Research on speech, language and vision is the daily work of the Idiap Research Institute, an independent non-profit foundation in Martigny, in the Swiss canton of Valais. It was created in 1991 by the city of Martigny, the State of Valais, EPFL, the University of Geneva and Swisscom, and its staff work from the Centre du Parc.
The institute describes its mission as artificial intelligence for society. Its research covers machine learning, speech and audio processing and computer vision, with human-computer interaction also named among its themes.
Idiap is linked to EPFL by a strategic alliance, and the institute is recognised by Swiss authorities. Research has also led to spin-off companies, among them Recapp, which offers meeting transcription software. Prospects interested in PhD positions, internships or collaborations should consult the institute’s own pages.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Automation, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Ergonomics, Mathematics, Robotics, Signal Processing, Statistics, Telecommunications
Diplomas*:
Doctor, Master
Status:
Private
Partnerships:
Affiliated with EPFL and HES-SO. Collaborations with academic partners and industry worldwide on AI research and applications. Active in European research projects.
Research:
Research in areas like speech recognition and synthesis, computer vision and biometrics, natural language processing, social computing, robotics, and AI for education and health.
Famous Alumnis:
Hervé Bourlard
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
100
Current students***:
40
Foreign students***:
70%
Cumulative former students***:
150
Pros
Leading research institute in specific areas of AI and human-computer interaction. Strong international environment and links to EPFL for doctoral studies.
Cons
Primarily a research institute. Degrees awarded via EPFL or other partner universities.
Best For
PhD and Master’s students specializing in AI, machine learning, speech processing, or computer vision, seeking a dynamic international research environment.
Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics in Lausanne is a private research body working in bioinformatics, computational biology and data science.
CSEM - Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique in Neuchâtel is a private organisation in microtechnology, nanotechnology and systems engineering.
Empa - Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt in Dübendorf is a public research institution for materials science and nanotechnology.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel is a public research institute covering mathematics, computer science, physics and biology.
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen in Germany is public with machine learning and AI and neuroscience as key fields.
Université Grenoble Alpes in France is a public university where computer science and AI sit with physics and nanosciences.
Tampere University in Finland is public and works in signal processing, photonics and automation.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When was Idiap founded and by whom?
Idiap was founded in 1991 as a non-profit foundation. Its founders were the city of Martigny, the State of Valais, EPFL, the University of Geneva and Swisscom.
Where is the institute located?
It is in Martigny, in the canton of Valais in south-western Switzerland. Its staff work from the Centre du Parc.
What kind of organisation is Idiap?
It is an independent, non-profit research foundation rather than a conventional university. It is linked to EPFL by a strategic alliance.
What does Idiap research?
Its work centres on artificial intelligence, including machine learning, speech processing and computer vision. Human-computer interaction is another area of recognised work.
Has Idiap produced spin-off companies?
Yes, Recapp is one example, with software for transcribing meetings. The institute's news pages list other companies that emerged from its research.
Can students work at Idiap?
The institute takes part in doctoral training and research collaborations, and openings are announced on its website. Candidates should read the current vacancy descriptions for requirements.
Where can I read more about its work?
The institute's website lists research domains, publications and news, and its annual reports summarise activity year by year.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biometrics, Human-Computer Interaction, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Robotics, User experience (UX), User-Centered Design
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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