The EIT AI Community co-hosts the International AI Summit 2025 on 11 December, Brussels
The EIT AI Community co-hosts the International AI Summit 2025 on 11 December, Brussels
Join us for an insightful session introducing the new version of SkillSync, the EIT’s innovative platform designed to bridge skill gaps and empower professionals, educators, and organizations through AI-driven recommendations.
🔹 Platform Overview: Objectives, target users, and how SkillSync aligns with the EIT AI Community’s mission.
🔹 Key Features:
🔹 Behind the Scenes: Insights into the datasets, ESCO framework, and AI models powering SkillSync.
📅 July 23, 2025
🕚11:00 - 12:00 CEST
👉 Reserve your spot and revolutionize how you approach skills development!
Hack the Future of Cybersecurity
Phishing attacks are growing in sophistication and frequency. Defending against them now requires more than traditional systems. Cybercriminals are evolving - and so must our cybersecurity strategies. Artificial intelligence can become a game-changing ally in identifying and neutralising deceptive digital threats before they cause harm.
AI-driven cybersecurity solutions go beyond static rules. They detect patterns, adapt in real time, and learn from each new attempt, making them indispensable in the fight against phishing. These innovations have the potential to serve both civilian and defence sectors, making them powerful dual-use technologies.
Europe's cybersecurity start-ups as well as mid-sized tech companies are at the centre of this effort. By investing in dual-use AI solutions, we can accelerate technological advancement. Alongside strategic knowledge transfer across sectors, we can bolster Europe’s digital resilience and security ecosystem.
COcyber's Mission
This is the mission behind COcyber, a European initiative dedicated to reinforcing the continent’s cybersecurity landscape. COcyber fosters collaboration between civilian and defence domains, promoting the development of cutting-edge tools with cross-sector applications.
By supporting emerging innovators and enabling them to pilot and scale technologies, the project aims to strengthen Europe's capacity to respond to evolving digital threats.
Deephack on AI-powered Phishing Detection and Prevention
Join COcyber at the Deephack on AI-powered Phishing Detection and Prevention. Have the opportunity to work side-by-side with like-minded innovators, tackle real-world challenges, and help build the next generation of defence-grade cybersecurity tools.
The event will take place online from 24 April (16:00 CET) to 26 April (14:00 CET). It is open to startups, researchers, corporates, and students.
The deadline for registration is 21 April.
Register now and be part of the change.
The EIT AI Challenge 2024, where 12 startups tackled real-world problems using AI, awarded third place to the collaboration between NUAVIS. Their solution focuses on AI-powered image processing for quay walls and port equipment, addressing key challenges faced by the Port of Bilbao.
The problem: maintenance issues at the Port of Bilbao
The Port of Bilbao, with over 25km of berthing quays built between 1960 and 2024, faces ongoing maintenance challenges. Harsh weather, chemical exposure and ship impacts cause regular wear and tear to quay walls and port equipment such as fenders, bollards and ladders.
Currently, port police carry out these inspections manually through visual surveys. The process is time-consuming, labour-intensive and often involves working in difficult or hazardous conditions. There is a clear need for an automated system to make inspections more efficient and safer.
NUAVIS’s solution: AI and drone-powered inspections
NUAVIS, specialists in computer vision and in collaboration with ALERION, experts in autonomous drones, have developed a system to automate the inspection process at ports. By combining AI with drone technology, their solution offers a practical way to monitor quay walls and equipment.
How does the system work?
Benefits of the solution
A practical approach to port management
The partnership between NUAVIS and ALERION demonstrates how AI can address practical challenges in infrastructure management. Their system offers a realistic, efficient solution to improve port inspections and reduce risks for staff.
Looking forward
As the system is further developed, it has the potential to be deployed in ports across Europe and beyond. The third-place recognition at the EIT AI Challenge 2024 highlights the importance of creating solutions that prioritise safety, efficiency and practicality in critical infrastructure.
The EIT AI Challenge 2024 recognised Isarsoft with second place for their innovative solution aimed at improving metro public transport management. Competing against 12 startups, Isarsoft impressed with their scalable video analytics software, Isarsoft Perception, which transforms video streams into actionable insights to enhance efficiency, customer satisfaction and safety in public transport systems.
