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Frequently Asked Questions

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

Whether you want to understand how AI-MATTERS supports innovation, discover the resources and services available,
, or learn how to access our facilities, this section will guide you through the essentials.

About Us

Who is AI-MATTERS for?

Technology companies that want to test their artificial intelligence solutions in a real-world industrial setting and refine or improve them based on feedback.

Industrial companies must test artificial intelligence-based solutions and evaluate their relevance and potential impact before proceeding with actual investment and deployment.

We focus primarily on startups, growing companies, and small and medium-sized businesses, but large companies can also participate.

AI-MATTERS is the European testing and experimentation center dedicated to validating new artificial intelligence technologies in the industrial sector.

Validate your latest AI and robotics solutions by gaining access to our facilities and real-world production data, or discover how a new technology could be implemented to meet your needs—with potential financial support.

AI-MATTERS gives you access to:

  • Real-world production environments and data
  • State-of-the-art infrastructure and specialized expertise
  • Validation of the Proof of Concept
  • Financial Support for Experimental Projects

No; AI-MATTERS supports both:

  • Companies that already have an AI solution and want to validate it
  • Companies that want to explore how AI could solve a specific problem

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

We offer testing and experimentation facilities and infrastructure to validate and demonstrate new technologies in a real-world production environment.

  • Access to state-of-the-art facilities
  • Collaboration with AI experts across Europe
  • Reducing the Costs and Risks Associated with Experimentation
  • Accelerating Innovation and Implementation

AI-MATTERS helps companies test, validate, and adopt AI with greater confidence and efficiency.

This process generally includes:

  1. Define your challenge or use case
  2. Evaluate available data and systems
  3. Set up a test or experiment
  4. Perform validation in a live environment
  5. Receive the results and recommendations

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

We’d be delighted to help you find out. Whether you contact us through our website, at an event, or in person, we’ll help you identify the AI technology best suited to your use case and the partner with the necessary expertise.

Our services

What services does AI-MATTERS offer?

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

These services include:

  • Infrastructure (laboratories and facilities)
  • Expertise (AI and manufacturing specialists)
  • Data and Use Cases
  • Collaborative Experimentation

The goal is to help companies move from an idea or prototype to solutions that have been validated and can be applied in practice.

You can find a complete list of our services in our service catalog.

AI-MATTERS enables companies to test AI solutions in a controlled yet realistic production environment.

This means you can:

  • Test use cases with real data
  • Assess the impact on efficiency, quality, or downtime
  • Make informed decisions before you begin implementation
In addition, depending on your eligibility, we can discuss possible financial assistance.

AI-MATTERS enables validation through structured experimentation in real production environments.

This includes, in particular:

  • Performance Evaluation Under Real-World Conditions
  • Assessment of Integration with Existing Systems
  • Assessment of Scalability, Robustness, and Compliance

This helps bridge the gap between the prototype and production, which is a common challenge in the manufacturing sector.

If you have an AI solution that you’d like to validate before deploying it at scale in production, please feel free to contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

AI-MATTERS services are designed to integrate with your existing systems, data, and processes, and are backed by expert guidance.

You can start by:

  • A specific problem or use case
  • Existing production data
  • Limited in-house expertise in AI

The goal is to make AI accessible, not complex. However, this depends on the context (use case).

Therefore, the best way to answer this question would be to meet up for a casual coffee with one of our partners, with no strings attached.

Technology providers can use AI-MATTERS to:

  • Test solutions based on real production data
  • Validate performance with end users
  • Improve the level of maturity (e.g., TRL progression)
  • Obtain proof-of-concept results

This helps demonstrate the added value to customers and accelerate market adoption.

The duration of services varies depending on the specific service; it can range from a few hours to a few months.

You can view our services in the service catalog available on our website, but you cannot book them.

We believe that, given the complexity of technologies and use cases, every request, every technology, and every use case deserves special attention. Therefore, if you are interested in any of our services or would like to explore the various possibilities, please feel free to contact us through our “Contact” page.

