International cooperation in AI (IA)

Di cosa tratta questo bando?

The topic funds innovation actions that adapt and deploy AI solutions with local innovation hubs in African low- and middle-income countries, using local data and living labs.

Cosa finanzia questo bando?

Scope

The innovation action supports prototyping, testing, validation and demonstration of AI solutions in operational environments to strengthen local AI ecosystems in African countries. It aims to adapt solutions and capabilities developed in Europe to low- and middle-income countries and to speed up their uptake by local innovation hubs, in line with EU initiatives such as the International Digital Strategy, the AI Continent Action Plan and the Global Gateway.

What proposals must support

• Gathering of and access to local data for training and optimising existing AI algorithms, such as those from AI for Public Good and GenAI for Africa.
• Living labs within local innovation hubs where communities, researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers co-create and test AI solutions.
• Bottom-up AI solutions shaped by the needs of low-income communities and trained on local data.
• Contributions, where possible, to global challenges such as climate, agriculture, biodiversity, health, humanitarian needs and education.
• Talent pipelines and transfer of AI solutions to local hubs, full real-life validation, and initial support for large-scale deployment.

Expected outcomes

Faster uptake of AI solutions at innovation hubs in low- and middle-income countries, easier large-scale deployment, and stronger local innovation ecosystems.

Technology readiness

Activities start at TRL 5 and reach TRL 7.

Quando scade il bando?

18 marzo 2027 (133 giorni)

18 March 2027 (single-stage submission).