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 network of excellence connecting top AI researchers across European borders to strengthen the leadership of AI made in Europe.
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
Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ)
TU Dortmund University (TU Dortmund)
RWTH Aachen University
Paderborn University
Bielefeld University
University of Cologne
University of Bonn
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
Research
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