Announcing the Spark Phase Selected Winners for the AI-BOOST AI Challenge Competition!

We are pleased to reveal the selected participants advancing to the next stage of the AI-BOOST AI Challenge Competition! 

Following a highly competitive selection process during the Spark Phase, an expert panel evaluated exceptional submissions. These outstanding organisations, research teams, and individual innovators have demonstrated groundbreaking approaches to tackling critical generative AI challenges.

Congratulations to all the selected participants who will now represent their respective challenges:

Challenge 1

• Yuki Asano | University | Germany

• Eletoyia | SME | Cyprus

• sensifai | SME | Belgium

• Motiq | Individual | Croatia

• AI4GRAPES | Research Institution | Greece

Challenge 2

• Building Blocks | SME | Spain

• DeepTech Chain LTD | SME | Cyprus

• Natxo | Research Institution | Spain

• Institute of Mechanics SNC | Research Institution | Armenia

• DigitalTwin Technology GmbH | SME | Germany

Challenge 3

• Sentigrate | SME | Belgium

• Idara research group | Research Institution | Spain

• PONS Tech | SME | Turkey

• Derek Najera Avila | Research Institution | Spain

• UCBM – ARCO | University | Italy

Challenge 4

• Heriot-Watt University | University | United Kingdom

• PleIAS | SME | France

• SmartRoads | SME | Portugal

• bayern(x)tech | SME | Germany

• UNWB & ARRK Engineering | SME | Czechia

What’s Next: The Advance Phase

The selected participants now enter the Advance Phase, running through February 2027. Over this intensive five-month programme, participants will continuously develop, test, and validate their generative AI solutions.

Throughout this phase, teams will receive direct technical guidance, expert mentoring, and access to specialised resources, including potential high-performance computing (HPC) support via CINECA’s LEONARDO supercomputer. Following a mid-term progress assessment, the stage culminates in a live final demonstration event where teams will showcase their final solution before a panel of experts, evaluators, and challenge owners.

Best of luck to all the finalists as they build the future of AI! 🚀