3rd ELLIS Coordinators’ Retreat: strengthening collaboration across the network
The annual retreat brought together representatives from ELLIS Units, the ELLIS Institutes Finland and Tübingen, the ELLIS Operations Team, and the Area Coordinators. Organised and hosted by Artur Kołodziejczyk-Skowron (ELLIS Unit Warsaw Coordinator), it offered a unique opportunity to align efforts, exchange best practices, and strengthen collaboration in research management across the network.
Day one kicked off with a greeting by Tomasz Trzciński, ELLIS Fellow and ELLIS Unit Warsaw Director, and covered updates on ELLIS membership, research programmes, doctoral and postdoctoral activities, communications, and related European initiatives. On day two, Polish AI research coordinators also joined the meetings and heard a keynote by Adra Secretary General Philip Piatkiewicz on strategic partnerships in European AI. Workshops led by Rebeca de Miguel (ELLIS Unit Alicante Coordinator) and Cecilia Zanazzo (ELLIS Unit Trento Coordinator) explored research organisation growth, relationship management, expectations, and institutional memory.
The final day addressed the ELLIS Buddy Program, coordinators’ representation in ExCo, and regular network exchanges. Participants also attended an “ML in PL” panel on Europe’s AI competitiveness and ELLIS’s role in connecting research, industry, and local ecosystems.
All photos: Damian Fużyński / IDEAS Research Institute & ELLIS Unit Warsaw
The event was organised by ELLIS Unit Warsaw, whose main host is the IDEAS Research Institute, with Warsaw University of Technology and the University of Warsaw as co-hosts. It formed part of the “AI x Science Connect Poland” initiative, funded by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland, and was held under the Honorary Patronage of the Mayor of the Capital City of Warsaw. ORLEN S.A. is the Strategic Partner of the IDEAS Research Institute.
Learn more about the previous retreats:
The first ELLIS Coordinators Retreat in 2024 was initiated by Conrad Philipp (ELLIS Unit Jena Coordinator) and hosted by ELLIS Unit Sofia at INSAIT
The 2nd Retreat, hosted by the 3 Dutch Units, was organised by Taylor Stone (ELLIS Unit Delft Coordinator), Adela Pranindiati (ELLIS Unit Amsterdam Coordinator), Esther van Straten (Managing Director of Radboud AI), and Inge Wortel (Assistant Professor at Radboud University), both members of the ELLIS Unit Nijmegen Coordinator Team.
With each retreat, the network grows stronger — laying the groundwork for lasting impact in shaping the future of AI made in Europe.
Article Feature photo: Damian Fużyński / IDEAS Research Institute & ELLIS Unit Warsaw
Check out the highlight video:
Video: Damian Fużyński / IDEAS Research Institute & ELLIS Unit Warsaw
