European Center for AI Research and Education

ECAIRE – Shaping the Future of AI Education and Research in Europe

Empowering individuals with the knowledge, skills, and ethics to lead in an AI-driven world.

Our Mission: Transforming AI Education and Research

At ECAIR, our mission is to lead the transformation of AI education and research across Portugal and Europe, fostering inclusivity, diversity, and responsible AI development. We are dedicated to empowering individuals—from K-12 students to lifelong learners and the workforce of the future—with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an AI-driven world.

Through collaboration with schools, industry partners, and research institutions, we create innovative programs, resources, and outreach initiatives that ensure AI serves as a force for good, driving societal progress, equity, and ethical technological advancement. Our vision is to cultivate a diverse generation of AI leaders who can navigate the complexities of the AI revolution, leveraging their creativity, empathy, and critical thinking to solve global challenges and contribute to a more just and equitable society.

The AI Landscape: Why ECAIR Matters

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping every aspect of our lives. From facial recognition systems to advanced healthcare diagnostics, the potential of AI is immense, but so are the risks of misuse and inequality. Education in AI is now more important than ever, as it equips individuals with the knowledge to understand and responsibly harness AI technologies.

ECAIR is at the forefront of this educational transformation, promoting responsible, inclusive, and equitable AI solutions. Our programs serve K-12 students, vocational learners, and professionals, cultivating the skills needed to ensure AI becomes a tool for empowerment and fairness.

Key Initiatives and Programs

Discover What We Do

AI Literacy in K-12 Education

As computational thinking becomes a key literacy for the 21st century, AI literacy is emerging as an essential component of STEAM education. ECAIR collaborates with schools, educational nonprofits, and industry partners to develop AI education programs that empower K-12 students, teachers, and families. Our initiatives offer:

  • Student-friendly coding platforms like Scratch, App Inventor, and Jupyter Notebooks.
  • Project-based curricula focused on creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking.
  • Professional development for educators aligned with AAAI’s 5 Big Ideas of AI.

Through these efforts, we aim to foster a generation of responsible, AI-literate students equipped to solve real-world challenges.

AI for Workforce Upskilling

AI is transforming industries, and vocational-technical students and adult learners need to be equipped with AI skills to succeed in this new economy. ECAIR partners with vo-tech schools, community colleges, and industry to:

  • Create AI Career Pathways for students.
  • Develop innovative curricula and professional development materials.
  • Introduce AI tutors to scale teacher training programs effectively.

Our goal is to drive transformative impact across Europe by closing the skills gap in AI-powered professions and creating an AI-literate workforce.

AI-Supported Learning

AI can enhance learning environments by creating personalized, engaging, and scalable experiences. At ECAIR, we are developing intelligent agents that serve as learning companions and mentors, particularly for students with special needs or those impacted by learning disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic. These AI-powered tools help:

  • Support children with special educational needs (e.g., ASD, language learners).
  • Promote continuity of learning across home, school, and clinical environments.

By integrating AI into classrooms, ECAIR aims to create a more inclusive and equitable education system.

Diversity and Inclusivity in AI

ECAIR is committed to creating opportunities for underrepresented and under-resourced communities to engage with AI technologies. By partnering with schools and STEAM organizations across Europe, we:

  • Host create-a-thons and competitions for K-12 students to showcase their AI projects.
  • Cultivate a vibrant community of diverse young AI-makers and innovators.

Our mission is to ensure that AI becomes a force for inclusion and empowerment, with diverse perspectives contributing to the future of AI.

Timeline of Key Milestones (2025-2030)

2025

  • January 2025: Launch of ECAIR.
  • March 2025: First AI Training for Teachers across Portugal and Europe.
  • June 2025: First AI for Leaders Training for business and institutional leaders.
  • July 2025:
    • Start of AI Lab for Students focusing on Generative AI.
    • Launch Collaborative Research with CMU Portugal and MIT Portugal.
  • September 2025: Start Development and Dissemination of AI Content for Schools, with quarterly curriculum updates focusing on AI Ethics.

2026

  • March 2026: First AI-supported Professional Development Program for vocational teachers.
  • July 2026: Expand the AI Lab for Students to more schools across Europe.
  • September 2026: Launch the AI Career Pathways Program for vocational-technical schools.

2027

  • February 2027: Host the first International AI Education Summit in Portugal as part of AAAI.
  • March 2027: Develop and release the first Guidelines for AI Learning and Teaching for K-12 and workforce training.
  • June 2027: Start AI Workforce Upskilling Programs in collaboration with industry leaders.

2028

  • March 2028: Expand the AI Career Pathways Program across Europe.
  • September 2028: Publish the first AI Impact Report highlighting the results of ECAIR initiatives.

2029

  • February 2029: Host the second International AI Education Summit.
  • June 2029: Expand AI training programs to Africa and Latin America.
  • September 2029: Establish AI Learning Hubs across Europe and beyond.

2030

  • January 2030: Reflect on five years of impact, documenting the transformative effects of ECAIR’s programs on AI literacy, inclusivity, and responsible AI development.

 Industry Partnerships Outreach (2025-2030)

2025

  • June 2025: Amazon joins as the first industry partner to support AI workforce development.
  • September 2025: Begin outreach to Meta for partnership in AI-supported learning technologies.

2026

  • March 2026: Meta joins as a key partner.
  • June 2026: Initiate collaboration with Alphabet (Google) on teacher training and AI ethics research.

2027-2029

  • 2027: Engage Microsoft and IBM to expand collaboration in AI education.
  • 2028: Recruit Siemens and SAP as European tech partners.
  • 2029: Broaden partnerships with emerging tech companies and AI-focused startups.