In the ELLIS Unit Jena (AI for Earth System, Climate and Environmental Sciences), the three research institutions will bundle their future work on artificial intelligence (AI). At the interface of climate and environmental sciences and machine learning (ML), the focus here is on integrating scientific results and developing approaches for machine learning.

Prof. Markus Reichstein from the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry and director of the new Unit explained, “The ELLIS Unit Jena is now connected to the best AI expertise in Europe as part of the European ELLIS network. The network offers fantastic new avenues for interdisciplinary collaboration. A wide range of AI topics, for example robust and interpretable AI, causal modeling, or ecologically and physically based machine learning, are extremely relevant for spatiotemporal Earth, and environmental and climate science are also components of the main topic of the research network."

Prof. Dr. Joachim Denzler from the DLR Institute for Data Science and co-director of the ELLIS Unit Jena added, "The ELLIS Unit Jena takes the successful collaboration among the University of Jena, the Max Planck Institute, and the DLR Institute of the last ten years in this highly relevant field to a new level. It is a central hub in the ELLIS ecosystem to foster scientific breakthroughs at the interface between AI and Earth system and environmental and climate science - and ultimately to contribute to the sustainable development of our planet through links to policy and industry."

ELLIS is a European initiative in artificial intelligence focused on scientific excellence, innovation, and societal impact. The ELLIS networks, with more than 300 recognized researchers, strive to make a meaningful contribution to ensuring Europe's sovereignty and leadership in the research field of modern AI. Several high-level institutes in 14 European countries and Israel collaborate in the ELLIS network. The goal of an ELLIS unit is to create an optimal environment for outstanding researchers, especially to connect cutting-edge research with industrial partners, and to foster the creation of start-ups. To do this, they bring together the best AI researchers at their sites and meet a set of criteria to ensure excellence and be maximally competitive at the international level.