A European Vision for AI
What?
The Confederation of Laboratories for Artificial Intelligence in Europe – CAIRNE (formerly CLAIRE) is dedicated to strengthening European excellence in AI by creating a vibrant and collaborative AI ecosystem that prioritizes human-centered, trustworthy, and responsible AI. Our mission is to ensure that AI research and innovation in Europe align with ethical principles, sustainability, and societal well-being.
To achieve this, CAIRNE fosters collaboration between research institutions, industry, and policymakers to build an AI ecosystem that empowers European talent, reduces dependence on non-European technology, and drives innovation for the benefit of all.
Why?
AI is shaping the future of society, industry, and global economies. However, Europe’s current technological landscape is highly dependent on AI solutions developed outside the region. This dependence risks economic competitiveness, digital sovereignty, and European values in AI development.
To secure Europe’s leadership in AI, it is critical to invest in research, computational infrastructure, and policy frameworks that prioritize transparency, fairness, and security. European AI should serve the public good, ensuring that AI technologies benefit citizens, businesses, and institutions alike.
How?
To build a globally competitive and self-sufficient AI ecosystem, Europe must strengthen its research network, invest in infrastructure, and establish sustainable policies that drive AI excellence. CAIRNE is committed to advancing AI through a coordinated effort uniting researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to keep Europe at the forefront of innovation.
Achieving this vision requires long-term investments and strategic initiatives across the entire AI lifecycle—from research and development to deployment and governance. This includes establishing a large-scale European AI research hub, expanding computational resources, setting ambitious moonshot goals, and fostering collaboration between governments, industries, and academia. These efforts will lay the foundation for a robust, ethical, and globally competitive AI ecosystem aligned with European values.
1. Strengthening Europe’s AI Research and Innovation Ecosystem
The first step toward AI excellence is creating an interconnected and well-funded research ecosystem. This requires:
- Major investments in AI research to drive innovation across academia, industry, and startups.
- Stronger collaboration between European AI institutions to foster knowledge sharing and accelerate advancements.
- Clear regulatory frameworks that encourage ethical AI development while maintaining competitiveness.
To compete globally, European AI development must be scalable, efficient, and aligned with European values, ensuring that research benefits society and businesses alike.
2. Developing a Robust AI Infrastructure
Europe must reduce its dependence on external AI infrastructure by establishing its own large-scale computational resources. This includes:
- Expanding high-performance computing capacity for AI research and model training.
- Ensuring AI innovation is supported by sufficient funding for hardware, software, and cloud resources.
- Building AI testbeds and deployment facilities that allow for the responsible scaling of AI applications.
Investing in these critical areas will secure European digital sovereignty, ensuring that AI solutions are developed, tested, and deployed within the region.
3. Creating a Large-Scale AI Research Hub (“CERN for AI”)
To consolidate European AI efforts, CAIRNE advocates for the creation of a centralized AI research hub, modeled after CERN. This hub will:
- Provide a world-class research environment for AI scientists and engineers.
- Facilitate cross-border collaboration between leading AI institutions.
- Ensure Europe has cutting-edge AI capabilities to remain competitive in the global landscape.
Such an initiative will position Europe as a leader in AI development while supporting long-term research and industrial applications.
4. Establishing AI Moonshot Goals for European Leadership
For Europe to be a global leader in AI by 2030, it must adopt a bold, long-term strategy. The AI Moonshot initiative sets clear objectives:
- Achieve AI self-sufficiency by investing in European talent, companies, and infrastructure.
- Ensure AI remains transparent, ethical, and trustworthy, in alignment with European values.
- Create large-scale funding mechanisms that provide sustainable financial support for AI research and applications.
This approach will future-proof Europe’s AI landscape, ensuring that innovation continues to drive economic growth and societal well-being.
5. Mobilizing Policymakers, Industry, and Research Institutions
The success of European AI depends on collaboration between governments, private enterprises, and research institutions. To achieve this:
- Policymakers must implement AI-friendly regulations that foster innovation while ensuring ethical compliance.
- Industries must actively support European AI startups and research to build a thriving innovation ecosystem.
- Research institutions must work together to share knowledge, expertise, and best practices.
A unified approach will create a self-sustaining AI ecosystem, allowing Europe to remain competitive and resilient in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
