RAISE, Europe's new Resource for AI research
The Resource for AI Science in Europe (RAISE) is a new initiative of the European Commission designed to strengthen AI-driven scientific research across Europe. Announced at the AI in Science Summit in Copenhagen in November 2025 as a flagship action of the European Strategy for AI in Science, RAISE aims to establish a virtual European research institute that brings together computational power, data, scientific expertise and research funding to accelerate the use of AI across all scientific disciplines.
RAISE comes at critical time of increasingly international competition to harness AI for research and innovation. While AI is transforming the way science is conducted worldwide, European researchers often face fragmented access to computing resources, datasets, expertise and specialised training. By creating a common European framework, RAISE seeks to make these capabilities more accessible and interconnected, enabling researchers across disciplines and countries to collaborate more effectively and accelerate scientific breakthroughs. The initiative is intended to strengthen Europe's scientific sovereignty and global competitiveness by ensuring that researchers benefit from trustworthy, open and sustainable AI solutions at scale.
Currently in its pilot phase, RAISE is being coordinated through the SCIANCE project, which was selected by the European Commission to facilitate cooperation for AI in science in Europe and help define the future RAISE structure. SCIANCE is building the foundations of the initiative through a community-driven approach that brings together research organisations, AI experts, scientific communities, digital infrastructures and policymakers from across Europe. Through this process, the project is helping identify the most pressing scientific challenges where AI can deliver the greatest impact and accelerate the adoption of trustworthy and sustainable AI throughout the European research landscape.
At the core of the future RAISE ecosystem will be Thematic Networks of Excellence, bringing together leading researchers working on both Science for AI (AI fundamental research) and AI in Science (AI-enabled scientific research), and fostering collaboration between AI developers and scientific communities where AI can have a transformative impact. The initial focus in the pilot phase is on agricultural science and environmental pollution research and materials science, alongside fundamental research on AI methods and applications for scientific discovery.
The SCIANCE project is also establishing the RAISE Secretariat, to support collaboration across the RAISE pilot activities and Networks of Excellence, while promoting long-term sustainability, capacity building and knowledge sharing. By creating an integrated European ecosystem for AI-enabled science and involving the research communities and AI innovation actors in its inception, RAISE is expected to become a cornerstone of the EU's ambition to accelerate scientific discovery, strengthen research excellence and enhance Europe's global competitiveness in AI-enabled research.