Europe's AI in Science Strategy: What It Means for Your Lab
Europe is putting AI at the center of its research engine. A new strategy anchors funding, compute, and talent so labs can test ideas faster, process larger datasets, and open new lines of inquiry with confidence.
The aim is clear: lead in AI-driven discovery while keeping scientific sovereignty and public trust intact.
Core Commitments
- RAISE (Resource for AI Science in Europe): A virtual institute to connect researchers with compute, data, and funding across Europe.
- Talent: €58 million for new Doctoral and Excellence Networks to train and attract top researchers.
- Compute at scale: €600 million via Horizon Europe for AI Gigafactories to secure dedicated computational power for scientists and startups.
- Momentum: The current proposal aims to double support for AI in science by 2028.
- Principles: Open, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and responsible-AI serves science, and science serves society.
Why This Matters
AI cuts time-to-insight from months to minutes and surfaces patterns that conventional methods miss. This strategy moves Europe from scattered pilots to a connected pipeline of resources that can sustain serious research at scale.
The result: faster progress on tough problems, stronger collaboration, and predictable access to compute and skills.
What To Do Next
- Identify projects that would benefit from dedicated compute. Outline data needs, model types, and expected impact.
- Prepare for Horizon Europe calls. Build consortia that meet open and responsible AI standards from day one.
- Make reproducibility default: versioned datasets, documented training runs, model cards, and human oversight for critical decisions.
- Form cross-disciplinary teams with domain scientists, ML engineers, and data stewards to shorten iteration cycles.
- Audit data for FAIR readiness so your lab can plug into RAISE once operational.
What To Watch
- RAISE governance, data-access policies, and how compute credits are allocated across institutions.
- Timelines for AI Gigafactory capacity to reach universities and startups.
- Eligibility and evaluation criteria for the Doctoral and Excellence Networks.
Useful Links
- Horizon Europe funding opportunities
- EU policy on Artificial Intelligence
- Practical AI courses by research role
Europe is choosing to lead. The invitation to labs is direct: use AI to push the frontiers of knowledge, do it responsibly, and share the gains with society.
