Professor Nicolas GAUD, PhD, is a distinguished academic and researcher specializing in computer science and distributed artificial intelligence. He holds a PhD in Computer Science obtained in 2007, and an engineering degree in Computer Science from the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM), alongside a Master’s in Computer Science, Automation, and Manufacturing Systems from the University of Franche-Comté (UFC), both earned in 2005.
Currently, Nicolas Gaud is a Full Professor at UTBM and a researcher at the “Connaissance and Intelligence Artificielle Distribués” (CIAD) laboratory, where his work focuses on advancing knowledge in artificial intelligence, multi-agent systems and software engineering.
In addition to his academic achievements, Prof. Gaud has also demonstrated entrepreneurial leadership. From 2018 to 2019, he served as the Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder of Wethic Certification, a COFRAC-accredited certification body committed to fostering trust between consumers and brands through the certification of online reviews.
Passionate about innovation and technological development, he is a promoter of the Innovation Crunch Lab, an inspiring collaborative space designed to accelerate the transition from ideas to prototypes and enable user-centered experimentation.
Since 2019, Prof. Gaud has been responsible for the CIAD laboratory’s business unit, managing partnerships with industry and fostering collaborative research initiatives.
In 2021, he was awarded the “Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches” (HDR) by the University of Haute Alsace, marking a significant milestone in his academic career. His HDR dissertation, titled “Agent-Oriented Software Engineering and Tools for Multi-Agent Simulation,” highlights his contributions to the ASPECS methodology and its CRIO metamodel, as well as to the development of the SARL agent programming language and the Janus agent platform.
Since January 2021, Prof. Gaud has served as the Head of the Energy and IT Department at UTBM, where he continues to combine his expertise in research, education, and innovation to address complex challenges in technology, artificial intelligence and energy systems.
He represents his university in various bodies, in particular:
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Vallée de l’énergie: Le Cluster Nord-Franc comtois des entreprises de l’énergie |
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Le Campus des Métiers et des Qualifications Green City: Préparer les compétences pour mettre en œuvre la transition énergétique |
Major ongoing projects:
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X-Hub, innovative solution for eco-friendly, autonomous tow-robots in warehouses and logistics platforms |
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HyAcademy, the European Hydrogen Academy |
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Belfort e-Start, Démonstrateur de la ville durable |
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Living Lab Badevel, Démonstrateur Village Durable |
Videos / Audios
- Jeudi 14 mars 2024 à la CCI 90 : Table-ronde sur “Les enjeux du programme nucléaire français”
Voir les articles correspondants sur LeTrois et L’Est Républicain
- Samedi 3 et 10 février 2024: Interview dans l’émission “Commune Planète” sur RCF Besançon-Belfort-Montbéliard: Echanges sur le projet Belfort e-Start et les communautés d’énergie renouvelable
- Mardi 28 novembre 2023: Table-ronde sur la décarbonation du bâtiment avec Néolia, Low Carbon Design, DEA architectes au sein du nouvel UTBM Innovation CRUNCH Lab dans le cadre du Festival des transitions et de la semaine de l’industrie à l’UTBM
- Mercredi 10 mai 2023: A quoi carbureront les villages de demain ? Séquence du 19/20 de France 3 Franche-Comté
- Avril 2023: Courants alternatifs : Extrait d’Enquête de région avril 2023 sur les AMI DVD Belfort e-Start et Badevel H2 bois
- Mardi 17 janvier 2023: Invité sur France 3 Franche-Comté en plateau
à Besançon pour aborder les formations “hydrogène” à l’UTBM Mastère spécialisé Hydrogène-Energie et formations d’ingénieurs Energie et Génie Electrique
Revue de presse / Talks / Interventions
- Lundi 29 septembre 2025 – Le Trois : 5,4 millions d’euros d’aides pour Belfort E-Start, au Techn’Hom
- Jeudi 17 avril 2025 à l’UTBM-Belfort : L’hydrogène entre décarbonation et compétitivité, quelle place sur les marchés mondiaux
- Jeudi 28 octobre 2024 à la CCI 90: Rencontre Je-Décarbone à Belfort
- Jeudi 26 octobre 2023 sur France Bleu Bourgogne-Franche-Comté: Au coeur de la décarbonation avec l’association Vallée de l’énergie à Belfort
- Mardi 17 octobre 2023 dans l’Usine Nouvelle: A Belfort, la filière hydrogène se structure de plus en plus solidement
- Mars-Avril 2023 dans En Direct n°305, page 19: Solutions techniques pour la transition énergétique – Intelligence énergétique: priorité au tertiaire
- Mardi 15 novembre 2022 dans Le Trois: La ville durable de demain se construit au Techn’Hom à Belfort
- Mercredi 9 novembre 2022 dans l’Est Républicain: Enedis et l’UTBM créent une chaire industrielle : « L’intelligence artificielle va nous aider à piloter des stratégies de gestion de l’énergie »
Research Interests
His main research interests deal with:
- Complex systems:
- Organization-oriented software engineering
- Holonic systems
- Cyber-physical systems
- Distributed Artificial Intelligence:
- Multiagent systems
- Agent-oriented software engineering
- Agent-oriented programming languages: SARL
- Simulation / Digital Twins:
- Multiagent-based simulation / Agent-based simulation
- Multilevel simulation
- Cyber-Physical Systems: Modeling and Simulation
- HIL simulation
- Applications:
- Embedded equipment validation: from full virtual to hardware in the loop. Railway and automotive applications.
- Smartgrids & Intelligent Energy Management Systems
- Smart cities
- Intelligent transport systems, Autonomous vehicles
- Urban simulation (Pedestrian simulation, Building validation, Decision-helping tools, Training tools…)
- Land-use and Transport integrated models (LUTI)
- e-Health
- Virtual life simulation
- 3D and Virtual reality