- Provide a sound methodology for the design of AI challenges as open innovation challenges and/or benchmarks, including the definition of challenges to be addressed[3], representative of common needs for a vast adoption in a broad set of industrial and public sectors[4]; as well as the definition of evaluation method and criteria. This involves mobilisation of prestigious scientists and industries (incl. start-ups and SMEs) to select the data/problems that will drive substantial scientific progress and be help reinforcing the reputation of Europe, contributing to build the European AI lighthouse. This task will involve financial support to parties, in line with the conditions set out in part K of the General Annexes..
- Provide a convincing approach to attract the best[4] teams from academia and industry, incl. start-ups and SMEs, students, rising stars and newcomers, to participate in the open innovation challenges and benchmark their different solutions to tackle the AI challenges.
- Address all aspects of running open innovation challenges and best exploit them to maximise the visibility of AI to the wider audience.
- Mobilise external partners (incl. from industry) in sponsoring and setting up the open innovation challenges and engage sponsors to contribute/offer money prizes or other attractive rewards to the top performing teams (e.g. co-authorship of papers in prestigious journals, internships in prestigious labs or companies etc.). Reward and competition schemes should provide equal access for everyone to participate and encourage diversity among the participating teams.
- Collaborate with the AI on Demand Platform, the AI, Data and Robotics Partnership, the Networks of AI excellence centres[6], projects funded under CL4-2023-HUMAN-01-01, CL4-2023-HUMAN-01-03, CL4-2024-HUMAN-01-01 and CL4-2024-HUMAN-01-02, as well as other relevant initiatives.
All proposals are expected to embed mechanisms to assess and demonstrate progress (with qualitative and quantitative KPIs, benchmarking and progress monitoring), and share results with the European R&D community, through the AI-on-demand platform, public community resources, to maximise re-use of results, either by developers, or for uptake, and optimise efficiency of funding; enhancing the European AI, Data and Robotics ecosystem through the sharing of results and best practice.
Furthermore it is expected that the participating teams will make their algorithms and methods available and re-usable (e.g. through the AI on Demand Platform) to ensure scientific and technological progress.
Financial support to third parties: A minimum of 50% of the EU funding requested by the proposal should be allocated to the purpose of financial support to third parties.
[3] Proposals should also allow citizens to contribute to the definition of challenges
[4] Encouraging and promoting diversity among AI researchers incl. gender and race, socio-cultural background, etc.
[5] Encouraging and promoting diversity among AI researchers incl. gender and race, socio-cultural background, etc.
[6] Projects funded under the following calls/topics: H2020-ICT48, HORIZON-CL4-2021-HUMAN-01-03HORIZON-CL4-2022-HUMAN-02-02)
