-range cargo drone designed for customers in the energy, transport, industry, civil security and defence sectors. The drone is used to perform complex, value-added logistics missions daily in interurban and maritime areas, as well as in isolated or hard-to-reach environments. Present on 23 May

Artificial intelligence

• ChangingDot: Led by two alumni from CentraleSupélec, Neil Achich (CEO) and Matthieu Rossignon (CTO) and supported by the Inria Startup Studio, the ChangingDot project is developing a graph-guided generative AI technology. This technology enables DevSecOps/AppSec (development methods guaranteeing optimum security throughout the development process for software packages/security applications) to address application vulnerabilities within minutes of being detected, as opposed to several months using conventional methods. Present on 24 May
• Datapred: A start-up founded in 2015 by Nicolas Mahler and affiliated with ENS Paris-Saclay with close links to the Centre Borelli (Univ. Paris-Saclay, CNRS, ENS Paris-Saclay, Univ. Paris-Cité, French Defence Health service), Datapred is a B2B software publisher. Its AI engine helps energy and commodities buyers, as well as asset managers, in challenging and optimising their hedging and investment strategies. It does this by suggesting optimal transactions in terms of timing, explicability and compliance with constraints linked to risk management, environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria and regulation. Present on 22 May
• Highcast: Co-founded in 2021 by two CentraleSupélec alumni, Vivien Robert (CEO) and Flore de Lasteryrie, and supported by CentraleSupélec's accelerator 21st, Highcast develops artificial intelligence that helps factories save over 10% on their electricity bills by optimising planning (production, maintenance, etc.). Present on 23 May
• Magic LEMP: Co-founded in 2018 by two ENS Paris-Saclay alumni with PhDs in Physics from Université Paris Saclay, Thomas Epalle and Raphael-David Lasseri, Magic LEMP is a member of the ENS Paris-Saclay Start-Up Club. The company develops reliable multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, specialising in sensitive areas such as AI and democracies, defence AI, combatting disinformation, detecting deep fakes and fake news and analysing the political landscape and public policies. Present on 23 May
• Ovochain: Founded by ENS Paris-Saclay alumnus William Famy (Innovation Director), in partnership with the Formal Methods Laboratory (LMF - Univ. Paris-Saclay, CNRS, ENS Paris-Saclay, CentraleSupélec, Inria), the University Research Laboratory in Automated Production (LURPA - Univ. Paris-Saclay, ENS Paris-Saclay) and the Laboratory for the Integration of Systems and Technology (LIST- Univ. Paris-Saclay, CEA), Ovochain is building an advanced relational internet with its innovative DeDNA technology. This technology uses digital butlers to manage and supervise interactions between intelligent digital twins. Every transaction and modification is transparently recorded on blockchains, ensuring traceability and integrity. Present on 25 May

Health

• Alphabrain: Co-led by David Sabbagh and Valentin Iovene, two PhD candidates at Inria, and incubated at the Inria Startup Studio, this project originates from the Models and Inference for Neuroimaging Data (MIND - Inria, CEA) team at Inria. AlphaBrain develops AI-based brain monitoring technologies to provide real-time information and assistance to anaesthetists during surgical operations. Present on 22 May
• Blue Bees Therapeutics: A start-up founded in 2022 by Philippe Berthon (CEO), the Biotech company Blue Bees Therapeutics emerged from the Medicines and Healthcare Technologies Department (MTS – Univ. Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE), and is supported by SATT Paris-Saclay. It aims to develop new immunotherapies which can be used in the treatment of cancers which escape current immunotherapies, in particular those known as "cold" tumours. This technology can be used as a stand alone drug or in combination with other immunotherapies for even more effective treatment of patients. Present on 22 May
• Exhalon: Founded in 2024 as part of a collaboration between the Faculty of Medicine at Université Versailles-St-Quentin (UVSQ) and Hôpital Foch, and currently being incubated at IncubAlliance, Exhalon has developed faster, more accurate and cheaper solutions for identifying infectious diseases. Exhalon offers the only solution capable of preventing the spread of hospital-acquired infections – over 2,800 times faster than standard culture analysis (48 hours) and over 360 times faster than their closest competitor (six hours). Present on 24 May
• Hope Valley AI: Co-founded in April 2024 by Hakima Berdouz, a CEA research engineer, and stemming from research conducted at the Institute of Applied Sciences and Simulation for Low-Carbon Energies (ISAS - Univ. Paris-Saclay, CEA), Hope Valley AI is reinventing the future of non-ionising breast imaging by making it smarter, more effective, more accessible, more equitable and more user-friendly. The company is developing MAMMOPE, a modular, intelligent medical device for multimodal breast imaging, with the hopes of becoming the new gold standard for AI-assisted breast cancer screening by 2030. Present on 23 May
• U-fast: A start-up co-founded in 2023 by Raindu Adikarigethamel, Asyan Kessi, Simon Revranche, Abdel El.Abded (Lumin) and Dominique Fourmy (LBPA), and stemming from research conducted at the Laboratory of Biology and Applied Pharmacology (LBPA - Univ. Paris-Saclay, ENS Paris-Saclay, CNRS) and the Light, Material and Interfaces Laboratory (LuMin - Univ. Paris-Saclay, ENS Paris-Saclay, CNRS, CentraleSupélec), U-Fast offers an ultra-fast antibiogram to identify which antibiotic to administer to a patient suffering from an infection. The project emerged from the Institut d'Optique Graduate School's innovation-entrepreneurship programme (FIE) and is supported by the 503 entrepreneurial centre. Present on 25 May

