The AI Cup is a Bavarian-French Founding initiative to support the next generation of AI entrepreneurs and foster innovative AI startups in Europe. The 'AI Cup' competition, funded by the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy with around one million euros, was launched by politicians and data providers at the end of October 2021. Over the past four months, the organizing team – led by University of Passau in German and the École Normale Supérieure de Paris Saclay (ENS-Paris-Saclay, at the Université Paris-Saclay) on the French side – together with data providers, developed the tasks that participants must complete to demonstrate their data science skills and entrepreneurial spirit.
Competition theme: 'AI for a Better World'
Harald Kosch, Vice President of the University of Passau and responsible for the AI Cup, says:
“This is the first time that a Franco-Bavarian competition in the field of artificial intelligence has been organized, and we are very honored to be able to carry out such a binational initiative!”
As for the content of the competition, the five data providers have already been confirmed: Deutsche Bahn Regio, E.ON, Trading Hub Europe Germany, the French Commission for Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy (CEA), and the Centre Borelli. The overarching theme of the AI Cup is also known: 'AI for a Better World.'
Scientific and entrepreneurial skills required
The AI Cup is aimed at students and researchers from Bavaria and France. Applicants must demonstrate not only scientific expertise in the field of artificial intelligence, but also entrepreneurial skills. Successful teams can receive up to €95,000 in funding to develop their ideas into innovative companies. The AI Cup kick-off event is scheduled for March 9th in digital format planned, at which the French and German organizers of this initiative will present the competition process and the requirements for the participants.
Interested parties can then also apply starting March 9. Participating teams must consist of at least two members and be in the process of founding a company. Starting the scholarship, it is generally permissible to establish a company or commence business activities to generate revenue. The application period runs until April 29.
