Bavaria and Québec strengthen research cooperation: New funding for AI and robotics

Bavaria and Québec are deepening their cooperation in science and research. On 5 October 2026, Bavaria’s Science Minister Markus Blume and Québec’s Chief Scientist Prof. Jérôme Dupras signed a joint declaration establishing a strategic innovation partnership. A concrete component of this partnership is joint research funding for AI-powered and human-centred robotics. The Scientific Coordination Office Bavaria–Québec/Alberta/International at the Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR) is responsible for implementation on the Bavarian side.

AI and robotics for real-world applications

The call “AI-Powered and Human-Centered Robotics for Real-World Applications” supports joint research projects involving teams from Bavaria and Québec. It focuses on intelligent robotic systems for practical applications in industry, logistics, environmental monitoring, healthcare and agriculture.

The aim is to combine the scientific expertise of both regions and develop new approaches to safe robotics that respond to people’s needs. The funding will help establish new research collaborations and strengthen existing partnerships.

€675,000 in Bavarian funding for up to three projects

The Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts and the Bavarian State Chancellery are providing a total of €675,000 for up to three joint research projects. The projects will run for three years. Research teams in Québec will receive funding from the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ).

The Scientific Coordination Office Bavaria–Québec/Alberta/International at BayFOR jointly administers the call with the FRQ on behalf of the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts.

Building on a longstanding partnership

The research funding builds on decades of cooperation. Bavaria and Québec signed their first bilateral cooperation agreement in 1989. Since 1999, Bavaria has maintained its own representation in Montréal. Further agreements on research cooperation followed in 2014 and 2019.

In 2021, Bavaria and Québec supported three projects through their first joint research funding programme in artificial intelligence. The new programme builds on this cooperation, focusing on practical applications of intelligent robotics.

Dr. phil. Florence Gauzy Krieger
Head of WKS/ Scientific Coordinator
Scientific Coordination Office Bavaria-Québec / Alberta / International
Phone: +49 89 9901888-180
Email: gauzy@no-spam-pleasebayfor.org