Sustainable development

• AM3L: Co-founded in 2023 by Hicham Maskrot, a CEA research engineer in the Research Service for Advanced Materials and Processes (SRMA – Univ. Paris-Saclay, CEA), and Timothée Delacroix, alumnus of Université Paris-Saclay and graduate of a thesis carried out at CEA Paris-Saclay, AM3L draws on their expertise in innovative materials and processes. It designs, develops and markets customised 3D architectured materials solutions. It offers personalised solutions for shock absorption, advanced filtration and low-carbon energy applications. By combining state-of-the-art metal additive manufacturing with advanced surface engineering, AM3L products feature enhanced properties thanks to their multi-scale architectures and controlled porosity. Present on 24 May
• Edonia: Co-founded in 2023 by Hugo Valentin (CEO), Pierre Mignon (COO) and Nicolas Irlinger (CTO), in collaboration with the Paris-Saclay Food and Bioproduct Engineering laboratory (Say Food – Univ. Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech) and supported by Food'InnLab and CentraleSupélec's accelerator 21st, Edonia is a sustainable food deep tech company. The start-up is revolutionising the future of food by transforming microalgae into a highly nutritious, sustainable and delicious meat alternative, using a technology developed in collaboration with AgroParisTech research units. Present on 22 May
• Fungu’it: Co-founded in 2022 by two AgroParisTech alumni, Anas Erridaoui (CEO) and Jeanne Baudevin (CTO), in collaboration with the Paris-Saclay Food and Bioproduct Engineering laboratory (Say Food – Univ. Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech) and supported by Food'InnLab, Biotech'InnLab and Genopole, Fungu'it supplies ingredients derived from the solid-state fermentation of agricultural by-products and filamentous fungi. These ingredients are aimed at enriching future foods with natural and complete plant proteins, make them accessible to as many people as possible. Present on 24 May
• Holis: Co-founded in 2022 by two ENS Paris-Saclay alumni, Martin Besnier (CEO) and Paul Grédigui (CTO), Holis is developing a collaborative life cycle assessment (LCA) platform for businesses. This platform enables companies to quantify, improve, and communicate the socio-environmental performance of their products. By combining a didactic interface with AI tools, it enables businesses to evaluate their entire catalogue and identify effective eco-design levers. Compliant with regulations, Holis guides its users towards sustainable production. Present on 24 May
• Onima: A start-up co-founded in 2021 by two AgroParisTech alumni, Nikola Stevanovic (CEO) Mathieu Durand (CTO), and Juan Londono (COO), a CentraleSupélec alumnus, from the Paris-Saclay Food and Bioproduct Engineering laboratory (Say Food - Univ. Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech) and the Industrial Agro-biotechnology research and development unit (URD ABI - AgroParisTech). Supported by Food'InnLab, Biotech'InnLab, CentraleSupélec’s 21st accelerator, and Genopole, Onima has developed a unique bioprocess that tackles the main challenge of using yeast in the human food chain: its bitterness. The company started with the production of a super ingredient derived from upcycled brewer's yeast through a unique process to remove bitterness. Present on 23 May

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About Viva Technology

Co-organised by Publicis Groupe and the Les Echos group, Viva Technology is Europe's biggest innovation and start-up event. This event accelerates innovation by connecting start-ups, tech leaders, major corporations and investors, enabling them to tackle the major challenges of today and tomorrow.

For more information, visit the Viva Technology website (https://vivatechnology.com/).