From 6 to 10 July, 28 early-career researchers from Germany and France gathered in Paris to discuss current issues in AI research, develop joint project ideas and expand their international networks.
Scientific exchange for joint research
Under the overarching theme ofAI for Science“ participants explored applications of artificial intelligence in environmental and climate research, cyber security, physics, mathematics, medicine and biology. Through keynote talks, workshops, poster sessions and group work, they gained insights into current research developments and collaborated on interdisciplinary research questions.
Among the scientific highlights were presentations by Prof. Dr. Elif Bilge Kavun (Technische Universität Dresden/Barkhausen Institut) on AI for cyber security and cryptographic engineering; Prof. Sylvain Le Corff (Sorbonne Université) on AI in mathematics; Prof. Nadjib Lazaar (DataIA) on symbolic AI for trustworthy systems; Prof. Kasia Bozek (University of Cologne) on AI in biomedical research, and Prof. Dr. Begüm Demir (BIFOLD – Berlin Institute for the Foundations of Learning and Data) on AI for Earth observation. The lectures formed the basis for the development of joint project ideas, which were further elaborated by Franco-German teams during the week.
German-French cooperation as a driving force for Europe
The Summer School highlighted the importance of German-French cooperation for European AI research. The close exchange between researchers, universities and research institutions helps to link scientific excellence across national borders and bring innovations into practical application more quickly.
According to Laure Poirson, project manager at AI Grid, “France and Germany share a long tradition of research collaboration. For decades, cooperation between the two countries has led to outstanding scientific achievements and has repeatedly served as a catalyst for larger European initiatives. When our two countries join forces, this often encourages other partners across Europe to get involved as well. It is precisely this dynamic that we need today more than ever.”
Collaboration beyond the Summer School
A particular focus of the Summer School was on developing joint research projects. The project ideas generated during the week will be further developed jointly by selected Franco-German teams over the coming months, with support from the partner organisations. The results will be presented at the AI Grid Summit 2027 in Berlin.
The AI for Science: Franco-German Summer School 2026 impressively demonstrated how international initiatives support young AI researchers in further developing scientific ideas, gaining new perspectives and establishing long-term collaborations. It is precisely this combination of scientific excellence, European cooperation and sustainable networking that makes the Summer School an important part of the AI Grid Mission.
