Initiative 2.3. AI in Science

What is it about?

AI is transforming the way science is conducted: It is a catalyst for scientific breakthroughs and can help to close the innovation gap.

AI adoption in science needs framework conditions that enable the development of applications usable for all – with a focus on their being responsible, ethical, sustainable, and inclusive in the spirit of digital humanism.

Goals & Key activities

• Creating a common understanding of national priorities and strategic direction (Austrian National Roadmap on AI in Science);
• Contributing to a joint European Roadmap aligned with ongoing national and EU activities;
• Ensuring a human-centric and ethical framework for AI in Science; promoting inclusive, equitable, and open access for researchers and scientists to interoperable, reusable, and secure resources, as well as sustainable infrastructure;
• Supporting and strengthening an AI in Science ecosystem that combines (cutting-edge) AI development with considered application across research domains and disciplines, while promoting AI literacy, research careers in AI, and AI excellence.

Who is involved?

• Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF)
• Austrian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI)
• Universities and research institutions;
• Research and higher education communities;
• Expert groups as well as stakeholders from science, industry and society.

Expected impact

• Positioning Austria as an active partner in the European AI in Science ecosystem, and strengthening connections between Austrian research institutions and EU initiatives like RAISE;
• Pooling national resources to create optimal framework conditions for excellent AI research and innovation;
• Leveraging European synergies to accelerate national research processes and improve access to European funding, infrastructures, data spaces, and computing resources;
• Developing and enabling access to national infrastructure for science and applied research;
• Strengthening the national AI ecosystem across basic and applied research, fostering collaboration, excellence, and innovation.