HEC Paris and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, also called IP Paris, launched the Centre on Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics for Science, Business and Society on 15th September.

The centre will be devoted to human-centred AI research and data science, and is the first interdisciplinary centre of its kind in Europe.

Companies such as L’Oreal, Rexel, Total, Kering and Capgemini are also supporting the centre, and a recruiting drive for 30 researchers has also started.

The centre will support a joint PhD programme set up by HEC Paris and IP Paris last year, and is hoping to recruit an additional 150 doctoral students to add to the 300 already involved.

Eric Labaye, president of IP Paris, said: “This is the right time to step up and scale up. In order to solve the biggest issues on Earth, we need a multidisciplinary approach that has ethics and diversity at the heart of its mission.”

Peter Todd, dean of HEC Paris, said: “We have united all the stakeholders – the students, researchers, academics, sponsors and political decision-makers.

“All the ingredients are here to create a world leading institution answering a central question: how can technology change society and have a positive impact on our wellbeing?”