The challenge: Managing metro public transport with AI
With increasing urbanisation and growing public transport demand, metro systems face challenges in managing passenger flow, occupancy and safety. Operators need efficient tools to monitor activity, optimise capacity and improve service quality without compromising privacy or regulatory compliance.
Isarsoft’s solution: Isarsoft perception
Isarsoft Perception is a high-precision AI-powered video analytics software designed to convert camera feeds into valuable metadata. This metadata can be used for real-time decision-making in areas such as passenger counting, occupancy analysis and crowd management.
How it works
Benefits for metro public transport
Looking ahead
Isarsoft’s innovative approach demonstrates how AI can transform public transport management by providing actionable data to improve operations and passenger experience. Winning second place at the EIT AI Challenge 2024 underscores the value of practical, scalable solutions for modern infrastructure challenges.
As metro systems continue to evolve, tools like Isarsoft Perception offer a clear path towards smarter, safer and more efficient public transport networks.
The EIT AI Challenge 2024 concluded with Mayday.ai emerging as the winner among 12 startups competing to address critical challenges using AI. They aimed at tackling the challenge focused on AI-powered wildfire detection and response systems, a pressing issue as wildfires increasingly devastate regions worldwide. Mayday.ai’s innovative and practical solution stood out for its comprehensive approach to wildfire management.
The growing wildfire threat
Climate change has dramatically increased the frequency and severity of wildfires. In 2024, wildfires across Europe burned around 260,000 hectares of land, destroying infrastructure, displacing thousands and causing extensive environmental damage.
Countries in the Mediterranean Basin, including Italy, Spain, Greece, and Algeria, were especially affected. In Greece alone, over 120,000 hectares were burned, far exceeding its annual average. These statistics underline the urgent need for effective wildfire detection and response systems.
Mayday.ai’s winning AI-powered detection
Mayday.ai presented an AI-powered platform that integrates real-time data from multiple sources. Their solution offers a global early warning system designed to detect wildfires in their earliest stages, allowing quicker and more effective responses.
Core features of the solution
Empowering communities through technology
A key aspect of Mayday.ai’s approach is community empowerment. The platform provides tools and resources to educate residents about wildfire risks and improve preparedness. This focus ensures even remote communities have access to timely warnings and support.
Practical design
The system’s user interface is designed for emergency responders, government agencies and insurers, integrating seamlessly with existing systems to facilitate quick adoption.
Recognition and impact
Mayday.ai’s approach has attracted recognition from global organisations including the UNDRR and NOAA. The platform was also shortlisted for the XPRIZE, highlighting its potential to address the growing wildfire challenge effectively.
A practical step forward in disaster management
By combining advanced AI with a focus on local needs and scalability, Mayday.ai’s wildfire detection and response system offers a significant advancement in disaster management. Their victory at the EIT AI Challenge 2024 demonstrates the importance of technology-driven solutions to tackle urgent environmental challenges. As wildfires continue to threaten lives and environments, solutions like Mayday.ai’s offer a practical way forward.
This November, Helsinki will host SLUSH 2024, a major global event for startups and tech innovation and the EIT AI Community will have a strong presence as part of the EIT Community’s INNOVEIT attendance.
AI Challenge 2024 Winners at SLUSH
The AI Challenge 2024 winners, representing some of the most promising startups in the AI space, will be showcasing their solutions at a dedicated booth on 20 and 21 of November. This is an opportunity for SLUSH attendees to engage with the teams behind these AI innovations, learn about their technologies and explore potential collaborations. They can also learn about activities of the EIT AI Community and what this has to offer.
Pioneering women: Driving innovation and investment in Europe
In addition, the EIT Community will meet at the INNOVEIT Conference on 19 November, just ahead of SLUSH. The conference, headlines “Pioneering women: driving innovation and investment in Europe“ will focus on the role of women entrepreneurs and investors in European innovation, providing insights and networking opportunities with leading figures in the sector.
