Institute of Research and Technology b-com
The Institute of Research and Technology (French: Institut de Recherche Technologique b-com), stylized and known as,[1] is one of eight Institutes of Research and Technology endorsed by the French government in 2012. b<>com is a technology pioneer and provider for companies that want to digitally boost their competitive edge. b<>com is chaired by Vincent Marcatté, who is also President of the Images & Réseaux business cluster and Vice President of Open Innovation at Orange Labs. The main campus is based in Rennes[2] in the Via Silva neighbourhood of Cesson-Sévigné. Secondary sites are located in Brest, Lannion, and since September 2016, Paris is a member of the French Institutes of Technology (FIT), which encompasses the eight French IRTs. b<>com has 330 employees.
History
[edit]b<>com was created in May 2012. Certified by the Images & Réseaux business cluster, it reached an agreement with the Agence Nationale de Recherche, signed in October 2012. It received a 7-year budget of €160 million drawn from the French government's Investissements d’Avenir investment fund.
Research
[edit]b<>com's research fields include artificial intelligence, immersive video,[3] audio,[4] content protection, 5G networks, the Internet of Things, and cognitive technologies. It has six labs: Immersive & Medical Technologies, Advanced Media Content, Human Factors Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Connectivity, and Trust & Security.
Since December 2020, b<>com carries the *xG* initiative, a sovereign technology strategy for private digital infrastructure, 5G and beyond. The initiative is supported by the State, the Brittany region and Lannion Tregor Communauté.[citation needed]
Members
[edit]b<>com includes 27 shareholders: Airbus Defence & Space,[5] Artefacto, Aviwest, BBright, CHU de Rennes, CHRU de Brest, Ekinops, Enensys,[6] ENIB, ENSTA Bretagne, EXFO, Harmonic Inc., Human Design Group, INRIA, INSA Rennes, IMT Atlantique, Kerlink, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Naval Group,[7] Orange,[8] Rennes School of Business, Secure-IC, TDF, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université de Rennes 1 and Viaccess-Orca.[9]
Award
[edit]- NAB Show "Product of the Year" for its [HDR-SDR] converter (2019)
- NAB Show Technology Innovation Award[10] for the best technical contributions to the world of broadcasting (2017)
Spin-off
[edit]In June, 2018, Green Hill Studio became the first spin-off[11] from a b-com R&D project. It is dedicated to the development of virtual reality experiences.
References
[edit]- ^ "B-com - Institute of Research and Technology | b-com".
- ^ "Institut de recherche technologique b<>com". architectenweb.nl. October 8, 2018.
- ^ "We can now convert every film and TV show from the last 80 years into HDR". arstechnica.uk. May 31, 2017.
- ^ "Object-Based Audio and Sound Reproduction". audioexpress.com. April 26, 2017.
- ^ "Airbus Defence & Space is b<>com's new industrial investor to develop airborne communications for fast, tactical deployment". https://www.greatreporter.com. December 1, 2021.
{{cite journal}}: External link in|journal= - ^ "Enensys Technologies & b<>com announce their 5G network deployment partnership". technoative.io. March 1, 2017.
- ^ "Naval Group Invests in b<>com". marinelink.com. April 24, 2019.
- ^ "Q&A – b<>com's networks & security director Michel Corriou". technative.io. March 1, 2017.
- ^ "b<>com and VO partner to detect video piracy". advanced-television.com. May 16, 2019.
- ^ "Research institute b<>com talk to us about their revolutionary SDR-HDR conversion technology". technative.io. May 11, 2017.
- ^ "b<>com's first spin-off takes aim at location-based VR". advanced-television.com. June 5, 2018.