Networks of Excellence Centres in AI, Data, and Robotics
Europe invests in the European model of AI to achieve synergy and a critical mass in European AI. A new set of European projects of the Networks of Excellence Centres (NoEs) in the areas of AI, Data and Robotics (ADR) form a key element of the AI strategy pursued by EC bringing together the best researchers in Europe working on challenging AI problems. Funded under Horizon2020 and newly Horizon Europe, these networks are providing a framework for advancing European AI research and development and its translation to real-world impact in different domains, thus comprising much of the leading AI competence across Europe.
As of 2023, the EU AI & Robotics NoEs community includes the following nine projects:
- AI4Media, ELISE, HumanE-AI-Net, TAILOR (since 2020)
- ELSA , euROBIN (since 2022)
- ELIAS, dAIEDGE, ENFIELD (since 2023)
NoEs are strongly linked to AI, Data and Robotics Association (ADRA), the private side of a public-private partnership that plays a key role in bringing knowledge from the European research community to industry.
The AI-on-demand platform (AIoD) should serve as the backbone of these networks as they aim at strengthening it in enriching its capacity in terms of tools, competencies, services, to make the AIoD the reference and quality label for resource in AI.
Back in 2020, the VISION CSA Project has been constructed to maximally leverage existing efforts and facilitate mutual collaboration.
Four ICT-48 NoEs
Since September 2020, four AI NoEs have been working on aspects of trustworthy AI funded under H2020-ICT-48-2020 Call with support of us in the VISION Project as a Coordination and Support Action.
To achieve synergy and a critical mass in European AI, there is a need for coordination between activities. The four NoEs need to improve their effectiveness, synergies, and cooperation to maximize their impact.
AI4Media – A European Excellence Centre for Media, Society and Democracy
ID: 951911
In AI4Media, partners in the areas of AI and media work towards delivering the next generation of AI at the service of media and society, strongly based on European values of trustworthy AI.
ELISE – European Learning and Intelligent Systems Excellence
ID: 951847
ELISE is a European network of many organizations and industrial partners aiming to employ the best European researchers in machine learning and attract the best young talents.
HumanE-AI-Net – HumanE AI Network
ID: 952026
Humane AI Net, researchers and innovators develop the scientific foundations of fair and transparent AI systems. The systems enhance human capabilities and empower society while respecting human autonomy.
TAILOR – Foundations of Trustworthy AI – Integrating Reasoning, Learning and Optimization
ID: 952215
The TAILOR network, together with its diverse set of partners, develops scientific foundations for trustworthy AI, through the integration of learning, optimisation and reasoning.
New Generation of NoEs
ELSA and euROBIN
Since 2022, the community of NoEs has been enriched with two new Horizon Europe members (funded under HORIZON-CL4-2021-HUMAN-01-03 – European Network of AI Excellence Centres: Pillars of the European AI lighthouse and HORIZON-CL4-2021-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01-12 – European Network of Excellence Centres in Robotics), ELSA and euROBIN. NoEs are providing a framework for advancing European AI research and development and its translation to real-world impact in different domains.
New 3 projects since 2023
As part of the European Union’s initiative “European Network of AI Excellence Centres: Expanding the European AI lighthouse“ (call Horizon-CL4-2022-Human-02-02), three new networks started their implementation in autumn 2023 to create a lighthouse within international AI initiatives:
ELSA – A European Excellence Centre for Media, Society and Democracy
ID: 101070617
ELSA is a virtual center of excellence that will spearhead efforts in foundational safe and secure artificial intelligence (AI) methodology research. ELSA builds on and extends the existing internationally recognized and excellently positioned ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems).
euROBIN – European ROBotics and AI Network
ID: 101070596
The euROBIN network aims to advance AI tools, software, architectures, and hardware components in a reproducibile approach. euROBIN will create a sustainable network of excellence to foster exchange and inclusion. Software, data and knowledge will be exchanged over the EuroCore repository, designed to become a central platform for robotics in Europe.
dAIEDGE – A network of excellence for distributed, trustworthy, efficient and scalable AI at the Edge Granting Authority
ID: 101120726
The vision of dAIEDGE Network of Excellence is to strengthen and support the development of the dynamic European edge and distributed Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem as an essential ingredient in the growth and competitiveness of European industrial sectors.
ELIAS – European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability
ID: 101120237
ELIAS aims at establishing Europe as a leader in AI research that drives sustainable innovation and economic development. ELIAS’s ultimate objective is to position Europe as a global leader in AI research, where environmental impact, societal relevance, and individual well-being are core considerations throughout development.
ENFIELD – European Lighthouse to Manifest Trustworthy and Green AI
ID: 101120657
ENFIELD will create a unique European Centre of Excellence that excels the fundamental research in the scientific pillars of Adaptive, Green, Human-Centric, and Trustworthy AI that are new, strategic and of paramount importance to successful AI development, deployment, and acceptance in Europe and will further advance the research within verticals of healthcare, energy, manufacturing and space.
Existing initiatives and organisations
Existing initiatives and networks in the area of AI formed groups of key stakeholders. These include the AI-on–demand projects, the Confederation of Laboratories for Artificial Intelligence Research in Europe (CLAIRE), the network of digital innovation hubs in AI, the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS), the European AI Association (EurAI), the HumanE AI project, and also related public-private partnerships (BDVA and euRobotics).
VISION partners are strongly connected to Europe’s AI organisations, initiatives, and projects, including CLAIRE (ULEI, CIIRC, DFKI, FBK, Inria, TNO), AI4EU (Thales, UCC), EurAI (UCC), and the DIH network (PwC, TNO through DIHNET), as well as BDVA and euRobotics (Inria, TNO), ELLIS (CIIRC, Inria) and the European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on AI (DFKI, UCC).
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