The Modena ELLIS Unit renewed for another five-year term

ELLIS is proud to announce that 25 ELLIS Units have been successfully extended, following the reapplication process for Units that have been active for five years — among them, the Modena ELLIS Unit. This renewal celebrates the continued excellence these Units bring to the network.

The mission of ELLIS is to build an AI research community of excellent talent, which actively engages in pioneering activities to make European AI globally competitive and to nurture its positive impact on society. One of the key mechanisms to achieve this mission is a network of research sites distributed across Europe, consisting of ELLIS Units and Institutes. Units bring together the best AI researchers at their locations and must fulfill a set of criteria to ensure excellence and remain maximally competitive at the international level.

The evaluation process for reapplications was conducted against six core criteria:

• Major achievements and future plans
• Critical mass and scientific excellence
• Engagement in the ELLIS PhD network
• Gender diversity
• Contribution to the ELLIS Society
• Collaborative output with researchers across the broader ELLIS network

The Units Committee positively acknowledged the Modena Unit’s development and impact, highlighting in particular the critical mass of ELLIS Fellows and Scholars involved in the Unit, the strong level of participation and collaboration within the ELLIS network, the Unit’s connections with industry and innovation ecosystems, and its attention to diversity and inclusiveness.

“These 25 Units exemplify what ELLIS stands for — great science, meaningful collaboration, and a shared commitment to making Europe a global leader in AI. We are proud to see them continue their important work,” stated ELLIS Fellow and Units Committee Lead Josef Sivic (Czech Technical University, Unit Director at ELLIS Unit Prague)

This renewal marks an important milestone for the Modena ELLIS Unit, which has been part of the ELLIS network since 2020. Over the past five years, the Unit has demonstrated steady growth and a strong commitment to ELLIS values, contributing to the network through high-quality research, international collaboration, and engagement with industry. The decision was approved by the ELLIS Board following the recommendation of the ELLIS Units Committee, confirming the Unit’s continued role as an active and valued member of the European AI research ecosystem.

The Modena ELLIS Unit brings together researchers from UNIMORE (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), the University of Florence, and CINECA, and focuses on cutting-edge research in machine learning, computer vision, multimodal AI, large-scale models, and trustworthy AI. Building on the achievements of its first mandate, the Unit will continue to strengthen European collaboration, promote excellence in AI research and training, and contribute to the growth of the ELLIS community over the next five years.

The successful continuation of these 25 Units reflects not only individual institutional achievement but also the collective vitality of the ELLIS network. As they enter their next five-year cycle, their continued presence strengthens the network’s capacity to ensure that European AI research remains at the forefront of global scientific progress while generating measurable positive impact on society. We are grateful to the ELLIS Units Committee and the ELLIS Board for their trust and support, and we look forward to continuing our work as part of the ELLIS network.