GÉANT SIG-AI Meeting at CERN

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the way research is conducted, supported and operated. Hosted by CERN, this SIG-AI meeting will bring together the NREN community to explore how AI is being applied within one of the world's leading research infrastructures and how these experiences can contribute to AI adoption across the NREN community.

The meeting will explore AI-related activities at CERN and the evolving role of NRENs in supporting AI-enabled research through services, infrastructure and collaboration. It will combine strategic perspectives with practical use cases and provide a forum for exchanging experiences, identifying opportunities for collaboration, and strengthening collaboration between NRENs, research infrastructures and the wider research community.

CERN provides a unique environment to explore how AI supports large-scale scientific research, open science and advanced digital infrastructures, and what this means for NRENs supporting AI-enabled research.


Theme: AI for Research: Connecting NRENs and Research Infrastructures

Timing CEST

Topic & Presenter

Wednesday 23 September 

11:45 - 12:00

Arrival & badge pick-up

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch 

13:00 - 13:15

Welcome & Intro
Daniela Brauner (GÉANT), Leonie Schäfer (DFN)

13:15 - 14:00

CERN and AI: Research, Infrastructure and Innovation

Presentations and time for Q&A

14:00 - 15:30

Theme 1 "AI for Research Infrastructures and Scientific Computing" 
Presentations and Discussions

15:30 - 16:00

Coffee Break

16:00 - 17:00

Theme 1 - continued

18:30 

Informal Dinner (self-paid)

Thursday 24 September 

09:00 - 10:00

Theme 2 -  Open-source AI and European AI ecosystems
Presenations and Discussions

10:00 - 10:30 

Coffee Break

10:30 - 11:30

Theme 3 - AI Services, Policy and the Role of NRENs
Presenations and Discussions

11:30 - 12:00

Closing Discusssion & Future Outlook
Key takeaways and feedback from the audience - Daniela Brauner (GÉANT)

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch

13:00 and 15:00 

Optional guided visits to CERN facilities

  • ATLAS experiment
  • Antimatter-factory (AD)
  • Computing centre

(needs to be booked in advance - details will follow shortly)





Registration 

Please register for the meeting via the GEANT Events System at https://events.geant.org/event/2108/

Date

We invite the SIG-AI community to join us at CERN on 23–24 September 2026 for our Autumn Meeting, kindly hosted by CERN.

Venue/Location 

CERN
Geneva, Switzerland

Esplanade des Particules 1
1217 Meyrin

Getting there:

https://visit.cern/getting-here

Important to know - security & accessibility

  • Please bring a valid passport or national ID card.
  • Participants must wear their CERN badge at all times.
  • Access to CERN facilities is controlled and participants will be accompanied by CERN staff where required.

Accommodation

Hotels in Geneva city centre (direct tram 18 connection)
The following hotels are located close to Geneva Cornavin railway station, where tram 18 departs directly for CERN: Hotel Bernina Geneva, Hôtel Suisse and the Fassbind Hotels. These are regularly recommended for CERN events.

You can also book a room at the CERN Hotel. Details on how to book a room on-site will be available on request.


Remote participation

will be possible. Please stay tuned for further details.