Partnership to boost international big data research

A UTS push to establish an international research network in data sciences has reached a new milestone with the establishment of a joint research centre with Université Joseph Fourier (UJF) in France.

UTS today signed an agreement with UJF that will enable knowledge sharing and collaborative research projects, as well as creating best practice in the fields of data science and big data analytics.

The Grenoble-based UJF is considered one of France's top universities for teaching and research in the fields of science, technology and health.

Director of UTS's Advanced Analytics Institute (AAI) Professor Longbing Cao said the new centre will have a strong focus on strengthening research innovation in data sciences, best practices for real-world big data analytics and internationalised education and training for research students.

"The UJF-UTS collaboration will offer clear benefits to our academics and research students, aside from structural access to relevant data and use of research facilities," Professor Cao said. "Some of the proposed activities include the joint supervision and exchange of PhD students in data science and big data analytics and the collaborative exploration of breakthrough research in complex data analytics and applied innovation of enterprise big data applications."

From the left: Professor Eric Gaussier, Professor Longbing Cao, Professor Hervé Martin and Professor Yassine Lakhnech. Picture by Terry Clinton

This research alliance marks the third joint research centre established by AAI with an international institution. With the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Indian Institute of Technology already on board as key research collaborators, the new European partnership is part of an international global strategy.

"One of the institute's aims is to form an international research network in data sciences and big data analytics. In doing so we believe we can broaden our capabilities and opportunities, and make new discoveries in this field."

Today's signing concluded a two-day visit to UTS by Professor Yassine Lakhnech, UJF Vice-President for Research, Professor Hervé Martin, Director of LIG (Laboratoire d'Informatique de Grenoble) Lab and LIG Deputy Director Professor Eric Gaussier.

UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Attila Brungs said the collaboration would contribute to research that would deliver real impact for society and industry worldwide.

"It presents a great opportunity to grow our international reputation as a technology university, and gives our students the chance to work with the world's best," Professor Brungs said.