RESEARCH INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2007 Publication details Production: Céline Aymon Fournier, Public relations, Idiap Design and drafting: Bureau Le fin mot…, Carole Pellouchoud, Martigny Translation: Trad & Services Sàrl, Conthey Graphic design: Atelier Grand, Sierre Photographic credits: Sedrik Nemeth, Sion Printing: Centre rhodanien d’impression, Martigny Print run: 1,500 copies CONTENTS Messages "A big change for Idiap, new opportunities for the town of Martigny" Olivier Dumas, Mayor of Martigny 2 "We speak the language of enthusiasm, multi-disciplinarity and innovation" Hervé Bourlard, Director of Idiap 3 Research Research areas 5 Idiap, project incubator 6 Development engineers 8 Industrial partnerships 9 Born at Idiap 11 Identity New facilities, new graphic identity 15 2001-2007, Evolution in figures 17 Press review 18 Profiles Sandra Micheloud, Financial Director 21 Johnny Mariéthoz and Flavio Tarsetti, developers 23 New employees and employees leaving 26 Honours, completed theses 27 Finances Operating accounts 29 Sources of funds / Costs / Comments 30 Balance sheet 31 Organisation Structure and missions 33 Employees 34 Foundation Council 36 International Advisory Board 38 Main partners 39 NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT "A BIG CHANGE FOR IDIAP, NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TOWN" Olivier Dumas Mayor of Martigny and president of the Foundation Council of Idiap Idiap employs around one hundred people, manages European research projects, works for the American government and its research fields are at the heart of global technological issues. Whilst Martigny is of course going to continue its cultural development and the development of its serv- ices, it also has to invest in research and industry. Since the institute was created in 1991, the municipality has always encouraged its activities and supported its development. Again in 2007, almost 500,000 Swiss francs were allocated to Idiap. However, let there be no mistake about it – only 25% of the institute's budget, i.e. two mil- lion out of eight, comes from public financing. The remaining six million are obtained as part of research projects contracted by public or private institutions, contracts won due to the institute's quality of work and dynamism. Idiap moved to Centre du Parc last summer, which on the one hand is a big change for the institute, and on the other hand opens up new development perspectives for the region. In fact, the town wants to take advantage of Idiap's presence in this dis- trict to conduct new town planning projects, particularly the construction of a technology centre. This is currently under consid- eration. The sector situated between the railway station and Centre du Parc will be reassigned to housing and businesses, enabling the town of Martigny to revive this district, establish a link between the town centre and Idiap, open up new opportunities towards the east, centralise certain activities and shrewdly continue its expansion. Idiap is not "just" a research institute. It is also a powerful catalyst for development. The institute's management has always shown willingness to invest in industry and can pride itself on having achieved this with strength and talent over the past few years. On moving its premises to Centre du Parc, Idiap has brought with it the start-up companies connected to it, as well as several new ones. The recent creation of a group of developers, the increase in the number of industrial partners, the growth of the IdeArk company incubator and the creation each year of several spin-off companies at the heart of the institute are witness to this. Martigny now has the necessary financial capacity to support Idiap. Encouraging its creative power and development, making the most of its immediate environment, encouraging the emergence of skills networks and setting up new service providers, are some of his priority objectives. The town's economic future will be strengthened. Setting up the Regional office for economic development in French-speaking Valais on Idiap's premises is yet more proof, if needed, of Idiap's involvement in the local economy. I would like to thank the institute's management and employees for their enthusiasm and for the opportunities that they offer the town, and I look forward to working together with you on the new technology park project. MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR "WE SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF ENTHUSIASM, MULTI-DISCIPLINARITY AND INNOVATION" Hervé Bourlard Director of Idiap During the last five years, Idiap has grown rapidly. Between 2001 and 2007, the overall budget has practically doubled, whilst the share of financing originating from research projects has in- creased by 160%. These figures are a spectacular demonstration of our success and our dynamism. Twelve years ago, when I took over as the head of Idiap, many considered the institute's future to be in my hands. This is certainly flattering, but now totally inappropriate. These