The SustAInLivWork Centre of Excellence will strengthen the research and innovation competences of the country’s scientists and researchers in the design and development of AI solutions for sustainable development and sustainable economic expansion, in line with the EU and Lithuanian AI strategies.
“The centre will offer a full suite of services: intelligent systems modelling environments, business analytics tools, physical and virtual AI labs, with the possibility to test and trial different scenarios for external companies. Services will also include the realisation, testing and deployment of AI systems, a range of hands-on training on the synergies between AI and sustainability, and activities and services related to the development, maintenance, support and application of data storage infrastructure to meet the specific needs of AI solutions.
Thus, we are ready to turn our vision into reality and develop AI to create a better future for Lithuania and contribute to the broader global sustainability goals,” says Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė.
Emphasis on social responsibility and sustainability
The head of the KTU AI Centre notes that there are centres related to AI technologies both in Lithuania and abroad, but the development and application of AI technologies in the KTU Centre of Excellence will have a new approach – It will aim to increase social responsibility and sustainability in the daily and professional lives of members of society.
“Another equally important goal under this name is AI sustainability – responsible and ethical development and use of AI systems, focusing on two key aspects: transparency and explainability. Ensuring sustainable AI will maximise the trust and purposeful use of such AI solutions,” says the professor.
The SustAInLivWork project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, the establishment of the centre, which began on 1 September, and is set to be implemented over a two-year period. It includes the establishment of the centre and its governance structure, and the formalisation of partners’ commitments. The second year will involve the acquisition of the necessary equipment for the Centre. The next phase of the project is growth, which is planned during the third to sixth years of the Centre of Excellence.
“In the first year, we will be forming the centre’s council and management board, four research hubs, planning human resources, and acquiring infrastructure”, says Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė.
According to the head of the KTU AI Centre, a large team started preparing for the launch of the project already in the beginning of the summer – all future activities, the budget, the necessary infrastructure, and the most important communication tools were strategically planned.
“We aim to bring together all partners and representatives of relevant sectors, to inform a larger part of the public about the project’s vision, goals and objectives. Our aim is that the SustAInLivWork centre will provide an effective and long-term, collaborative approach that will be financially sustainable after six years”, says the project manager.
All those interested in AI are invited to the launch event
All those interested in AI are invited to the launch event
The SustAInLivWork project launch event AI for Sustainable Future will take place on 14 September from 9 a.m. at the KTU Santaka Valley (K. Baršausko st. 59, Kaunas).
“This is an important date both for the project coordinator KTU and for all partners. All project partners, representatives of the Lithuanian government, members of the European Commission and other guests are invited to attend the physical meeting at the KTU Santaka Valley and to get a detailed overview of the project’s objectives, planned results, benefits and to hear the insights of the innovative partners during the wrap-up discussion”, says Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė.
All those interested and willing to participate in the event, which will bring together top leaders from research institutions, business organisations, policy makers and representatives of the European Commission, are invited to attend. The event will be held in English.
Full event programme: https://www.sustainlivwork.eu/event-program/
Registration for the AI for Sustainable Future event: https://www.sustainlivwork.eu/event-registration/