Investments and Contracts

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

Given the wide variety of services, providers (partners), and durations, there is no single answer. Furthermore, depending on the service, its cost, its duration, and the company’s eligibility, entities may be eligible for 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 consultation through our “Contact” page.

AI-MATTERS enables companies to test AI solutions in a controlled yet realistic production environment.

This means you can:

  • Test use cases with real data
  • Assess the impact on efficiency, quality, or downtime
  • Make informed decisions before you begin implementation
In addition, depending on your eligibility, we can discuss possible financial assistance.

Depending on the service, its cost, its duration, and the company’s eligibility criteria, entities may be eligible for financial assistance in the form of a discount. This potential financial assistance is available to European small and medium-sized enterprises, including startups, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.

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 consultation through our “Contact” page.

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

Companies regularly turn to us to determine whether a given AI technology is likely to function and evolve within their environment, or whether it can be validated in a production environment. Success can mean either additional investment in that AI technology for its implementation and large-scale deployment, or the realization that it is not validated and the decision not to continue investing in it.

When we discuss a service, we also discuss how we define its success.

We are proud to say that, so far, all of our clients have achieved positive results and are very satisfied with those results.

Data, Security, Intellectual Property, and Results

What kind of results can I expect?

Depending on your use case, AI-MATTERS can offer you:

  • Proof-of-Concept Reports
  • Measurable improvements (efficiency, quality, downtime)
  • Reviews from Real Users
  • Recommendations for Scaling Up and Implementation

The goal is to reduce risks and uncertainties before making any 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 experimentation process.

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

AI-MATTERS adheres to rigorous data management and security practices, including:

  • Secure Data Processing and Storage
  • Controlled Access to Datasets
  • Compliance with European data protection standards
  • Clear policies on data reuse and sharing

The experiments are conducted in controlled environments, which ensures the protection of sensitive industrial data while allowing for the conduct of relevant tests.

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

  • Companies retain ownership of their technologies, models, and data
  • Any results arising from a joint development project are governed by the agreed-upon terms
  • Intellectual property protection is incorporated into the collaboration framework

The specific terms and conditions regarding the handling of intellectual property in connection with an AI-MATTERS service are set forth in the corresponding service agreement.

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

This allows you to:

  • Test safely before deployment
  • Identify risks at an early stage
  • Validate performance under realistic conditions

Places and Travel

Where are AI-MATTERS' facilities located?

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

These facilities (also known as “nodes”) provide access to real production environments where companies can test and validate AI solutions.

Generally speaking, no. Many services can be provided partially remotely, particularly for data analysis or initial experimental phases. However, for testing in real production environments or the use of specific infrastructure, on-site collaboration at one of the European locations may be necessary.

Since AI-MATTERS operates in several European countries, there is often a location relatively close to your region or within a reasonable distance. In addition, this network brings together numerous partners, allowing companies to benefit from expertise shared across different locations, rather than limited to a single site.

Yes. AI-MATTERS is a decentralized European network, and companies are matched with the most suitable facility based on their use case, technology, and industry.

You don’t need to choose a site yourself: the consortium will help you identify the hub and expertise best suited to your project. These facilities (also known as “hubs”) provide access to real-world production environments where companies can test and validate AI solutions.

Governance

How is AI-MATTERS structured?

AI-MATTERS is a network comprising seven hubs and one satellite hub—spanning eight countries—whose goal is to strengthen the resilience and flexibility of the European manufacturing sector through the deployment of the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics, as well as intelligent and autonomous systems designed for flexible production.

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

AI-MATTERS’ governance structure includes the following bodies:

  • The General Assembly (GA; referred to in the consortium agreement as the “program steering committee”)
  • The Executive Committee
  • The National Co-financing Committee (NCFC)
  • The Advisory Committee (AC)
  • The Ethics and Compliance Committee (ESCC) and the Evaluation and Quality Assurance Committee (EQAC)
  • Committees Responsible for Specific Work Packages

Would you like to discuss your use case with our project managers?

For further assistance, please contact us directly.

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