The pilot RAISE will bring together essential resources for developing AI and applying it to drive transformative scientific breakthroughs. It will cover a broad array of subjects from improving cancer treatments and solving environmental issues to improving predictions of the impact of earthquakes.
RAISE has been launched at the European AI in Science Summit in Copenhagen on Monday, 3 November. European Commission and the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU organized the event. It was attended by Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva.
Virtual institute worth 107 million euro
RAISE will be a virtual European institute, pooling and coordinating core AI resources. That includes computational power, data, talent and research funding across the member states and the private sector. Its main goal is to drive both the development of frontier AI and AI-enabled scientific progress. The RAISE pilot will be funded with €107m under Horizon Europe.
Among the key elements of RAISE are computational power, data, excellence and skills. As an example, RAISE will secure dedicated access time to AI Gigafactories, through the financial contribution of €600m from the Horizon Europe programme.
RAISE will attract global scientific talent and highly skilled professionals to Choose Europe. It includes €75m under the RAISE pilot for Networks of Excellence and Doctoral Networks. These networks are intended to train, retain, and attract the best AI and scientific talents.
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Commission also aims to double Horizon Europe’s annual investments in AI to over €3bn. That includes doubling funding for AI in science.
Progress in phases
To accommodate the fast-paced changes in innovations and the shifting needs of the AI science ecosystem, RAISE will be built in phases. The project will grow as its partners, resources, contributions and needs are evolving. Following the pilot phase launched on Monday, the Commission will work together with the member states, research stakeholders, higher education institutions, and with the private sector.
The ultimate goal is to further develop RAISE under the next long-term EU budget for 2028–2034. It aims at ensuring its long-term sustainability, both in terms of governance and pooled resources.
