EAIF newsletter
European AI Forum (EAIF) newsletter provide you on a monthly basis with insights, news and updates from the European AI ecosystem. AI regulation and EU policy, national AI activities, upcoming events.
In this 2024 June newsletter you can find the following topics:
Call for European AI Awards by European AI Forum
First FFplus Open Call for Business Experiments and Innovation Studies
Spinoff Conference 2024 held on June 20-21 in Sofia, Bulgaria
The Hub France AI is proud to share a world first framework for Frugal AI
The Horizon Europe 2024 calls
Recap from 9th European AI Forum
Call for European AI Awards by European AI Forum
The European AI Forum is inviting companies to nominate themselves for the European AI Awards!
Key Facts about European AI Awards:
Timeline:
Application Start: 1.07.2024
Deadline for application: 31.10.2024
Announcement of Winners: 4.12.2024 at the EAIF conference
Categories:
AI Investor
AI Business
Spinoff & Applied AI
AI Ecosystem Enabler
AI Policy
First FFplus Open Call for Business Experiments and Innovation Studies
FFplus, a European initiative, is promoting the adoption of High-Performance Computing (HPC) and generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) among SMEs and start-ups across Europe. The initiative demonstrates the business benefits and impacts of integrating HPC and AI into real business models. SMEs and start-ups now have the chance to enhance their innovation potential through two types of Open Calls: Business Experiments and Innovation Studies.
The Business Experiments call aims to facilitate the uptake of HPC, including High-Performance Data Analytics (HPDA) and HPC-backed AI, by SMEs to solve specific business challenges. This opportunity is particularly for SMEs with no prior experience with HPC services. Small consortia are expected to be formed, and the experiments are to commence by January 1st, 2025, with a maximum duration of 15 months. A total funding budget of €4 million is available for these projects. Information and submission here.
The Innovation Studies call supports European SMEs and start-ups already engaged in generative AI technology but lacking computational resources to scale up. These studies are set to begin by December 1st, 2024, with a maximum duration of 10 months, also supported by a €4 million budget. For more details, interested parties can attend the upcoming FFplus webinars on July 8th, More information and submission here.
The submission deadline for both calls is September 4th, 2024, at 17:00 Brussels local time.
Spinoff Conference 2024 held on June 20-21 in Sofia, Bulgaria
The Spinoff Conference is the leading initiative for technology transfer, science-based innovation and university spinoffs and gathers more than 300 experts from all over Europe. Innovative technologies and solutions in Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Microelectronics, and ClimateTech have been showcased. The third edition of the conference which was co-organized by EAIF’s member AI Cluster Bulgaria was a huge success packed with insights, workshops, keynotes and panels by leading European experts and organizations.
The Conference also marked the launch of the Spinoff Danube Alliance, a newly formed network designed to support spinoff companies in the Danube region. The network aims to become a central hub where spinoffs, technology transfer experts, and investment organizations from the region can collaborate, exchange best practices, and discuss the latest developments in science-based innovation.
The Hub France AI is proud to share a world first framework for Frugal AI
After long months of work carried out since January 2024, to which more than forty organisations have contributed, including the Hub France IA, the first general reference framework for Frugal AI has just been published! It includes :
- An exhaustive terminology
- A rigorous calculation method covering the entire AI system, its life cycle and the various environmental impacts
- 31 actionable best practices for quick and easy implementation by project teams at all stages of the AI lifecycle
- Appendices including, in particular, a comparison of tools and impact factor bases for measuring consumption, an example of calculating the environmental system, and detailed best practice sheets.
The Horizon Europe 2024 calls
The Horizon Europe 2024 calls focus on advancing AI and ICT standardization. The first call aims to enhance large AI models by integrating innovative data methods, improving multimodal capabilities, and increasing application possibilities, with a total budget of €50 million. The second call seeks to develop explainable and robust AI systems that are resilient, efficient, reliable, and transparent, with a budget of €15 million. The third call promotes European participation in global ICT standardization, fostering cooperation, updating sectoral needs, and increasing awareness, with a budget of €6 million. All projects have a 100% funding intensity and applications are due by September 18, 2024. Partnerships are encouraged with organizations like the European AI Forum (EAIF), for spreading information or expertise. If you're interested, get in touch with us. More info here.
Recap from 9th European AI Forum
We were particularly pleased to hear keynote speeches from Dr. Volker Wissing, German Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Lucilla Sioli from DG Connect and the AI Office, and Henri Verdier, Ambassador for Digital Affairs at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Erika Kuročkina, Lithuanian Vice Minister for Economy and Innovation, opened the event with powerful welcoming words.
The forum provided valuable food for thought on AI regulation and the protection of democracy and human rights, supported by insights from Thomas Schneider, Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI). We delved deeply into the challenges of AI, disinformation and automated influence, explained by Prof. Volker Wittpahl, Managing Director of the Institute for Innovation and Technology. We also discussed the environmental impact of AI and the urgent issue of standardization under the AI law, which is considered one of the biggest challenges in Europe. A panel discussion on the dual use of AI rounded off the program. These are just some of the many exciting topics that were covered.
You can get a deeper insight in our YouTube video, which summarizes all the findings and discussions.
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