excellent results come from the work of all the employees, in particular that of the scientists who take on a considerable volume of work and show exemplary intellect. The teams are autonomous, they take responsi- bility, show initiative and work overtime when need be. Our eighty scientists come from twenty different countries on five different continents but speak the same language, that of enthusiasm, exchange of ideas, multi-disciplinarity and innovation. This professional fervour is contagious and I am happy to be part of it. Behind the wonderful development expressed by these figures, hides another conclusion – Idiap's dynamism is financially re- warding. Let us simply take an example on a European level. The institute is now a key partner in a large number of European research programmes in areas that interest us. Idiap is also the coordinator of several European research projects, including three "integrated projects". It is a fact that we are at the centre of the international competition. And to stay there, at this stage we must expand our teams and take on those with top skills. We are working on it. Lastly, 2007 and 2008 represent a transitional period for the institute. New premises, new logo, new graphic identity – which you will see in this management report – Idiap is gaining confidence and has clearly confirmed its identity as a profitable and inde- pendent research institute. Beyond appearances, this approach symbolises our wish to continue on the road of innovation, growth and success. Our district is soon to welcome a technology park. This project, initiated by the town of Martigny, is a tremendous opportunity for Idiap to establish its position as a "mixed" institute, combining fundamental research and industry, and to further consolidate ex- ternal links. A few months ago, I met by chance on a return flight from Helsinki, the Director of Debio R.P., a pharmaceutical re- search company based in Martigny. We were going, without knowing it, to meet with the same company, which manufactures both packaging for medicines and casing for mobile phones! This coincidence finally led us to discuss potential partnerships concerning intelligent medicine dispensers. I have always thought that without this link to the outside world, research would have no chance! Thank you to all the institute's employees for their commitment. I wish them, and you our readers, even greater success for 2008. Idiap - Annual report 2007 3 RESEARCH RESEARCH AREAS COMPUTERS AT THE SERVICE OF MAN In their laboratories, Idiap scientists compose algorithms, record images and sound, produce prototypes, and their work interests the largest telecommunication companies. But what are they looking for? We try to decode it. Human beings use speech to communicate with their fellow men. Although their exchanges are also rich in other types of language (body language, sign language, expressions, etc.), the voice remains the sole organ that men use consciously to transmit a message directly to other humans. At the dawn of the XXIst century, humanity entered a new era Management of multimedia content of communication. Technological tools invaded everyday life, Idiap works on this in its laboratories and its discoveries, com- profoundly changing our way of communicating, sending a bined with those of other institutes, have already brought man written message, finding information, making purchases, tele- and machine closer together. Now a human being can enter a phoning, listening to music, etc. At the office, at home, in the secure room simply by looking at a camera and announcing car, on the train or in a plane, at the supermarket and even in his identity, he can be authenticated by his bank using a mo- the street, every day humans have to communicate with ma- bile phone equipped with a camera, he can dictate a text to a chines. With a computer they speak using a "keyboard and computer, and much more. In the future perhaps he will be mouse", with their mobile phone they only have eight keys with able to find a section of a film just be giving some keywords, which to compose words, to use their personal stereo they have order a door to open by thought or have a discussion with his learnt the language of touch, and behind their supermarket computer, etc. trolley they become familiar with the equipment for reading barcodes. And this is only the beginning. Society never ceases The introduction of all these new technologies has certainly to become more automated, more computerized, and new improved everyday life, but it has also led to another phenom- electronic devices regularly arise to change people's habits. enon – the massive increase in the number of multimedia data. The computerization and on-lining of texts, music, images and Training machines to speak our language videos have been so fast and are progressing at such an ex- Although a part of the population discovers, adapts and fin- ponential rate that it is becoming necessary to develop new ishes by happily adopting these new tools, many people are tools for managing multimedia content.