ELLIS Coordinators Retreat 2025
💡 From October 6–8, 2025 ELLIS – European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems Coordinators came together for their 2nd Retreat hosted by the three Dutch ELLIS Units.
📈 Coordinators from 21 ELLIS Units attended, alongside with the ELLIS Institute Finland, the ELLIS Comm/PR Team, ELSA – European Lighthouse on Secure and Safe AI, and ELIAS – European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability and the PhD & Postdoc Program Coordinator.
Oct 6, Radboud University: Opening by Unit Nijmegen Director Marcel van Gerven, followed by engaging talks, a panel discussion, and a poster session where the units showcased their research, collaboration opportunities, and ongoing initiatives.
Oct 7, Mondai | House of AI, Delft University of Technology: Opening by Unit Delft Director Frans Oliehoek and Society updates by Serge Belongie (ELLIS President) and Celia Sánchez San Juan (ELLIS COO), insights into the ELLIS PhD and Postdoc Program, and ELLIS Mobility Program presentations from Mario Fritz, Cecilia Zanazzo, and Giulia Clerici. Roundtable discussions explored ways to strengthen inter-unit collaboration, and the day concluded with a social dinner fostering networking and exchange.
Oct 8, LAB42 UvA (University of Amsterdam): Focused on industry collaboration. Maarten de Rijke, Director of ICAI – Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence delivered a keynote on university-industry partnerships, followed by presentations from ICAI-affiliated labs. Further discussions explored leveraging ELLIS partnerships to further promote „AI made in Europe“.
The retreat concluded with a relaxing canal cruise, celebrating the achievements and strong collaborative spirit of the ELLIS community among the Coordinators.
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After a successful first retreat in September 2024 initiated by Conrad Heinz Philipp (ELLIS Unit Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena) at the ELLIS Unit Sofia hosted by INSAIT – Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (https://lnkd.in/gZsyMQwF), this year’s retreat was warmly hosted by Taylor Stone, Adela Pranindiati, Esther van Straten, and Inge Wortel. We hope this event continues to grow into a cherished tradition within the ELLIS network.
Attendees 2025: ELLIS Alicante Foundation, ELLIS Amsterdam, ELLIS Unit Barcelona, ELLIS Unit Copenhagen, Darmstadt, Delft, Freiburg, Genoa, Graz, ELLIS Institute Finland, Heidelberg, ELLIS Unit Jena, Linz, ELLIS Unit Lisbon, Madrid, ELLIS Unit Milan, Munich, ELLIS unit Nijmegen, Potsdam, Sofia, Trento, and ELLIS Unit Warsaw + ELLIS Institute Finland, ELLIS Comm/PR Team, ELSA – European Lighthouse on Secure and Safe AI, and ELIAS – European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability and PhD & Postdoc Program Coordinator.
📸 Picture credits: Albert Stevanus (supported by ELLIS Unit Jena, ELLIS Amsterdam, ELLIS Unit Delft, ELLIS unit Nijmegen).
