Europe is stepping into a bold new era where artificial intelligence meets cutting-edge research.
The European AI in Science Summit in Copenhagen, hosted by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission, marked a historic moment with the launch of RAISE, a resource for artificial intelligence science in Europe.
This pioneering virtual laboratory is designed to accelerate scientific discovery across the continent, leveraging AI to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time, from advancing cancer treatments to predicting earthquakes to tackling environmental crises.
Hena Virkunen, Executive Vice President for Technology Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, explained:
“This spirit of collaboration is at the heart of the RAISE initiative, where leading scientists from across Europe bring together diverse disciplines and perspectives to conduct excellent research in AI.”
RAISE: Europe’s flagship initiative for scientific innovation
RAISE is the cornerstone of the European Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Science and the Strategy for the Application of AI.
RAISE aims to advance cutting-edge AI research and scientific applications by bringing together Europe’s AI resources, including computing power, data, funding and talent.
This pilot phase is supported by €107 million under the Horizon Europe program, underscoring the EU’s commitment to putting science and technology at the heart of its economic and technological strategy.
Strengthening European leadership through AI science
RAISE will act as Europe’s virtual institution, providing researchers and innovators with priority access to AI “gigafactories” and high-performance computing through collaboration with the European High Performance Computing Joint Venture.
The Institute also helps scientists identify data gaps, curate important datasets, and integrate these resources to improve AI-driven research outcomes.
Investing in people and good research
At the heart of RAISE is the development of scientific talent. The pilot will allocate €75 million to Networks of Excellence and Doctoral Networks to develop and retain top AI and scientific experts.
Meanwhile, the European Commission plans to double Horizon Europe’s annual investment in AI to more than €3 billion, including a significant increase in AI in scientific research, strengthening Europe’s global leadership.
Building a collaborative European AI science community
The Summit also announced the first step of the RAISE pilot, a €3 million-funded Coordination and Support Activity for “Advanced Collaboration for AI in Science”.
The initiative aims to unite the European AI scientific community and lay the foundations for the broader development of the Institute.
In parallel, new actions from the European Research Area (ERA) will coordinate member states’ efforts to accelerate the adoption of AI in research and science.
A step-by-step approach for sustainable impact
RAISE will grow in stages to accommodate rapid innovation and evolving needs.
After the pilot, the European Commission will work with Member States, research institutes, universities and the private sector to expand the institute under the next EU long-term budget (2028-2034).
Governance, pooled resources, and long-term sustainability ensure that RAISE continues to evolve with scientific and technological advances.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, added: “Together with RAISE, we are building a community to promote scientific excellence and address the most important challenges of our time, including health and climate.
“RAISE develops and applies powerful AI models across scientific disciplines, from the life sciences to the humanities and more.
“This will strengthen our competitiveness and ensure that the EU remains at the forefront of AI and science, making this a strong argument for choosing Europe.”
Redefining the future of AI science in Europe
With RAISE, Europe is rethinking the landscape of scientific research. By bringing together AI and basic research, the EU aims to drive breakthroughs that improve lives, advance knowledge and strengthen Europe as a global hub for innovation.
This initiative represents an innovative approach to AI science and sets the stage for a new era in which artificial intelligence will enable discovery and scientific advancement across the continent.
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