Research Institute Idiap, Martigny

Located in Martigny (in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland), the Idiap was created by the Dalle Molle Foundation in 1991, in particular to celebrate the Foundation's 20th anniversary. Founded in collaboration with the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL) and the local, regional and federal authorities, the Idiap's mission was to conduct high level research into the artificial intelligence fields associated with human perception, in particular in the fields of pattern recognition and analysis, both visual and auditory. Today the institute specialises in the management of multimedia information in a wider sense as well as man-machine multimodal interactions. It has also extended its fields of research to include biometric recognition, social networks (fixed and mobile) and use of computers to facilitate communication between humans ("computer mediator") or to better exploit their potential for collaboration and creativity. In November 1996, the Idiap acquired the status of research foundation (Idiap Foundation), now independent of the Dalle Molle Foundation, the founders of which were the City of Martigny, the State of Valais, the EPFL, Geneva University and Swisscom. Shortly after that, it took on the new identity of "Idiap Research Institute". While continuing to remain independent, the Idiap Research Institute has been affiliated with the EPFL through a joint development plan since 2008.

www.idiap.ch