Research
ELLIS fosters international collaboration across domains, connecting top researchers while investing in the next generation of AI talent.
Members
ELLIS Members are leading scientists in machine learning and AI, shaping Europe's global position in these fields.
About
ELLIS is a pan-European AI network of excellence built upon machine learning as the driver for modern AI.
Unit NRW
Established on April 1st, 2026
Unit Mission
The goal of the ELLIS Unit NRW is to establish a unified and world-class ecosystem for machine learning research in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). By connecting the state’s leading AI institutes, we aim to create one of Europe’s most comprehensive hubs for open, trustworthy, and high-impact AI research.
Participating Institutions
LAION
OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts (TH OWL)
Bielefeld University
Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
University of Cologne
LAION
OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts (TH OWL)
RWTH Center for Artificial Intelligence
University Hospital Aachen
University Hospital Essen
University of Siegen
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU)
TU Dortmund University (TU Dortmund)
Ruhr University Bochum (RUB)
University of Bonn
RWTH Aachen University
Paderborn University
Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ)
Research Agenda
- Advancing open-source foundation models with open access to data, models, and source code.
- Advancing the trustworthiness of foundation models for rare events like extremes and in domains such as healthcare with a focus on underrepresented groups like persons with special needs.
- Adapting foundation models for embodied AI with a focus on applications in home-care and sustainable agriculture.
Unit Directors
Members
Coordinators
Latest News
18/05/26
Seven New Units Join the ELLIS Network: Czechia, Denmark, Franconia, Grenoble, NRW, Slovenia & Sweden
ELLIS is proud to announce that seven new Units have been officially added to the network.
15/01/26
Travel and study in Europe: 2026 Schedule of ELLIS PhD Winter and Summer Schools
Check out the 2026 schedule for ELLIS Winter & Summer Schools, happening all across Europe. This is your chance to dive deep into the cutting-edge of AI research,...
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