At the AI in Science Summit 2026 (AIS26) in Dublin, Euro-BioImaging joined Europe’s scientific community, AI experts, industry representatives and policymakers to showcase progress from the SCIANCE project and discuss the future of AI-driven research.
The AIS Summit, organised by the European Commission (EC) and the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), marked an important milestone for the SCIANCE project and the broader RAISE initiative. Launched in 2025, the EU’s RAISE initiative (Resource for AI Science in Europe) aims to address Europe’s fragmented AI-in-science landscape and strengthen European competitiveness in research and innovation. RAISE is envisioned as a virtual European institute that pools computational resources, curated data, scientific expertise, and dedicated research funding to support AI-driven discoveries across scientific disciplines.
The Horizon Europe-funded SCIANCE project lays the groundwork for RAISE by connecting research infrastructures, scientific communities, and AI centres of excellence across five pilot scientific domains to develop:
Euro-BioImaging coordinates the SCIANCE activities for the Life Sciences pilot domain. In this role, Euro-BioImaging ensures that the specific needs of biological and biomedical research are explicitly built into the European AI-in-science agenda.
The Summit provided a forum for discussions, exchanging experiences and advancing collaboration across scientific disciplines. During the ‘Accelerating discovery with RAISE’ session, Euro-BioImaging co-presented alongside the European Science Foundation, the SCIANCE coordinator, sharing insights from the European AI-in-science landscape analysis. The session also introduced the newly launched RAISE Digital Hub and RAISE Forum, platforms designed to support collaboration and knowledge-sharing across disciplines. During two SCIANCE-led co-creation workshops, participants explored interdisciplinary cooperation priorities and Open Science principles for trustworthy AI.
A further opportunity for community input came through the RAISE Community Challenge Lab. Through in-person discussions, co-moderated by Euro-BioImaging, participants shared challenges in using AI for scientific research, exchanged experiences, identified emerging concerns and proposed potential solutions. The insights gathered will feed into ongoing SCIANCE co-creation activities, including the development of the SRIA, and inform broader RAISE discussions. The conversation can continue through the RAISE Forum.
Representatives from Euro-BioImaging Nodes and members of the SCIANCE Life Sciences expert working group contributed practical perspectives from research facilities and the scientific community across these sessions and activities.
The Summit also highlighted new efforts to strengthen the resources available to European researchers. The EC announced the RAISE Pledging Initiative for AI in Science Enablers, bringing together leading industry and philanthropic organisations, including NVIDIA, Google, Mistral, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi. Through voluntary in-kind contributions, these organisations will support European researchers with computing power, AI models, digital tools and expertise.
Funding opportunities are also emerging through the Horizon Europe work programme for ‘Horizontal activities’. At the time of writing, four RAISE-related calls are open: two supporting automated scientific discovery in materials science (also including impact areas like drug discovery) and food, respectively; one focused on developing a model for a Data Lab for science linking with EOSC and RAISE; and one for RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science, with a closing date in November 2026. While the calls target different research areas and activities, they illustrate how the RAISE initiative is beginning to translate its broader ambitions into concrete opportunities.
Euro-BioImaging’s involvement in SCIANCE and RAISE has real-world implications for Nodes, facilities, and researchers. By shaping the SRIA for AI-in-science, Euro-BioImaging is helping to ensure that Life Science requirements influence future Horizon Europe work programmes and infrastructure investments. This means more opportunities for funding, resources, and collaboration tailored to the needs of the Life Science and bioimaging community. For researchers, the broader RAISE ambition includes improved access to computing and FAIR data resources, and AI tools. These resources are essential for developing complex biological models and AI-supported research. Additionally, RAISE aims to strengthen cross-disciplinary collaborations, allowing Life Science and AI researchers to connect for new technological partnerships and innovations.
Continued input from the research infrastructure community will be essential to ensure that these developments address real scientific needs. The Community Challenge Lab is one example of how researchers and infrastructure providers can help identify priorities and shape the direction of AI in science.
To keep up with the latest developments in AI for Life Sciences, explore the RAISE Hub & Observatory, where you’ll find curated news, open resources, and training materials. Visit the RAISE Forum, create an account, and engage in relevant discussions. Subscribe to the RAISE Newsletter and the Euro-BioImaging Newsletter for updates on workshops, funding opportunities, and events.
Euro-BioImaging’s work at AIS Summit 2026 is one step in an ongoing effort to shape a European AI-in-science ecosystem that supports FAIR, meaningful and trustworthy AI in and for science. Through continued engagement with SCIANCE and RAISE, the Euro-BioImaging community can help ensure that Life Science perspectives remain central to this development.
SCIANCE is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement N°101293570
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