Call for bursaries - EUMETNET E-AI programme

1. Grant Call Process

1.1 Call Launch

• This call is issued in December with a deadline of 20^th February 2025.

1.2 Eligibility

• Applicants must be institutions or consortia based in EUMETSAT Member States (universities, research centres, meteorological services, or industry with research capacity).
• Proposals must directly contribute to the objectives of the call (e.g., AI/ML applications, data curation, operational forecasting, climate services) with the aim to contribute the E-AI initiative.
• International collaborations are encouraged, provided the leading institution is within a Member State.
• Bursaries may be assigned to new personnel hired for a Member State or existing personnel working within a Member State’s organisation, with the aim of promoting scientific exchange and technology transfer.

1.3 Calls

• For each call the financial ceiling will be provided (around 200K per call).
• Eligible costs: personnel cost, mobility and travel, research costs, institutional overheads, training costs.
• Calls will prioritise projects that:
  • Enhance exploitation of EO data and services,
  • Contribute to capacity building within Member States,
  • Deliver open and shareable results (e.g., open-source software, shared datasets).
• Guidelines for the proposals
  • Agility: Short project cycles (12–24 months) to encourage innovation.
  • Collaboration: Encourage Cross-Member State consortia and links with international initiatives.
  • Openness: Promote open-source tools, open data practices, and knowledge-sharing.
  • Impact-oriented: Focus on practical outcomes for forecasting, climate, and operational services.

1.4 2025 Call

Focus areas: Activities must centre on data curation and satellite data exploitation in AI/ML, using EUMETSAT data/products, and results should preferable be made available on the European Weather Cloud (EWC).

Key areas that the proposals could focus on are:

• Exploiting EUMETSAT Satellite Data for AI-Based Weather Prediction: Data Curation and Preparation of AI-Ready Datasets.
• Feature Identification and Extreme-Event Labelling in Geostationary Satellite Data Using Radar and Other Reference Sources.
• Fusion of EUMETSAT Satellite Observations with ML-Based Global and Regional Prediction Models.
• Use of Generative AI to explore and access satellite data.
• Technical Support for the Effective Use of EUMETSAT Satellite Data in AI and Machine Learning Applications.
• MLOps Workflows for Integrating EUMETSAT Satellite Data into Operational AI/ML Weather Prediction.

2. Administrative Procedures

2.1 Submission

• Proposals must be submitted electronically to @email and @email by the stated deadline.
• Proposals must be submitted by Member States through a nominated representative. Proposals supported by multiple Member States are strongly encouraged.
• The application package shall include, within a maximum of 10 pages, not considering CVs and support letters:
  • Project description (scientific/technical objectives, methodology, workplan),
  • Alignment with the call priorities,
  • Expected outcomes and deliverables,
  • Cost and justification,
  • Curriculum vitae of key personnel,
  • Letters of support (if applicable).
• Evaluation Process
• Proposals will be reviewed by a Scientific Evaluation Committee composed of experts nominated by Member States and the Secretariat as follows: the Chair of the STG Science Working Group; up to two members from the SAF with extensive experience in AI/ML applications; one representative from the EUMETNET E-AI Strategic Expert Team; and three representatives from the Secretariat (the Chief Scientist, one representative from the Digital Solution and SAF Division, and one representative from the User Support and Climate Services Division). The Committee will be chaired by the EUMETSAT Chief Scientist.

2.3 Criteria for evaluating the proposals

The evaluation of the scientific and technical validity of the proposals is modelled after an existing, approved process for EWC R&D. It should be carried out independently by the Scientific Evaluation Committee, as described in the following section, with a focus on the technical and scientific merit and on maximizing the impact on Member States. The following initial and generic criteria are important to guide the evaluation. Proposals should therefore:

1. Strengthen the development of AI/ML ready-data sets based on EUMETSAT data, improving the use of EUMETSAT data in AI/ML applications;
2. Aim for wide applicability and reusability of the outcomes for Member States;
3. Be underpinned with evidence that the proposing entity has the necessary capability to support the work done by the bursary recipients;
4. Be time-bound and sufficiently defined such that sizing and feasibility can be analysed;
5. Foster collaboration between researchers and developers from various scientific and technical disciplines;
6. Foster the use of open-source software and consider opportunities to exploit EWC resources.

An overall evaluation of the financial aspects.

2.4 Decision-Making

• Based on the Evaluation Panel’s recommendations, the Secretariat will propose a ranking list of proposals to STG by email.
• STG will make the final decision by email.
• Applicants will be notified of the outcome.

2.5 Grant Agreement

• Successful applicants will sign a Grant Agreement defining:
  • Duration (max. 24 months), which could be part of the negotiation depending on the evaluation,
  • Funding level and agreed prices/costs (based on the proposal),
  • Reporting obligations,
  • Intellectual property and data-sharing obligations.

For additional information you can contact: @email and @email