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Strengthening AI Research: MBZUAI and École Polytechnique's New Collaboration

Introduction

In a significant move to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) research, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has announced plans to deepen its relationship with France's prestigious École Polytechnique. This initiative comes as part of a broader strategy aimed at enriching the AI ecosystem in both France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A New Collaborative Research Agreement

On May 20, 2025, MBZUAI revealed a new Collaborative Research Agreement with École Polytechnique, designed to bolster joint research efforts led by key investigators from both institutions. This collaboration specifically targets several pivotal areas, such as developing advanced large language models, creating foundation models for reasoning, and investigating AI applications in sectors like biology, healthcare, and safety.

The Purpose of the Partnership

"Our partnerships and presence in France are critical to the continued growth and innovation of our research capabilities at MBZUAI," stated Professor Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI. "We're excited to expand our relationship with École Polytechnique to support these efforts." The agreement is viewed as a framework for global research collaboration, aiming to collectively advance the field of AI and distribute benefits across both nations.

Initial Steps Towards Collaboration

Earlier in February 2025, MBZUAI had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with École Polytechnique, with the purpose of fostering cooperation on various initiatives revolving around education, research, and AI innovation. This formal agreement took place during the AI Action Summit held in France, where Professor Xing also delivered a keynote address about the crucial relationship between AI, science, and society.

Scholars Exchange Program

April 2025 saw the signing of the Scholars Exchange Program Agreement, which will facilitate the exchange of students and researchers between the two institutions. This initiative looks to broaden the educational and research landscape for both MBZUAI and École Polytechnique, enabling a rich exchange of ideas and knowledge that is essential for academic growth.

The Vision Ahead

Laura Chaubard, Director General of École Polytechnique, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership, indicating that the scientific synergies are apparent in multiple areas, notably AI's roles in health, safety, and environmental sustainability. She believes these synergies will likely lead to fruitful collaborations.

MBZUAI's Expanding Presence in France

The collaboration also aligns well with the growth of the MBZUAI France Lab based in Paris. This satellite lab has made notable strides in AI research, including the development of a suite of open-source large language models called Atlas-Chat, focusing on the Moroccan Arabic dialect, Darija. They have produced two versions: Atlas-Chat-2B, aimed at efficiently generating fluent Darija text, and Atlas-Chat-9B, which enables more nuanced and contextually rich outputs.

A Future-Focused Initiative

The France Lab is set to become a central hub for MBZUAI's forthcoming Institute of Foundation Models (IFM) — a groundbreaking initiative connecting AI talent from Abu Dhabi, Silicon Valley, and Paris. Positioned among three key centres linked to these major AI hubs, the France Lab will contribute significantly to the advancement of next-generation foundation models, ultimately bringing their benefits to communities globally.

About MBZUAI

The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is the world's first graduate university dedicated entirely to advanced AI education and research. Since its inception in Abu Dhabi, the institution has made it its mission to empower the next wave of innovators in AI through excellent interdisciplinary education and impactful research. As of 2025, MBZUAI embarked on its first undergraduate program, the Bachelor of Science in AI, with pathways in Business and Engineering.

For more information about MBZUAI, visit www.mbzuai.ac.ae. For those interested in admissions, applications can be submitted via mbzuai.ac.ae or by contacting the university directly. Press inquiries can be directed to their PR team for further details regarding this exciting partnership.