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Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the “Frequently Asked Questions” section! Here you’ll find clear and practical answers to the most common questions
regarding AI-MATTERS’ Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF) for the manufacturing sector, as well as the services we provide.

Whether you want to understand how AI-MATTERS supports innovation, learn about the available resources and services,
or find out how to access our facilities, this section will walk you through the basics.

About us

Who is AI-MATTERS intended for?

Technology companies that wish to test their artificial intelligence solutions in a real production environment and develop or improve them based on the feedback they receive.

Companies in the manufacturing sector should test solutions based on artificial intelligence technology, assess the suitability and potential impact of these technologies before proceeding with substantial investments and implementation.

We focus on startups, growing businesses, and SMEs, but large companies are also welcome to participate.

AI-MATTERS is the European testing and experimentation facility for validating new artificial intelligence technologies in the manufacturing industry.

Validate your latest technological solution in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics by utilizing our facilities and real-world production data, or learn how a new technology could be applied to meet your needs—with potential financial support.

AI-MATTERS provides access to:

  • Real-world production environments and data
  • Advanced infrastructure and expertise
  • Validation of the proof of concept
  • Financial Support Measures for Experimental Activities

No; AI-MATTERS supports both:

  • Companies that already have an artificial intelligence solution and wish to validate it
  • Companies that wish to explore how artificial intelligence could solve a specific challenge

You can start with a problem, a use case, or an idea.

We offer testing and experimentation facilities and infrastructure for the validation and demonstration of new technologies in a real production environment.

  • Access to state-of-the-art facilities
  • Collaboration with experts in the field of artificial intelligence from across Europe
  • Reducing the costs and risks associated with experimental testing
  • Faster innovation and implementation

AI-MATTERS helps companies experiment with, validate, and adopt artificial intelligence with greater confidence and efficiency.

The process typically includes:

  1. Identify your challenge or use case
  2. Assessment of Available Data and Systems
  3. Organizing a test or experiment
  4. Performing validation in a live environment
  5. Get the results and recommendations

This structured approach helps companies move from an idea to a proven solution.

We’d love to help you find out. When you reach out to us—whether through our website, at an event, or in person— we’ll help you identify the right AI technology for your specific use case and the partner with the right expertise.

Our services

What services does AI-MATTERS provide?

AI-MATTERS provides testing and experimentation services that help companies validate, improve, and implement artificial intelligence and robotics solutions in real-world production environments.

These services combine:

  • Infrastructure (laboratories and facilities)
  • Expertise (specialists in the fields of artificial intelligence and manufacturing)
  • Data and Use Cases
  • Collaborative experimentation

The goal is to help companies move from an idea or prototype to proven solutions that can be implemented in practice.

All of our services are listed in our Service Catalog.

AI-MATTERS allows companies to test artificial intelligence solutions in a controlled yet realistic production environment.

This means that you can:

  • Test the use cases with real data
  • Assessment of the impact on efficiency, quality, or downtime
  • Make informed decisions before moving forward with implementation
In addition, depending on the eligibility criteria, we can discuss the possibility of providing financial support.

AI-MATTERS enables validation through structured experiments under real production conditions.

This includes:

  • Real-World Performance Test
  • Assessment of Integration with Existing Systems
  • Assessment of Scalability, Resilience, and Compliance

This narrows the gap between the prototype and the final product, which is a common challenge in the manufacturing sector.

If you have an artificial intelligence solution that you would like to evaluate before implementing it on a large scale in production, please contact us for a no-obligation discussion.

AI-MATTERS’ services are designed to work in conjunction with your existing systems, data, and processes, backed by expert consulting.

You can start with:

  • A specific problem or a specific use case
  • Existing production data
  • Limited in-depth knowledge of artificial intelligence

The goal is to make artificial intelligence accessible, not complicated. However, this depends on the specific context (use case).

Therefore, the best way to answer this question would be during an informal coffee meeting with one of our colleagues.

Technology providers can use AI-MATTERS to:

  • Testing solutions using real production data
  • Verification of performance with end users
  • Improvement in the maturity level (e.g., progress in TRL)
  • Generating proof-of-concept results

This helps highlight the value for customers and accelerate market adoption.

The duration of services depends on the type of service and can range from a few hours to a few months.

You can view our services in the Services Directory on our website; however, you cannot make a reservation for them.

We believe that, given the complexity of technologies and use cases, every request, every technology, and every use case deserves to be thoroughly examined. Therefore, if you are interested in any of our services or would like to explore the possibilities, please do not hesitate to contact us via the “Contact Us” page.

Investments and Contracts

What kind of investment does an AI-MATTERS service require?

Due to the wide range of services, suppliers (partners), and duration, there is no clear-cut answer. Furthermore, depending on the service, its cost, duration, and the company’s eligibility, organizations may receive financial assistance in the form of a discount.

If your company is interested in one of our services or would like to discuss its needs with AI, we would be happy to schedule a no-obligation conversation through our “Contact Us “ page.

AI-MATTERS allows companies to test artificial intelligence solutions in a controlled yet realistic production environment.

This means that you can:

  • Test the use cases with real data
  • Assessment of the impact on efficiency, quality, or downtime
  • Make informed decisions before moving forward with implementation
In addition, depending on the eligibility criteria, we can discuss the possibility of providing financial support.

Depending on the service, its cost, duration, and the company’s eligibility criteria, businesses may receive financial assistance in the form of a discount. Any financial support, subject to eligibility criteria, is available to European small and medium-sized enterprises, including startups.

If your company is interested in one of our services or would like to discuss its needs with AI, we would be happy to schedule a no-obligation conversation through our “Contact Us “ page.

The success rate of services depends on how we define success when we create a service. AI-MATTERS provides testing and experimentation services that help companies validate, improve, and implement artificial intelligence and robotics solutions in real-world production environments.

Companies regularly turn to us to determine whether a specific artificial intelligence technology will work and can be scaled up in their environment, or whether an AI technology can be validated in a production environment. Success may mean either a subsequent investment in that AI technology with the aim of implementing and scaling it, or the determination that it has not been validated and, therefore, refraining from further investment.

When we discuss a service, we also consider how the success of that service is defined.

We are proud to report that, to date, all of our clients have achieved positive results and are very satisfied with the outcome.

Data, Security, Intellectual Property & Results

What kind of results can I expect?

Depending on your needs, AI-MATTERS can offer:

  • Reports Verifying the Validity of the Idea
  • Measurable improvements (efficiency, quality, downtime)
  • Reviews from real users
  • Recommendations for Scaling Up and Implementation

The goal is to reduce risk and uncertainty prior to the investment.

Companies participating in AI-MATTERS retain ownership and control of their data. Data ownership means that you decide how your data is accessed, used, and shared, ensuring that it remains under your control throughout the experimental process.

AI-MATTERS operates within structured data governance frameworks, ensuring transparency, sound management, and clear agreements regarding data use.

AI-MATTERS follows strict data management and security practices, including:

  • Secure Data Management and Storage
  • Controlled Access to Datasets
  • Compliance with European data protection standards
  • Clear policies regarding the reuse and sharing of data

The experiments are conducted in controlled environments, ensuring the protection of sensitive industrial data without, however, hindering the conduct of meaningful tests.

AI-MATTERS ensures that intellectual property rights are clearly defined and protected throughout the duration of the collaboration.

  • Companies retain ownership of their technologies, models, and data
  • The results arising from the joint development are governed by the agreed terms
  • Intellectual property protection is an integral part of the cooperation framework

The specific details regarding how intellectual property is managed within an AI-MATTERS service are included in the service agreement.

Yes, AI-MATTERS provides controlled test environments that replicate real-world production conditions without disrupting your operations.

This allows you to:

  • Try it out safely before installation
  • Identify risks early
  • Verification of performance under realistic conditions

Places and Travel

Where are AI-MATTERS' facilities located?

AI-MATTERS manages a network of testing and experimentation facilities in eight European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Greece.

These facilities (also known as “hubs”) provide access to real-world production environments where companies can test and validate artificial intelligence solutions.

Usually not; many services can be provided partially remotely, especially when it comes to data analysis or early-stage experiments. However, conducting tests in real production environments or using specific infrastructure may require on-site collaboration at one of the European facilities.

Since AI-MATTERS spans many countries in Europe, there is often a facility relatively close to your area or within easy reach. In addition, the network connects many partners, allowing companies to benefit from the collective expertise available across all locations, not just one.

Yes. AI-MATTERS is a European network with a distributed structure, and companies are matched with the most appropriate facility based on their use case, technology, and sector of activity.

You don’t have to choose a location yourself: the consortium helps you identify the most suitable node and the appropriate expertise for your project. These facilities (also called “hubs”) provide access to real-world production environments where companies can test and validate artificial intelligence solutions.

Governance

How is AI-MATTERS structured?

AI-MATTERS is a network consisting of seven nodes and one satellite—spanning eight countries —aimed at strengthening the resilience and flexibility of the European manufacturing sector through the application of the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics, as well as smart, autonomous systems for flexible production.

AI-MATTERS is one of the four sectoral TEFs launched as part of the “Digital Europe” program. All members of the consortium contribute their expertise in the manufacturing sector across various industries, such as the automotive industry, the aerospace sector, and mobility, textiles, recycling, etc.

The AI-MATTERS governance structure includes the following bodies:

  • The General Assembly (GA; referred to in the Joint Venture Agreement as the “Program Steering Committee”)
  • The Executive Board
  • The National Co-financing Committee (NCFC)
  • The Advisory Board (AB)
  • The Ethics and Compliance Committee (ESCC) and the Evaluation and Quality Assurance Committee (EQAC)
  • Committees dedicated to specific work packages

Would you like to discuss your situation with our project managers?

You can get further assistance by contacting us directly.

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