Published on November 17, 2025
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Updated on November 17, 2025
Dates
on the November 4, 2025
Diana Sebbar and Serena Villata are the new directors of the 3IA Côte d'Azur. Created in 2019 and awarded the IA-cluster label in 2024, the 3IA Côte d'Azur is a cluster of excellence in artificial intelligence research and training led by Université Côte d'Azur. It brings together the region's major academic, scientific and economic players to develop an innovative and influential AI ecosystem with national and international reach.
Diana Sebbar becomes Director of the Institute, succeeding Charles Bouveyron. Serena Villata becomes Scientific Director of the Institute, succeeding Nicholas Ayache.
Following the award of the IA Cluster label, the complementary nature of this pairing reinforces the coherence between strategic management, territorial anchoring and scientific excellence.
Together, the two women intend to ensure the continuity of the actions undertaken, increase the dynamics and visibility of the institute, and ensure its continuity in the service of the Université Côte d'Azur site and the Côte d'Azur AI ecosystem.
Diana Sebbar is a research engineer at Université Côte d'Azur.
As Executive Director of the Initiative d'Excellence (IdEx) and Major Projects at Université Côte d'Azur, she was previously Executive Director of theof the 3IA Côte d'Azur since 2019, and of the French AI School " EFELIA Côte d'Azur " since 2022.
Serena Villata is a research director at the CNRS and head of the MARIANNE research team at the Inria Côte d'Azur University Center.
She has held a chair at the Institut 3IA Côte d'Azur since 2019 and has been the institute's deputy scientific director since 2021. Since September 2025, she has been a member of the Conseil national de l'AI et du Numérique and the Comité consultatif national d'éthique du numérique.
Find out more about 3IA
Following the award of the IA Cluster label, the complementary nature of this pairing reinforces the coherence between strategic management, territorial anchoring and scientific excellence.
Together, the two women intend to ensure the continuity of the actions undertaken, increase the dynamics and visibility of the institute, and ensure its continuity in the service of the Université Côte d'Azur site and the Côte d'Azur AI ecosystem.
About the two new directors
Diana Sebbar is a research engineer at Université Côte d'Azur.As Executive Director of the Initiative d'Excellence (IdEx) and Major Projects at Université Côte d'Azur, she was previously Executive Director of theof the 3IA Côte d'Azur since 2019, and of the French AI School " EFELIA Côte d'Azur " since 2022.
Serena Villata is a research director at the CNRS and head of the MARIANNE research team at the Inria Côte d'Azur University Center.
She has held a chair at the Institut 3IA Côte d'Azur since 2019 and has been the institute's deputy scientific director since 2021. Since September 2025, she has been a member of the Conseil national de l'AI et du Numérique and the Comité consultatif national d'éthique du numérique.
Find out more about 3IA
