EU funding for the development of machine learning methods and artificial intelligence  

Ljubljana, 2 August 2024 – The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Machine Learning for Science and Humanities – SMASH. The project will receive 2.1 million euros from the European Regional Development Fund.

The project aims to develop and promote the use of machine learning methods, of artificial intelligence and of the Vega supercomputer for the purpose of research in the various fields of the natural sciences and humanities. It will focus on five key areas:  

• machine learning for scientific insights and discoveries,
• machine learning applications for open questions in astrophysics,
• machine learning in research on animal and human communications,
• artificial intelligence applications in personalised medicine, and 
• artificial intelligence tools in life sciences.

The project will help increase the use of advanced methods and technologies. This should have an important impact on research domains resulting in improved quality of research and of health services. By supporting the development of new methods and technologies, the project will help tackle key questions in science. Thus, it will foster nationwide advances in science and technology, while contributing to enhancing research infrastructure and scientific capacities at local level.

The beneficiary of the funding is the University of Nova Gorica. The university is a member of a consortium. The latter is composed of the Faculty of Computer and Information Science, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, the Institute of Information Science (IZUM), the Jozef Stefan Institute, and the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO).

The project is worth a total of 9,948,000 euros. It will receive 2,068,799.99 euros from the European Regional Development Fund.

Photo: IZUM