Challenge-Driven GenAI4EU Booster (RIA) (AI/Data/Robotics Partnership)

The main goal of this opportunity is to drive significant innovation and progress in technology through competitive challenges in the fields of aerospace, pharma/drug development, and telecommunication networks. It aims to boost the competitiveness and visibility of the Generative AI community in Europe by showcasing their ability to address complex tasks in these sectors. The initiative encourages the adoption of Generative AI solutions, supports impactful use cases, and aligns with broader European strategies to promote leadership in AI development. Geographic coverage includes EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, and select associated countries such as Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Funding is provided as grants, distributed across multiple competition stages.

• Eligible Participants: Projects must be led by legal entities established in eligible countries, with additional guarantees required if controlled by non-eligible countries.
• Sector Focus: Projects must address one of the following sectors: aerospace, pharma/drug development, or telecommunication networks. At least one project per sector will be funded if thresholds are met.
• Proposal Requirements: Proposals must include progress assessment mechanisms, reuse public results from previous funded actions, and share results with the European R&D community. They must also allocate tasks for collaboration with ADRA and the GenAI4EU hub.
• Multi-Staged Competition: Projects should organize a competition with increasing complexity, focusing on start-ups/SMEs or small teams, leading to selection for further development and integration.
• Budget and Funding: Proposals must justify the use of funds, including grants of 250.000€ for stage 2 solutions and 2.000.000€ for stage 3 solutions.
• Strategic Alignment: Projects must avoid technological dependency on non-EU sources and protect intellectual property within eligible countries.

Examples:

• A start-up-led project developing AI-powered diagnostics for drug development, using open data and collaborating with European research hubs.
• A small team organizing a multi-stage challenge to create advanced AI models for satellite data analysis in aerospace, sharing results with the European AI community.
• An SME proposing a competition to improve secure AI-driven network management tools for telecommunications, ensuring all results remain within eligible countries.

• Grants to third parties (up to 250.000€ per solution in stage 2)
• Grants to selected solutions (2.000.000€ each in stage 3)
• Technical assistance for solution development
• Business support services for participating teams
• Provision of data for fine-tuning AI models
• Support for integrating solutions into industry settings
• Costs related to benchmarking, monitoring, and KPIs
• Activities for sharing results with the European R&D community
• Collaboration activities with ADRA and GenAI4EU hub

Restrictions: Grants awarded must be in the form of financial support to third parties, and the maximum grant per third party can exceed 60.000€, reaching up to 250.000€. All expenses must directly support the challenge objectives.

• Budget for this Call: 45.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 3
• Budget per project: 15.000.000€

• Applicants must be legal entities established in EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom.
• If an entity is controlled by a non-eligible country, it must provide guarantees to ensure no negative impact on EU strategic interests, autonomy, or security.
• Entities classified as high-risk suppliers of mobile network equipment, or owned/controlled by such suppliers, are not eligible to participate.
• Proposals must ensure the protection of intellectual property and results within eligible countries.
• Applicants must be able to organize and run a multi-stage competition involving start-ups/SMEs or small teams.
• Applicants must demonstrate alignment with EU strategic interests and avoid technological dependency on non-EU sources.
• Collaboration with ADRA and the GenAI4EU central hub is required as part of project activities.