Welcome to ELIAS, where we stand at the forefront of a pivotal moment in history, one characterised by monumental challenges such as climate change and the energy crisis. We firmly believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a tool, but a critical discipline that will empower us to confront and overcome these challenges. However, we also acknowledge the profound ethical and societal implications that AI development brings, which demand careful consideration.

To lead this charge, ELIAS operates as a powerhouse consortium of 35 top European institutions spanning 17 countries. Driven by a commitment to widen our impact, we have officially expanded our Virtual Centre of Excellence following a rigorous, excellence-driven selection call.This new expansion successfully integrates a cohort of 15 leading European research institutions and universities dedicated to advancing sustainable AI across the continent (read the full Press Release).

At ELIAS, our mission is multi-faceted. We are committed to advancing fundamental research in AI to answer critical questions about how it can reduce computational costs, model the societal impacts of policy decisions, and affect individuals. Our approach entails a deep integration of academic research with industry-driven applications, forging a synergy that propels the field forward.

Moreover, ELIAS is pioneering the Sciencepreneurship track through its activities within the European Leadership in Innovation with AI and Science – ELIAS Alliance, designed to attract and empower individuals at the nexus of scientific innovation and business acumen. Our goal is to cultivate original AI solutions that contribute to a sustainable future for our planet, foster social cohesion, and uphold individual rights.

Our ultimate objective is to position Europe as a global leader in AI research, ensuring that environmental sustainability, societal relevance, and individual well-being remain core considerations throughout every stage of development. We will gauge our success by key indicators, including the growth of cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary collaborations, industry-academic partnerships, impactful publications, patents, and the deployment of transformative technologies.

ELIAS Network
Virtual Centre of Excellence — before & after the July 2026 expansion
50 organisations 20 countries +15 new members
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ELIAS Network

The members have been carefully selected to guarantee both an excellent scientific level as well as a broad and complementary expertise, which is essential to address our ambitious goals. The scientific excellence of the consortium is guaranteed by the leading position of the members in their respective fields, as measured by their international visibility and impact. The consortium is well- balanced in terms of country representation, with members from all over Europe.

University of Trento
University of Trento (UNITN)
University of Amsterdam
University of Amsterdam (UvA)
Polytechnic University of Milan
Polytechnic University of Milan (POLIMI)
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UMORE)
Polytechnic Institute of Paris
Polytechnic Institute of Paris (IPP)
University of Tubingen
University of Tubingen (UT)
Fondazione Bruno Kessler
Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK)
Ellis Alicante Foundation
Ellis Alicante Foundation (ALC)
Centre of Research and Technology Hellas
Centre of Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH)
University of Valencia
University of Valencia (UVEG)
Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI)
University of Milan
University of Milan (UNIMI)
University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen (UCPH)
Jožef Stefan Institute
Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI)
Czech Technical University in Prague
Czech Technical University (CTU)
University of Toulouse
University of Toulouse (ANITI)
Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Max-Planck Institute (MPG)
Umeå University
Umeå University (UMU)
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)
UNSTPB
Politehnica București (UNSTPB)
IDEAS NCBR
IDEAS NCBR (IDEAS)
Bitdefender
Bitdefender (BD)
IBM
IBM (IBM)
INRIA
INRIA (INRIA)
ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
ROBERT BOSCH GMBH (RB)
ROBERT BOSCH KFT
ROBERT BOSCH KFT (RBHU)
Prometeia
Prometeia (PRM)
TSE
Toulouse School of Economics (TSE)

Affiliated Entities

Institut Mines-Télécom
Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT-TP)
École Polytechnique
École Polytechnique (EP)
Università di Genova
Università di Genova (UNIGE)

Associated Partners

Idiap Research Institute
Idiap Research Institute (IDIAP)
Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH)
Aalto University
Aalto University (AALTO)
University of Manchester
University of Manchester (UMAN)

Newly Approved VCE Members

Graz University of Technology
Graz University of Technology (TUG)
University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg (UFR)
Politecnico di Torino
Politecnico di Torino (POLITO)
Computer Vision Center (CVC)
Computer Vision Center (CVC)
Pompeu Fabra University (UPF)
Pompeu Fabra University (UPF)
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
CSIC (IIIA)
University of Barcelona (UB)
University of Barcelona (UB)
KU Leuven
KU Leuven (KUL)
Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)
Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M)
Institute of Science and Technology Austria
Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)
Ukrainian Catholic University
Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU)
Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology (TUD)
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
University of Jena (FSU)
Bifold Institute
Berlin Institute for the Foundations of Learning and Data (BIFOLD)

Our foundation is built upon the highly successful European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS), which has earned international recognition. In a nutshell, ELLIS provides the network within which researchers can form teams to apply for external funding for research, training, mobility, infrastructure, and policy work. Check out this page for an overview of these projects and learn more about the European Network of AI Excellence Centres (ELISE), the European Lighthouse on Secure and Safe AI (ELSA), and the Konrad Zuse School of Excellence in Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELIZA).

In ELIAS, we aim to refine and expand upon ELLIS’ excellence criteria while taking actionable steps to support AI researchers and emerging talents at all stages of their careers.