Renowned experts from across Europe’s innovation and investment landscape, including, Inga Grieger (Business Development Manager, BMW i Ventures), Katarzyna Piasecki (Managing Director, European Women in VC), Bertrand van Leersum (Partner, Borski Fund) and Laura Wirsztel (Partner, BNP Paribas Solar Impulse Venture Fund) will share insights into the intersection of innovation, investment and women entrepreneurship.
Use the opportunity to connect with a community of women who are shaping the future of tech and investment!
Register here for the hybrid INNOVEIT conference: https://tinyurl.com/yc2cfuje.
In today’s digital landscape, businesses are increasingly adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a key tool for survival. A recent B2B matchmaking event organised by DIGITAL SME, European Entrepreneurs CEA-PME and the FG AI - EIT AI Community provided a platform for companies to examine how AI can support their digital transformation efforts.
Participants had the opportunity to engage with digital solution providers about AI’s potential to streamline workflows, improve data management and lower operational costs. The matchmaking format facilitated direct interactions between companies and providers, helping businesses identify AI solutions relevant to their needs.
The event also featured the AI Challenge, an initiative aimed at promoting further innovation and collaboration within the AI sector. This platform is intended to advance AI capabilities and encourage ongoing development in the field.
The B2B matchmaking event provided valuable insights and connections for businesses exploring AI. As digital transformation becomes important, AI is proving to be a significant tool for enhancing competitiveness and operational efficiency in the evolving market.
In a landmark development for the tech sector, the European Commission has introduced its AI Innovation Package, marking a significant milestone as the world's first comprehensive regulation on artificial intelligence. Launched in January 2024, this new initiative aims to stimulate AI innovation across Europe by providing targeted support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups.
Focus Group AI explores package benefits
The Joint Focus Group AI, a collaboration between DIGITAL SME and EIT AI Community, recently convened a meeting with European Commission representatives to delve into the details of this groundbreaking package. The discussion centred on the benefits that the AI Innovation Package offers to European AI SMEs and start-ups, with a particular focus on financial backing and resources for companies engaged in Generative AI.
Generative AI takes centre stage
Generative AI, which made headlines globally in 2023, was a key topic of the meeting. This transformative technology allows businesses to generate detailed analyses, customised plans, and creative content almost instantaneously. According to recent reports, over a third of EU firms experimented with AI technologies last year, highlighting the rapid adoption and potential of Generative AI.
Opportunities for SMEs under the Digital Europe programme
The meeting also explored additional opportunities for SMEs under the Digital Europe Programme, showcasing practical examples of Generative AI applications within the sector. These discussions aim to further illuminate the support available for SMEs seeking to harness the power of AI and drive innovation in the European market.
As the AI Act has become the first comprehensive regulation on AI in the world, the European Commission launched the AI Innovation Package in January 2024, a new initiative that promotes the development of AI innovation in Europe.
The Joint Focus Group AI, organised by the EIT AI Community and DIGITAL SME Alliance, is hosting an invite-only virtual event with representatives of the European Commission to discuss the scope of the AI Innovation package and its advantages for AI SMEs and start-ups in Europe. Within the AI package measures, special attention will be dedicated to financial support as well as other initiatives available for SMEs and start-ups in the area of Generative AI.
Generative AI has taken the world by storm since 2023. In a matter of seconds, it can provide firms with in-depth analysis of company data, customised business plans, product and management ideas and promotional content. Firms have been quick to adapt, with more than a third of EU firms reported to have experimented with AI in 2023. This will be one of the key focal points of this event.
The Joint FG AI event will also address additional open calls on AI for SMEs, available under the Digital Europe Programme and will showcase use cases and uptake of Generative AI by SMEs.
14:00
Introduction and welcome by Joint Focus Group coordinators
14:10
The AI Innovation Package: European Commission's plan to support AI SMEs and start-ups
14:40
Info session on open calls under the Digital Europe programme
15:00
EIT Digital Accelerator Programme
15:10
Use cases and uptake of Generative AI by SMEs in Europe
15:30
Open discussion with Focus Group AI members and concluding remarks
Would you like to attend this event? Become a member of the Focus Group AI today and get an opportunity to take part in this event.
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