"AI for Science 2026" Franco-German Summer School in Paris!

Date
15 Jul 2026

An intensive week of research, cross-border synergy, and innovation has just wrapped up in Paris! Co-organized by SCAI, Institut DataIA Paris-Saclay, and AI Grid, this 2026 edition brought together 40 elite young researchers from Germany and France to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of scientific discovery.

Here is a look back at the daily highlights of this incredible human and scientific journey 👇

📍 Day 1: Kickoff & AI for Environment and Climate (SCAI)

The adventure begins at Sorbonne University.

  • Inspiring Perspectives: Thought-provoking keynotes on AI-driven weather forecasting by Julie Keisler (Inria ARCHES) and Earth observation by Prof. Dr. Begüm Demir (BIFOLD / AI Grid mentor).

  • First Connections: Interactive breakout sessions where participants broke the ice, presented their research, and mapped out initial collaborative challenges.

  • Official Launch: A warm opening ceremony hosted by Sylvain Le Corff (SCAI) and Laure Poirson (AI Grid), followed by an inspiring keynote by Frederic Pascal (Director of DataIA) on the vital importance of nurturing AI talent and building lasting networks.

📍 Day 2: AI for Cybersecurity & Robotics Immersion (Centre Inria de Paris)

Diving deep into system security and autonomous technologies.

  • Securing the Future: An engaging session led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elif Bilge Kavun (TU Dresden / Barkhausen Institut / AI Grid mentor) on secure digital systems, complemented by a keynote from Fabrice Kordon (LIP6).

  • From Theory to Practice: Hands-on project demos and the absolute highlight of the day—an exclusive tour of the cutting-edge Inria Robotics Lab. 🤖

📍 Day 3: AI & Complex Systems (Université Paris-Saclay)

A deep dive into one of France's powerhouse AI ecosystems, uniting over 800 researchers.

  • High-Level Keynotes:

    • Prof. Mohammed Nabil EL KORSO on Generative AI models capable of learning complex physical phenomena (precipitation downscaling, Earth deformation).

    • Prof. Demian Wassermann on the fascinating intersection of neuroscience, medical imaging, and Machine Learning.

    • Prof. Nadjib Lazaar on Symbolic AI and the role of reasoning in building reliable, explainable systems.

  • On the Ground: Visited La Fabrique (the ENS Paris-Saclay fab lab) for rapid prototyping, and experienced an impressive large-scale image wall demonstration at the LISN Computer Science Lab, showcasing data analysis for astronomical research. 🌌

  • Making it Official: French and German research teams officially formed during lunch to tackle upcoming challenges!

📍 Day 4: AI in Mathematics, Medicine & Biology (SCAI)

Co-creation in full swing.

  • AI for Health: Inspiring keynotes by Sylvain Le Corff and Prof. Kasia Bozek (University of Cologne / AI Grid mentor) on leveraging AI for biomedical research.

  • Writing Sprint: The afternoon was dedicated to intensive group work as participants drafted their joint 2-page research papers and outlined long-term collaborations.

📍 Day 5: Closing, Awards & Next Steps (SCAI)

The end of a week... but the beginning of breakthrough projects!

  • Final Submissions: Teams submitted their joint scientific papers and presented their research posters.

  • Celebrating Excellence: The official announcement of the Best Poster Award, followed by a warm farewell lunch to toast to new friendships and future discoveries.

🤝 Why this 2026 Edition is a Game-Changer

Beyond a One-Week Exchange: This year, the Summer School is built for long-term impact. The newly formed Franco-German research teams submitted concrete project proposals. A jury will select winning teams to receive a full year of funding and support (covering travel and accommodation costs) to turn their joint research ideas into reality.

As Laure Poirson, Project Lead of AI Grid, puts it:

“France and Germany have a long tradition of working together in research. When our two countries join forces, it often creates momentum for broader European collaboration. We need this kind of momentum today more than ever.”