On 19 and 20 October, ICN2 welcomed participants to AI4SCITECH, an event exploring the increasing influence of artificial intelligence in various scientific fields and industrial sectors. The programme was structured around two complementary themes: Science and HPC on the first day, and Industry on the second. This provided an opportunity for researchers, technology experts, and industry representatives to exchange ideas and discuss the potential of AI in many different sectors.

Members of the Theoretical and Computational Nanoscience Group and its spin off company Apeiron organised the event, including Dr José H. García, Dr Andrei Voicu Tomut and Dr Santiago Giménez de Castro, together with Andreea-Iulia Lefterovici (Leibniz University Hannover and Innovalia), with support from the Spanish Supercomputing Network (RES).

ICREA Prof. Stephan Roche (ICN2) opened the event, which also aimed to foster connections between scientific research and industry in relation to the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. The programme was highly diverse, including keynote talks by Christian Blum (Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, CSIC), Alfonso Valencia (Barcelona Supercomputing Centre) and Prof. Stephan Roche, as well as presentations by several invited speakers and industry representatives. These contributions covered a broad range of topics, from scientific computing and AI-driven.

ICN2 had a strong presence at the event. As well as members of its spin-off, Apeiron Intelligence, and the Theoretical and Computational Nanoscience Group, the Institute was represented by Dr Iván Pinto from the Advanced Electron Nanoscopy Group, who gave one of the invited talks. The event further emphasised the strategic importance of artificial intelligence in many of ICN2’s areas of research, particularly advanced simulation, HPC and materials design.