‘More is needed than just a research institute.’ That is what Silvia Lenaerts and Patrick Groothuis of the TU/e Executive Board (CvB) wrote in a message to all employees involved with the Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute (EAISI).

The message explains the decision of TU/e to transform the institute into an acceleration platform that will ‘connect and accelerate’, while simultaneously committing fully to integrating AI into all university processes, including education, research, and operations. ‘If we do not accelerate and implement far-reaching changes, we risk becoming followers rather than leaders in the field of AI,’ the Executive Board members wrote.

Close to the processes

TU/e wants to organize AI-related activities as close to the actual processes as possible and provide central coordination only where necessary. As examples of areas that should remain centrally managed, the university mentions shared infrastructure, stimulating interdisciplinary research across departments, and external positioning.

EAISI has played a prominent role in these areas in recent years. What responsibilities it will assume as a new acceleration platform has not yet been determined. It is clear, however, that EAISI will no longer continue as a centrally funded research institute.

Research

Application-oriented research will be distributed among the other research institutes and data science academy JADS. Each institute will receive its own AI program manager. Fundamental research will remain within the departments.

In February, EAISI director Carlo van de Weijer said in an interview with Cursor that the institute’s role in AI research absolutely should not disappear. Van de Weijer led the task force that examined several scenarios for the future of EAISI. According to TU/e spokesperson Ivo Jongsma, the Executive Board selected one of those scenarios.

Chief AI Officer

The institute will make way for a platform, but a press release and the Executive Board’s letter do not make clear what that platform will look like in practice. According to Jongsma, further details will be determined during the implementation phase over the summer.

A new AI governance board has already been established, including Lenaerts and Groothuis, along with deans and directors. A project board will also be created to serve as a link between strategy and implementation.

An entirely new position is that of Chief AI Officer. Jongsma declined to speculate about potential candidates. “We still need to develop a complete profile for that role.”

There will also be an AI ambassador, who will play a “driving role” and, among other things, support the AI Summit Brainport.

Keeping everyone on board

The university aims to present a reorganization plan to the University Council in November and expects to make a final decision in December on the new AI strategy and the future of EAISI. According to Jongsma, there will be no layoffs. ‘We will do everything we can to keep everyone on board,’ the Executive Board members wrote.

Whatever form EAISI ultimately takes, one thing is certain: TU/e intends to integrate AI even more deeply into all of its processes and accelerate those efforts.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.