Navarra, a benchmark territory in AI
The Regional Minister for University, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Juan Cruz Cigudosa, this morning presented the Navarra Artificial Intelligence Research Centre (NAIR Center), launched with the aim of making the Chartered Community a benchmark territory in this field.
Specialised in Artificial Intelligence, NAIR Center sits between the applied research carried out by existing research and technology centres and the basic research conducted by universities. The new centre is likewise aligned with business needs thanks to its link with Navarra’s Digital Innovation Hub (IRIS). It will be located alongside IRIS in the El Sario building at the Public University of Navarra (UPNA).
During his address, Minister Cigudosa underlined the importance of this new centre as part of the regional government’s commitment to Artificial Intelligence. “The aim,” he stated, “is to research algorithms and offer AI-based technological solutions at both local and global level.” The Minister also highlighted public–private collaboration as key to the successful development of this project, as well as the need to attract talent in this field in order to “consolidate Navarra as a high-quality hub in the sphere of Artificial Intelligence”.
For his part, NAIR Center’s Managing Director, Gorka García, emphasised the fundamental role of the centre as a one-stop shop for Artificial Intelligence in Navarra, complementing and reinforcing existing areas of expertise within regional entities and companies. “Collaboration agreements are being formalised with several entities and we are taking part as a partner in different project calls,” he noted.
Also taking part in the presentation were the Director-General for Universities, Ana Burusco, and NAIR Center’s Scientific Director, Humberto Bustince.
Main lines of research
The Navarra Artificial Intelligence Research Centre (NAIR Center) will focus on specific areas of research through teams made up of internationally renowned researchers alongside younger scientists. In this regard, the Centre’s Scientific Director, Humberto Bustince, outlined three major areas of research currently under way.
1) Computational neuroscience.
The goal is to develop processes capable of using Artificial Intelligence to understand the principles governing the development, structure, physiology and cognitive abilities of the nervous system. Building on this knowledge, the aim is to apply artificial techniques and procedures.
2) Disruptive Artificial Intelligence.
This line seeks to address specific problems with a high potential to trigger paradigm-shifting scientific and economic change. For example, work is being done on designing personalised proteins for nutrition and on adaptive radiotherapy.
3) Applied basic research.
This focuses on developing new methods to improve and make more efficient the fusion of information in the various processes involved in AI techniques and methods. In addition, this area explores techniques that enable machines to learn autonomously and to develop solutions to different problems on the basis of available information and data, using so-called deep-learning techniques.
Steps taken up to its creation
In June 2020, the Parliament of Navarra urged the creation of a Research Centre in Artificial Intelligence. The Government of Navarra assigned this mandate to the Department for University, Innovation and Digital Transformation—specifically to the Directorate-General for Universities—given the crucial role that universities play in this sphere.
Over the past year, the Government of Navarra has moved forward with the creation of the centre, establishing its governance and business model and defining strategic relationships. Through a selection process, the Department for University, Innovation and Digital Transformation appointed industrial engineer Gorka García as Managing Director of the centre and Professor Humberto Bustince—Chair of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Public University of Navarra (UPNA)—as Scientific Director.
At the start of 2023, the centre was formally founded, with the Government of Navarra represented on its Board of Trustees, and it has been accredited as a distinctive entity within the Navarra R&D&I System (SINAI). Thanks to the joint work of these actors, knowledge in the field of Artificial Intelligence will be transferred and will benefit the public at large.
Source: https://www.navarra.es
