The aim of the Helmholtz AI project call is to strengthen the application and development of applied artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for “high-risk, high-gain" research projects. A total of 46 collaborative projects  from the 2019, 2020, and 2021 calls, were selected for funding. 

Each Helmholtz AI project receives funding for a period of two to three years after being reviewed by and receiving a funding recommendation from an international review panel. 

This year, two funding options were available for applicants. The first option was to request up to €200k from the funding line, which had to be matched by the participating centers with the same amount of money or more (≥€200k), in line with INF guidelines.The second option was the add-on opportunity, which allowed applicants collaborating with an Israeli partner to request up to €250k. This amount also had to be matched by the participating centers with the same amount of money or more (≥€250k), in line with INF guidelines. In this regard, there is a selected proposal, the AI-receptor project from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), that has a collaborative partnership with the Israeli  Bar-Ilan University - BIU.

The 10 selected projects from 2022 call include 9 Helmholtz centers that will work in the fields of health (4), earth and environment (2), energy (2), and information (2). 

Check out the list of the 2022 Helmholtz AI Project Call funded projects and the Helmholtz centers involved:

• CMILE: Smile vectors of climate change - exploring the latent space of Earth system dynamics, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ) - Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam. 
• tomoCAT: Machine-learning-driven context-based macromolecular identification in cryo-electron tomograms for structural analysis, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf(HZDR)
• RBPAI4Virus: Learning the language of host-viral protein-RNA interactions: new possibilities for short and long-term intervention, Helmholtz Zentrum München  (HMGU).
• AI-Receptor: AI- and HPC-based Design of Synthetic Receptor Assays for Continuous Metabolite Sensing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
• BrainAge4AD: Brain-age Estimation for Clinical Application in Alzheimer‘s Disease, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE)
• AI-quifer:  Making Artificial Intelligence fit to determine off-shore groundwater as key to coastal water management, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
• DeepVar: DeepVar: Deep learning genotype-to-phenotype models for cancer and rare diseases, Deutsche Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ)
• ARTIST: AI-enhanced differentiable Ray Tracer for Irradiation-prediction in Solar Tower Digital Twins, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, (DLR)
• MADRNA: MAchine learning force field Development for RNA, Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ)
• AISPA: AI-driven instantaneous solar cell property analysis, (FZJ)

We look forward to showcasing updates on these projects in the upcoming months. Stay tuned!