The European Commission has announced the Resource for Artificial Intelligence Science in Europe (RAISE), a new virtual institute designed to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence in scientific research
The launch of RAISE took place at the European AI in Science Summit in Copenhagen, co-hosted with the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
RAISE is part of the Apply AI Strategy and the European Strategy for AI in Science, which aim to bring together the continent’s scientific and technological strengths.
With an initial €107 million in funding from Horizon Europe, the pilot phase aims to demonstrate how AI can transform research across various fields, including healthcare, climate science, and disaster prediction.
The institute will serve as a virtual hub, connecting and coordinating key AI resources across EU Member States and private partners. It aims to enable frontier AI development while advancing scientific progress enabled by AI.
There will be a strong focus on computational power. RAISE will secure dedicated access to Europe’s emerging AI Gigafactories, backed by a €600 million investment from Horizon Europe. In partnership with the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU), researchers and startups will be guaranteed access to advanced computing systems to support large-scale AI research.
Building data and talent networks
RAISE will also help scientists identify and fill critical data gaps by gathering, creating, and integrating datasets essential for AI applications in science. Data sharing and standardisation across Europe will be key to enabling collaboration and reproducibility in AI-driven research.
To strengthen Europe’s AI talent base, €75 million from the pilot will fund Networks of Excellence and Doctoral Networks, designed to attract, train, and retain leading researchers. These initiatives will help position Europe as a top destination for scientific expertise and innovation.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said,
“In Europe, we are strongest when we join forces to pursue a common goal. This spirit of collaboration lies at the heart of the RAISE initiative, where leading scientists from across Europe bring together diverse disciplines and perspectives to conduct excellent research on and with AI.”
Expanding research funding
The European Commission plans to double Horizon Europe’s annual AI investment to over €3 billion, with a particular focus on AI in scientific disciplines. This extended funding will accelerate the integration of AI into research ecosystems and create collaboration between universities, research centres, and industry partners.
At the Summit, the first component of the RAISE pilot was also introduced. This project will connect the AI-in-science community across Europe, supporting the development of RAISE in partnership with researchers and innovators.
Europe’s AI leadership
RAISE will be developed in phases, adapting to the rapid evolution of AI technologies and scientific needs. The pilot phase will inform future expansion under the EU’s next long-term budget for 2028–2034, with a focus on sustainable governance and resource pooling.
