The Public University of Navarra (UPNA) and the Government of Navarra, through the Foundation International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (NAIR Center), have signed a collaboration agreement to promote the shared use of services and infrastructure, joint research, knowledge transfer, and the attraction, training and development of talent in Artificial Intelligence, with the aim of maximising the impact of the activities that both entities carry out in this field.
This is set out in the agreement recently signed by the Regional Minister for Economy and Finance, and for University, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Juan Cruz Cigudosa, and the Rector of UPNA, Ramón Gonzalo. The agreement will remain in force for four years and may be extended.
“This agreement represents a further step in strengthening collaboration between UPNA and NAIR Center in the field of Artificial Intelligence research, promoting knowledge transfer and talent development for the benefit of the whole of the Chartered Community and scientific progress in general,” the Government of Navarra stated.
Among its key aspects, the agreement regulates the joint participation of UPNA and NAIR Center research staff in research projects and activities. To facilitate this collaboration, a new category has been created: UPNA collaborating research staff at NAIR Center, who will retain their status as university employees as well as their previously agreed academic-teaching and research duties. To this end, joint actions will be promoted to encourage their participation in NAIR Center.
Accordingly, the authorisation procedure for UPNA collaborating research staff at NAIR Center provides that these researchers may carry out their activity on the Centre’s premises within the framework of specific projects or research lines. For this, they must obtain the corresponding authorisation from UPNA and be accepted by NAIR Center’s management, in compliance with internal rules and regulations.
Another area covered by the collaboration agreement concerns the attraction, training and development of talent. In this respect, both UPNA and NAIR Center will work together to attract and train new talent in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Joint development of Final Degree Projects (TFG) and Master’s Theses (TFM), industrial doctorates, courses, seminars, lectures and other activities related to NAIR Center’s areas of activity will also be encouraged. These projects may be carried out at the facilities of both entities under the supervision of the staff designated for that purpose.
The agreement also regulates access to research support services and technology platforms by NAIR Center and UPNA staff, and provides that, in order to optimise resources, both institutions will seek to coordinate the purchase of major scientific-technical instrumentation, ensuring that it complements the equipment available in existing laboratories.
With regard to competitive calls for research funding, UPNA and NAIR Center will act as preferred partners in those projects and research contracts related to NAIR Center’s lines of action.
In addition, the dozen clauses that make up this collaboration agreement regulate, among other matters, actions to disseminate or market the technological and research offer, management of corporate image and visibility, and industrial and intellectual property.
To ensure compliance with the agreement, a monitoring committee has been established, composed of representatives from both entities and acting as a joint parity committee. This committee will be responsible for maintaining continuous communication and sharing relevant information concerning collaborating staff and other activities envisaged in the agreement.
Source: https://www.unavarra.es
