The European Network of AI Excellence Centres (ELISE) is a network of artificial intelligence research hubs where the best European researchers in machine learning and AI work together to attract talent, foster research through collaboration, and inspire and be inspired by industry and society.

In its first open call, ELISE will select 16 SMEs and start-ups that develop AI services or applications. The companies selected will take part in a six-month program and receive up to 60,000 euros in funding. While focus areas are based on ELISE/ELLIS research programs,  proposals for projects that use machiine learning to address major societal and economic challenges will also be considered. The deadline for applications is July 1, 2021.

ELISE is looking for projects based on AI applications that address the development and implementation of technology and systems applicable to the following focus areas:

• Geometric Deep Learning: graph, group and gauge convolutions
• Robust Machine Learning
• Interactive Learning and Interventional Representations
• Machine Learning and Computer Vision
• Robot Learning: Closing the Reality Gap
• Human-centric Machine Learning
• Theory, Algorithms and Computations of Modern Learning Systems
• Quantum and physics-based Machine Learning
• Natural Intelligence
• Health
• Machine Learning in Earth and Climate Sciences
• Natural Language Processing (NLP)
• Multimedia / multimodal information
• Information retrieval
• Explainability and Fairness in Data Mining
• Other

Who is a Scientific Advisor?

The Scientific Advisor is a researcher invited by the applicant, who agreed to advise the SME (startup) in developing the AI application or service. The Advisor must have a PhD in a field that is relevant to the project. It is highly recommended to have the Scientific Advisor from ELLIS/ELISE community, but this is not mandatory.