INESC TEC travels to Brussels to sign the launch of the AI.grids project, part of the European Commission’s Tech Sovereignty Package

Forty-eight partners – ranging from European electricity grid operators to research institutes and industry players – have come together to develop sovereign European AI models aimed at improving the management and planning of electricity grids. This is AI.grids, a European initiative officially launched in the first week of June at an event organised by the European Commission, where several other initiatives were also signed, all related to the Tech Sovereignty Package put forward by Brussels.

The signing of AI.grids marks a historic milestone in European innovation about the digitalisation of the electricity grid. Luís Seca, Executive Director of INESC TEC, was present at the signing of the project’s official launch, which was attended, amongst others, by European Commissioner Dan Jørgensen.

Ricardo Bessa, a researcher at INESC TEC where he coordinates the energy systems area, and one of the people behind the conception of this project – now becoming a reality -explains that “the vision to develop a next-generation AI foundation model for European electricity grids began with discussions between ourselves at INESC TEC, EPU-NTUA, and Fraunhofer FIT, after which more institutions joined, and where the CRESYM association played a fundamental role in establishing and operationalising the consortium.”

This joint commitment by 48 institutions aims to develop AI models that are trustworthy, secure, and sovereign, thus complying with all required safety and cybersecurity standards and aligning with the objectives of the Tech Sovereignty Package launched by Brussels — namely the Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence in the Energy Sector.

The AI.grids initiative will make use of existing European resources, such as the TEFs (Testing and Experimentation Facilities) and AI factories.

Prior to the signing of AI.grids, the event promoted by the Commission – entitled “Flagship Projects on AI for Grids and Data Centre Sustainability” – held on 4 June also saw 14 European associations sign a Declaration of Intent on the sustainable integration of data centres into the European Union’s electricity system. In addition to the Declaration of Intent, six companies also signed a Declaration of Support, thereby demonstrating their readiness to implement this integration.