Press release / Paris, 24 March 2022
ESEO, SNCF Voyageurs and SOPRA STERIA are joining forces to create a new chair dedicated to artificial intelligence. To be set up from the start of the 2021/22 academic year, this chair will be dedicated primarily to students, with the aim of training tomorrow’s talent in the challenges and new professions of AI.
AI, a major challenge for many areas of activity
Artificial Intelligence, known by the acronym AI, is no longer science fiction. It is now considered to be the first major revolution of the 21st century! Its transformative power extends to all economic and social sectors, including intelligent transport, defence, health and finance.
A unique engineering course in AI
To meet the new challenges and needs of businesses, ESEO has joined forces with SNCF Voyageurs, one of the world leaders in high technology for the rail industry, and SOPRA STERIA, one of Europe’s leading tech companies, renowned for its consulting, digital services and software publishing activities, to develop a range of courses tailored to current market challenges, while enabling students to benefit from the experience and unique expertise of its partners.
Under the responsibility of Ronan COSTAOUEC, a teacher-researcher at ESEO, this new course aims to enrich students’ technical and scientific training by combining it with a professional vision, guided by concrete business issues.
During the course, the experts take part in specific modules and technological projects. These teaching units cover the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, including deep learning technologies for computer vision problems or cybersecurity, cloud & edge computing.
‘We are delighted and proud to be working with ESEO to create a chair dedicated to artificial intelligence. This partnership is the fruit of five years of exchange and work. It illustrates our desire to train tomorrow’s experts to meet the needs of companies in a constantly evolving market such as rail transport.’ says Estelle PEURICHARD, ETF1 Unit Manager (AI, Train Communiquant, NExTEO, Modelling) at SNCF Voyageurs.
‘Artificial intelligence must now meet the challenges of deployment on the scale of industrial systems, while at the same time being controlled, and with users who are confident. We are delighted to be involved with ESEO in the creation of this Chair, which addresses the issue of the national and European sovereignty of artificial intelligence-based systems.’ says David OLIVIER, Director of Cyberdefence and Intelligence at SOPRA STERIA.
‘The partnership with SNCF and SOPRA STERIA is a real opportunity for our engineering students to benefit from well-known and recognised expertise in the field of AI, guaranteeing them a perfect match of skills and guaranteed professional integration.’ explains Bruno RACAULT, President of ESEO Angers Paris-Vélizy Dijon.
At the same time, the partners intend to rapidly extend these collaborations to other scientific and industrial players, as well as launching AI training courses accessible via sandwich courses, and developing new industrial and research projects. SNCF and SOPRA STERIA will also be offering internship opportunities for ESEO engineering students and job offers for young graduates.
Press contacts
ESEO :
Lison Behra – lbehra@madamemonsieur.agency – 07 89 37 42 90
Rosemarie Pinon – rpinon@madamemonsieur.agency – 07 72 55 46 12
SNCF VOYAGEURS :
Marilyn Terre-Nicolas – marilyn.terre@sncf.fr – +33 (0)6 09 44 03 44
SOPRA STERIA :
Elsa Estager – elsa.estager@soprasteria.com – +33 (0)7 86 73 21 17
Vincent Darricarrere – vincent.darricarrere@bcw-global.com – +33 (0)6 76 05 95 63
About SNCF Voyageurs
SNCF Voyageurs is the SNCF Group company dedicated to passenger rail transport. It offers shared mobility and door-to-door solutions to meet passengers’ needs in terms of supply, cost, quality of service and respect for the environment. It operates both daily and long-distance services in France and Europe, with : Transilien in Ile-de-France; TER in the regions; and Voyages for long-distance trains (TGV INOUI, OUIGO, Intercités, Eurostar, Thalys, TGV Lyria, etc.).
Its online agency SNCF Connect, operated by its digital subsidiary. Voyageurs, is now one of France’s leading e-commerce sites. Its industrial division is responsible for the maintenance of all rolling stock, safety, comfort and innovation on board trains. SNCF Voyageurs’ 70,000 employees carry around 5 million passengers every day. Created on 1 January 2020, SNCF Voyageurs is a 100% public limited company, wholly owned by the SNCF Group.
About SOPRA STERIA
Sopra Steria, one of Europe’s leading technology companies, is recognised for its consulting, digital services and software publishing activities. It helps its customers to drive their digital transformation and achieve tangible, lasting benefits. It provides a global response to the competitiveness challenges of large companies and organisations, combining in-depth knowledge of business sectors and innovative technologies with a resolutely collaborative approach.
Sopra Steria places people at the heart of its activities and is committed to helping its customers make the most of digital technology to build a positive future. With 47,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, the Group generated revenue of €4.7 billion in 2021.
The world is how we shape it. Sopra Steria (SOP) is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment A) – ISIN Code: FR0000050809.
For more information, please visit https://www.soprasteria.com/home
