🪂 1. The Modern Parachute – Louis-Sébastien Lenormand (1783)
Born in Montpellier, Lenormand became the first man to test a parachute by making an experimental jump from a tree in 1783. He coined the term parachute and laid the foundations for air safety. A fall, but a gentle one!
🧪 2. The discovery of bromine – Antoine Jérôme Balard (1826)
At the University of Montpellier, Balard isolated a new chemical element from seawater: bromine. This discovery revolutionized industrial chemistry of the time.
🎧 3. Specktr – the musical glove B
Bluetooth (2015-2016)
A young start-up from Montpellier has created Specktr, a connected glove that allows you to mix music smoothly, without touching any buttons, just by using hand movements. It's been adopted by several top DJs—an innovative tech vibe that’s 100% Montpellier!
🤖 4. Robot PARALLEL LIRMM / Quattro – François Pierrot
CNRS Montpellier has produced one of the fastest parallel robots in the world, the HEXA robot, which has been commercialized under the name Quattro via Omron. It's an incredible feat in robotics that enhances advanced industrial automation.
🏥 5. Robot Epione &ndQuantum Surgical (2017)
Founded in Montpellier, Quantum Surgical has launched the Epione robot, designed for the percutaneous removal of abdominal tumors (liver, kidney, pancreas). This technology offers a less invasive alternative to traditional surgery, already used in Europe and the United States to treat nearly 200 patients as of 2023.
🔬 The anti-Covid saliva test (2021)
The first saliva test for detecting Covid-19 was developed in Montpellier (September 2021). This innovation is the result of a synergy between fundamental research and synthetic biology.and local start-ups, it illustrates the medicine of the future made in the South..