ENACT Cluster: the Grand Est Region invests in artificial intelligence

Officially launched on January 1^st, 2025, the ENACT network (short for European Network for AI by Collaborative Transformation) reflects the Grand Est region’s ambition to become a European hub of excellence in artificial intelligence. Backed by a €67 million investment over five years, the initiative aims to build a robust and integrated AI ecosystem that brings together education, research, innovation, and industrial applications.

ENACT unites major academic and research institutions, including the Universities of Strasbourg and Lorraine, the university hospitals of Strasbourg and Nancy, and national research bodies such as CNRS, INSERM, and Inria. The project is supported by the French government through the France 2030 plan, the Grand Est region, local municipalities, and a wide range of academic and industrial partners.

The project focuses on strategic areas where the Grand Est region holds a competitive edge: natural language processing (NLP), multimodal generative AI, AI for engineering and scientific discovery, and digital health. Pilot programs are also underway to explore the use of AI in emerging fields such as cybersecurity, geology, and ecological transition.

Currently, the network trains over 2,500 students annually, involves nearly 200 researchers and faculty members, and collaborates with around 50 partner companies. Looking ahead, ENACT aims to double the number of students trained, triple the number of PhD candidates, and expand interdisciplinary research by embedding AI into diverse academic disciplines such as biology, chemistry, and medicine.

The project stands out for its commitment to promoting ethical, responsible, and trustworthy AI, exploring topics such as model transparency, data privacy, and the environmental impact of digital technologies.