European Commission launches initiative to accelerate AI-powered scientific research

Friday 16 October 2026 - 12:15

By: Azzat Manal

European Commission launches initiative to accelerate AI-powered scientific research

The European Commission has introduced a new initiative designed to expand the use of artificial intelligence in scientific research, aiming to accelerate discoveries, strengthen Europe’s innovation capacity and improve its competitiveness in advanced technologies. The programme, known as RAISE, seeks to bring together scientific expertise, technological capabilities and additional financial resources to support researchers working at the intersection of AI and science.

According to the Commission, the initiative is intended to mobilise contributions from private companies, foundations and other funding organisations. This approach is expected to complement public investment and provide researchers with resources that may be difficult to secure through government funding alone. The programme also aims to encourage closer cooperation between technology developers and scientific institutions.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used across research fields, including medicine, biology, climate science and materials development. AI systems can help researchers process large datasets, identify patterns, generate hypotheses and automate certain stages of experimentation. These applications could shorten research timelines and open new avenues for investigation, although scientific validation and human oversight remain essential.

RAISE forms part of the European Union’s broader strategy to integrate AI into scientific work and reinforce the region’s position in global research and technological development. By connecting researchers with specialised tools, industry expertise and additional funding, the initiative aims to make it easier for scientific teams to develop and apply advanced AI technologies.

Several organisations and companies have already announced initial commitments to support the initiative. Those named by the Commission include the Novo Nordisk Foundation, NVIDIA, Elsevier, Sanofi, Frontiers, Mistral AI and Google DeepMind. Further contributions are expected to remain possible as the programme develops, potentially expanding the range of expertise and resources available to participating researchers.

The initiative builds on the European Commission’s AI in Science strategy, launched in October 2025 to help researchers make greater use of artificial intelligence and strengthen Europe’s scientific and technological leadership. The strategy reflects a wider effort to ensure that European research institutions can benefit from rapid advances in AI while maintaining high standards of scientific quality and reliability.

The success of RAISE will depend on the scale of participation, the resources made available and the ability to translate partnerships into practical support for research teams. As competition in AI intensifies worldwide, the European Union is seeking to combine its scientific institutions with private-sector innovation to speed up discoveries and reinforce its role in emerging technologies.