From June 11 to 14, Sorbonne University took part in the 2025 edition of Viva Technology - the largest event dedicated to innovation - with a dynamic and engaging program. Four days filled with dialogue and discovery were designed to highlight the bridges between research and innovation, showcase emerging talent, and offer an exclusive preview of its future flagship site: the Cité de l’Innovation. This first participation was made possible thanks to the involvement of around one hundred Sorbonne University staff members, all contributing with energy and enthusiasm to make the event a true success.

Day 1 – Research, AI, Quantum, and Entrepreneurship: The Power of the Collective

The first day began with an inspiring breakfast talk featuring Valentina Parigi, associate professor of physics and member of the Kastler Brossel Laboratory – LKB (Sorbonne University/ENS/CNRS), who shared her perspective on the intertwined challenges of artificial intelligence and quantum physics.

The rest of the day highlighted Sorbonne University’s strong support for scientific entrepreneurship. Through the myStartup Program and Sorbonne Venture, speakers such as Jean-Pascal Tranié (Aloe Private Equity) and Mohamed Abou-Ali (Polygon Therapeutics) showcased the university’s ability to support projects from early ideation to funding. Three distinguished alumni—Marion Carré (Ask Mona), Tony Pinville (Heuritech), and Jeanne Le Peillet (Beink Dream)—shared their unique journeys, blending academic rigor with entrepreneurial creativity. The message was clear: a solid scientific education can be a powerful springboard for projects with meaningful societal impact.

The day concluded with a session focused on global health. Through the Global Health Institute (ASU-GHI), researchers from a range of disciplines presented projects at the intersection of medicine, the humanities, and technology.

Day 2 – Looking Ahead to 2026 with the Cité de l’Innovation

The second day was a major milestone with the official unveiling of Sorbonne University’s upcoming Cité de l’Innovation. University President Nathalie Drach-Temam, alongside Étienne Garderet, Director of the Cité de l’Innovation, kicked off the day by presenting this future hub, which will bring together laboratories, startups, and spaces for creativity and experimentation—all under one roof.

The first six selected startups—Biomemory, Tortoise, HyVibe, Qubit Pharmaceuticals, Welinq, and Coave Therapeutics—shared their ambitions and enthusiasm for becoming part of this space dedicated to applied research.

The day was also marked by two major political visits. Philippe Baptiste, Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, announced a partnership with Mistral AI, underscoring the vital role of universities in advancing and disseminating artificial intelligence. Later, Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France Region, visited the booth to commend Sorbonne University’s initiatives and reaffirm the region’s support for academic innovation.

Day 3 – Expert Debates and Breakthrough Innovations

The third day was dedicated to key themes in technological and societal innovation. A series of keynotes tackled cutting-edge topics such as computer vision, language models, and biotechnology.

Matthieu Cord, professor at Sorbonne University, presented his team’s latest advances in image processing using AI. Bertrand Duplat, founder of Robeauté, outlined the ambitions of PostGenAI@Paris, a strategic project led by the SCAI.

Breakthrough innovation was embodied in the stories of pioneers who began their journey at Sorbonne University. These included 4Moving Biotech, which developed the world’s first drug capable of slowing the progression of osteoarthritis; Sirius Space Services, focused on creating sustainable satellite launchers; and YggDrasil microFarms, exploring the potential of vertical, sustainable agriculture.

Day 4 – General Public, Student Pitches, and Cultural Innovation

The final day, open to the general public, spotlighted innovation in the service of society. The "Startups at School" initiative, led by Agoranov, gave middle school students the opportunity to explore the world of entrepreneurship alongside startups like Biomemory.

Visitors also attended pitch sessions by young entrepreneurs from the Pépite Sorbonne Université program, followed by the AI & Ethics Prize ceremony. The Aithical Minds team received the award for their project “Stylevision”, an AI capable of detecting protected artistic styles in artificially generated images.

The day concluded on an artistic note with the presentation of Molière Ex Machina, a collaboration between Sorbonne University and the OBVIOUS collective. After roaming the exhibition in period costumes, actors from the Théâtre Molière Sorbonne performed a never-before-seen excerpt from “The Astrologer or the False Omens,” a play written in the style of Molière—with a little help from AI.