CERN for AI

Uniting Europe for AI Leadership

Artificial Intelligence is transforming our world, and Europe must take bold steps to ensure its leadership in this critical field. CAIRNE envisions a “CERN for AI”—a pan-European initiative that will create a distributed network of AI research centers, with a central hub serving as a focal point for collaboration, innovation, and ethical AI development. This initiative will drive AI research that aligns with European values, ensuring that the continent remains at the forefront of technological progress.

Why We Need a CERN for AI

Europe is at a crossroads. While AI advancements continue to accelerate, much of the critical research, infrastructure, and development are concentrated outside Europe. Without a dedicated European effort, we risk technological dependence, economic stagnation, and a future where AI development does not reflect our democratic values. A CERN for AI will:

Secure Europe’s AI Sovereignty: Reduce reliance on foreign technologies and ensure Europe remains competitive in AI research and development.
Foster Collaboration Across Borders: Bring together top researchers, institutions, and industries to work collectively on cutting-edge AI advancements.
Develop Trustworthy and Ethical AI: Create AI systems that reflect European values of transparency, accountability, and fairness.
Provide World-Class AI Infrastructure: Establish a shared, state-of-the-art research hub with computing power and datasets accessible to European researchers.
Enhance Economic Growth and Innovation: Stimulate startups, enterprises, and public sector adoption of AI technologies to drive economic progress.

The Evolution of the Vision

CAIRNE has been advocating for a CERN for AI for several years, refining its vision through key documents and statements:

2018: The initial vision outlined a distributed network of AI Centres of Excellence with a central hub, inspired by CERN’s success in physics.
2023: A statement marking CAIRNE’s fifth anniversary emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Europe’s AI capabilities.
2025: The open letter, “Now is the Time to Create a CERN for AI,” was published, calling on European leaders to take decisive action.
2025: The “Moonshot in Artificial Intelligence” proposal was developed, aiming to position Europe as a leader in trustworthy AI by 2030.

The Path Forward

Creating a CERN for AI will require strong commitment and investment from European governments, industry leaders, and research institutions. Key steps include:

Establishing an Independent AI Research Organization: Modeled after CERN, fostering collaborative research across Europe.
Building State-of-the-Art Infrastructure: Providing high-performance computing resources and shared datasets for AI research.
Developing European AI Standards: Ensuring AI systems are ethical, fair, and aligned with European societal goals.
Attracting and Retaining Top AI Talent: Creating a thriving AI ecosystem that supports researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

Join the Movement

The time to act is now. Europe must take control of its AI future, ensuring that its advancements align with democratic values and serve the needs of society. A CERN for AI will not only solidify Europe’s position as a global AI leader but will also drive innovation, economic growth, and ethical AI development.

We urge policymakers, industry leaders, and the research community to support this vision and work together to make it a reality. Let’s build the future of AI—together, for Europe.

Open Letter: Now is the time to create a CERN for AI

Coverage of this push for an independent European AI organisation or institute include: