Confederation of Laboratories for
Artificial Intelligence Research in Europe

Excellence across all of AI.
For all of Europe.
With a Human-Centred Focus.

Formerly known as CLAIRE, find out more about us, how we started and what we do.

We were recently made aware that the acronym CLAIRE was trademarked and, after 5 years of using it undisputedly, we faced a legal challenge. Based on advice from our lawyers, we have decided to change the acronym to CAIRNE (pronounced “kern”).  Our official full legal name – Confederation of Laboratories for Artificial Intelligence Research in Europe AISBL – remains unchanged, as does our core mission and support to members.

The Confederation of Laboratories for Artificial Intelligence Research in Europe is an international non-profit association (AISBL) created by the European AI community that seeks to strengthen European excellence in AI research and innovation, with a strong focus on human-centred AI.

The Confederation of Laboratories for Artificial Intelligence Research in Europe does not provide AI services or products, but rather represents the interests of its members by promoting European AI through media channels and events, fostering cross-border collaborations, and participating in EU Horizon calls to facilitate community building.

“Moonshot” for European AI Sovereignty

In a decisive move to reclaim technological leadership and ensure European strategic sovereignty, the Confederation of Laboratories for Artificial Intelligence Research in Europe and euRobotics have announced an ambitious plan to establish Europe as a powerhouse in trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) by 2030, to overcome the current technological dependency on non-European big tech firms.

EU AI Act

In April 2021, the European Commission proposed the first EU regulatory framework for AI. It says that AI systems that can be used in different applications are analysed and classified according to the risk they pose to users. The different risk levels will mean more or less regulation. Once approved, these will be the world’s first rules on AI.

“AI made in Europe”–boost it or lose it

Marking our 5th anniversary, we released a statement reflecting on the impact of  Europe’s dependence on AI made elsewhere, how investment into the European AI ecosystem has failed to achieve global competitiveness of “AI made in Europe”, and advocates for massive computational infrastructure, a “CERN for AI”.

CERN for AI

Since 2018, the idea of a “CERN for AI” has been one of the signature elements of the Vision for European excellence in AI. The time has come for large-scale and effective investment into publicly owned and operated AI infrastructure, along with cutting-edge research and competitive development capabilities. Now is the time for a “CERN for AI”!

A European Vision for AI

What?

We seek to strengthen European excellence in AI research and innovation by supporting our members. The extensive network forms a pan-European Confederation of Laboratories for Artificial Intelligence Research in Europe. Launched in 2018 as a bottom-up initiative by the European AI community, we aim for a “Moonshot” for European AI Sovereignty.

Why?

We believe that artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally changing the way we live and work. As a global “game changer” that has become a major driver of innovation, future growth and competitiveness, AI has also become crucial in addressing society’s grand challenges, such as climate, energy and mobility; food and natural resources; health; and inclusive, secure societies.

How?

We aim to leverage the pan-European network of Centres of Excellence in AI, strategically located throughout Europe, and a push for a large new central facility with state-of-the-art, “Google-scale”, CERN-like infrastructure that will promote new and existing talent and provide a focal point for exchange and interaction of researchers at all stages of their careers, across all areas of AI.

The Network

We seek to support and strengthen European excellence in AI research and innovation.

The network forms a pan-European Confederation of Laboratories for Artificial Intelligence Research in Europe. It’s over 470 member groups and organisations in the Research Network and Innovation Network, as well as over 260 Ph.D. students, postdocs, and master students in the self-organised, Rising Research Network are committed to working together towards realising the vision of European excellence across all of AI, for all of Europe, with a human-centred focus.

Innovation Network

If you are a for-profit organisation conducting research in AI or AI-based innovation and would like to join our Innovation Network, please consider joining the community by signing your support and contact us at industry@cairne.eu.

Research Network

Is your lab, research group or institution part of a not-for profit organisation that conducts and regularly publishes research in AI as well as maintains a dedicated individual website? We invite you to join by first signing your support, and then contacting us at network@cairne.eu to request the application form.

Rising Researchers

If your a Post-doc, PhD, or Masters student in AI, join the community by signing your support and join other Rising Researchers in shaping the future of AI in Europe by applying for membership at r2network@cairne.eu.

Gold Members