Call for Proposals: Thematic Networks of Excellence for AI in Science

The focus areas include achieving scientific progress with AI to address strategic scientific challenges in the selected thematic areas, creating pilot networks of excellent labs as part of the Resource for AI Science in Europe (RAISE) operating as a virtual institute across Europe, establishing models of cooperation among labs and developing strategic research agendas for AI in scientific research, reinforcing the European AI in science community, attracting top talent, spreading excellence in AI in science, and developing synergies with the “Science for AI” RAISE pilot call.

The scope of this topic is to establish networks of leading European research labs dedicated to collaborative AI research in strategic and promising scientific areas, piloting RAISE, and aligning research efforts. Selected consortia will include leading labs with strong experience in applying AI, with at least half of the members having a proven track record in developing innovative AI solutions for scientific research. Consortia may also include expertise from Social Sciences and Humanities as needed to achieve objectives. Each network of excellence will focus on AI applications in a specific scientific discipline, with a proposed thematic network for materials science (Cluster 4).

To achieve the objectives, the consortium will draw an ambitious strategic research agenda, identify key scientific grand challenges, and carry out collaborative research with explicit targets and milestones. Networks will operate as part of RAISE, closely coordinating with central governance and other networks to share data, research results, expertise, and infrastructure. Talent and knowledge exchange schemes, such as jointly supervised fellowships, mobility programs, summer schools, and matchmaking events, will be developed, along with partnering schemes with institutes outside the network to spread excellence across Europe.

Consortia will identify, expand, curate, integrate, share, and make available relevant datasets and AI models, while developing community-driven standards and benchmarks for AI in the thematic area. Collaborations with industry will be promoted to facilitate uptake of scientific outcomes and AI-based research methodologies. Financial support to third parties (FSTP) may be used to transfer knowledge or provide complementary expertise, with a maximum of EUR 60,000 per beneficiary. Core consortium activities must represent at least 85% of the total grant, and FSTP recipients must be based in a Member State or an Associated Country, with their activities integrated into separate work packages detailing implementation conditions.

Any legal entity, regardless of place of establishment, including entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations, is eligible to participate if the conditions of the Horizon Europe Regulation and specific call/topic are met. Legal entities must have legal personality under national, EU, or international law, allowing them to exercise rights and obligations in their own name. The total budget for this Horizon Research and Innovation Action (RIA) is approximately EUR 15,000,000.

For more information, visit European Commission.