The FORSEE (Forging Successful AI Applications for European Economy and Society) project, a new €3 million EU research initiative, officially commenced with its kick-off meeting on 6-7 February at the ADAPT Centre in Trinity College Dublin. Bringing together leading experts from universities, research institutions, and think tanks across Europe, the project aims to investigate the societal benefits and risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support enhanced AI capabilities and EU regulatory frameworks.
The two-day meeting, hosted at the O’Reilly Institute in Trinity, gathered representatives from eight consortium partners, including University College Dublin (UCD), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Tilburg University, University Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, the WZB Berlin Social Science Centre, Demos Helsinki, TASC Europe Studies CLG, and the European Digital SME Alliance.
The agenda covered key aspects of project governance, research objectives, and interdisciplinary work packages designed to map societal expectations, assess AI’s economic and social impacts, and explore policy recommendations. Dr. Elizabeth Farries from UCD opened the meeting with an introduction to FORSEE’s objectives and expected outcomes, followed by detailed discussions on project management, financial compliance, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
FORSEE aims to broaden the concept of AI “success” beyond technological and economic efficiency, integrating sustainability, social equity, and ethical governance into its framework. The project will analyse current AI applications, highlight tensions between technological developments and EU priorities, and deliver recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders.
Professor Dave Lewis of Trinity College Dublin presented the Mapping of Social Expectations work package, focusing on institutional and formal approaches to defining AI success. Other sessions covered research into AI’s societal acceptance, economic impact, and alignment with EU values. The meeting also featured discussions on dissemination strategies, project risk management, and governance structures to ensure smooth collaboration across the consortium.
As part of the event, participants engaged in workshops to refine project plans and methodologies, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to address AI’s evolving role in European society.
FORSEE is funded under the Horizon Europe programme’s Beyond the Horizon: A Human-Friendly Deployment of Artificial Intelligence and Related Technologies funding call. Over the next three years, the project will provide critical insights to shape the future of AI governance and regulation in Europe.
Stay tuned for updates on FORSEE’s research and developments at ADAPT and FORSEE’s forthcoming website, launching next month.
