A new, national pioneer center for artificial intelligence research is expected to open at the end of 2021. Headed by world-leading American AI researcher, Serge Belongie, and with DKK 350 million from  the Danish National Research Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Carlsberg Foundation, the Villum Foundation and the Lundbeck Foundation, the center will conduct world-class artificial intelligence research focusing on societal challenges, people and design, while putting Denmark at the international forefront.

“I think it is fantastic that we been able to attract Professor Serge Belongie to Denmark as well as bringing together researchers from all over the country in this new pioneer center, which represents Aalborg University, Aarhus University, DTU, the IT University and the University of Copenhagen. We will work with many different areas within artificial intelligence. At Aarhus University our focus will be on Machine Learning and Extended Reality. The results will have a great impact on how we - in the future - for example can predict and prevent diseases, monitor and simulate climate changes and biodiversity as well as energy and infrastructure, ”says Head of Department Kaj Grønbæk from the Department of Computer Science at Aarhus University.

Facts:

• The Pioneer Centre will open at the end of 2021 under the direction of the University of Copenhagen
• Professor Serge Belongie will serve as the center director and get his laboratory, "the Belongie Lab", which will mainly research computer vision 
• DKK 352,4 million (€47 million) has been allocated to the center from the Danish National Research Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Carlsberg Foundation, the Villum Foundation and the Lundbeck Foundation
• Researchers from Aalborg University, Aarhus University, DTU, the IT University and the University of Copenhagen will be associated with the centre
• The pioneer center's research will focus on 10 areas, each of which present significant societal challenges: Biotech, life and health sciences, Climate and Biodiversity Monitoring, Equality in Health, Education, Economic Growth and Entrepreneurship, Crisis Relief, Verification and Validation of Information, Energy and Infrastructure, Security, Ethics and Legal Certainty, Public Sector and Social Affairs
• The aim of the pioneer centers is to establish excellent research units that carry out basic research aimed at solving major societal challenge

Read more about the pioneer center for artificial intelligence research here: https://www.science.ku.dk/english/press/news/2021/leading-american-researcher-and-dkk-350-million-will-take-danish-artificial-intelligence-research-to-new-heights/