Laurent Hérault Appointed as Head of Clinatec Endowment Fund to Drive Innovation in Health Research

The board of directors of the Clinatec Endowment Fund, on the proposal of its chairman Jean-Philippe Bourgoin, has appointed Laurent Hérault to succeed Thierry Bosc, who is retiring, at the head of the Clinatec Endowment Fund, alongside the chairman of the Campaign Committee, Thibault Lanxade.

Engineer graduated from the National School of Electrical Engineers of Grenoble, holder of a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Automatic Control and Signal Processing and a doctorate in Computer Science from the National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble, Laurent Hérault has first carried out research in applied mathematics on optimization methods inspired by brain mechanisms to solve very complex optimization problems, in particular for national defence, nuclear power and telecommunication networks. Over the years, his passion for the functioning of the brain will not leave him! In 1991, he was recruited at the CEA as head of optimization and artificial intelligence activities at CEA-Leti. From 1998 to 2011, his work focused on wireless telecommunications systems and the establishment of European partnerships with industrialists and research organizations. In 2011, he joined the management of CEA-Leti as vice-president in charge of European affairs, and contributed to positioning this institute as a key European player in the field of digital technologies. Since 2012, he has contributed to the development of European strategic visions in the fields of information and communication technologies, next-generation internet, smart cities, 5G, 6G, microelectronics and digital innovation hubs.

From now on, Laurent Hérault intends to put at the service of the Clinatec Endowment Fund his recognized skills in the establishment of strategic partnerships as well as his excellent knowledge of the European and international networks which bring together organizations and influential personalities in the world of new technologies. In particular, he wishes to strengthen the participation of the Clinatec Endowment Fund within the European research infrastructure EBRAINS, by sharing the expertise of the Clinatec Endowment Fund on brain photobiomodulation.

Convinced that innovation lies at the crossroads of different scientific disciplines, Laurent Hérault relies on the advantages of cross-fertilization between new technologies and life sciences, which constitute the specificity of the research projects carried out by the Clinatec Endowment Fund . ” We are at the dawn of a new revolution in health research. To enable its advent, it is essential to accelerate cooperation between technologists, mathematicians, computer scientists, biologists and doctors. “, emphasizes Laurent Hérault.

To support these developments, the Clinatec Endowment Fund will of course aim to continue recruiting excellent researchers on a national and international scale. In order to finance these ambitious projects, Laurent Hérault will endeavor to consolidate the links with the powerful patrons who support the Clinatec Endowment Fund, but aims to ensure that it can welcome new donor companies, from the new technologies sector, French and international.

The Clinatec Endowment Fund was created in 2014 at the instigation of the CEA to contribute to the financing of Clinatec research projects, intended to develop breakthrough innovations with CEA technologies in the treatment of brain disorders. Nearly ten years after its creation, the Endowment Fund is supported by more than forty patrons and has raised more than €30 million. In addition, he has also become a research project operator.

Photo : ©P.Jayet