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Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to our FAQ section! Here you’ll find clear and practical answers to the most frequently asked questions
about the AI-MATTERS Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF) for the manufacturing sector and the services we offer.

Whether you want to know how AI-MATTERS supports innovation, learn more about the resources and services available—
—or find out how to access our facilities, you’ll find all the essential information in this section.

About us

Who is AI-MATTERS intended for?

Technology companies that want to test their AI solutions in a production environment and develop their solutions based on feedback.

Manufacturing companies that want to experiment with AI technologies and evaluate their suitability and potential impact before actually investing in and implementing the solutions.

Our focus is on startups, scale-ups, and small and medium-sized businesses, but large companies can also be involved.

AI-MATTERS is the European testing and pilot facility for validating new AI technologies in a production context.

Test your latest technological solution in the fields of AI and robotics by accessing our facilities and real-world production data, or discover how a new technology can be applied to meet your needs—with potential financial support.

AI-MATTERS provides access to:

  • Real production environments and data
  • Advanced infrastructure and expertise
  • Validation of the proof-of-concept
  • Financial Support Measures for Experiments

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 challenge

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

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

  • Access to state-of-the-art facilities
  • Collaboration with AI experts from across Europe
  • Lower costs and fewer risks when experimenting
  • Faster innovation and implementation

AI-MATTERS helps companies experiment with AI more confidently and efficiently, validate its potential, and implement AI.

The process typically includes:

  1. Describe your challenge or use case
  2. Assess the available data and systems
  3. Setting up a test or experiment
  4. Perform the validation in a production environment
  5. Get results and recommendations

This structured approach helps companies turn an idea into a proven solution.

We’d be happy to help you with that. When you contact us —via our website, at an event, or in person—we’ll help you determine which AI technology is best suited for your application and which partner has the right expertise.

Our services

What services does AI-MATTERS offer?

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

These services include:

  • Infrastructure (laboratories and facilities)
  • Expertise (specialists in the fields of AI and manufacturing)
  • Data and Application Examples
  • Experimenting Together

The goal is to help companies make the transition from an idea or prototype to proven, practical solutions.

All of our services can be found in our service catalog.

With AI-MATTERS, companies can experiment with AI solutions in a controlled yet realistic production environment.

This means you can do the following:

  • Test usage scenarios with real data
  • Assess the impact on efficiency, quality, or downtime
  • Make well-considered decisions before proceeding with implementation
In addition, depending on whether you are eligible, we can discuss possible financial assistance.

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

This includes:

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

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

If you have an AI solution that you’d like to validate before rolling it out on a large scale, please contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

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

You can start by:

  • A specific problem or a specific application
  • Existing production data
  • Limited in-house expertise in the field of AI

The goal is to make AI accessible, not complicated. However, this depends on the context (area of application).

That’s why the best way to answer this question is over a casual cup of coffee with one of our partners.

Technology providers can use AI-MATTERS to:

  • Test solutions using real production data
  • Testing Performance with End Users
  • Improving maturity (e.g., progress in TRL)
  • Generate proof-of-concept results

This helps demonstrate the added value for customers and accelerate market acceptance.

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

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

Given the complexity of the technologies and areas of application, we believe that every request, every technology, and every area of application deserves thorough consideration. So if you are interested in any of our services or would like to explore the possibilities, please don’t hesitate to contact us via our contact page.

Investments and Contracts

What kind of investment is required for an AI-MATTERS service?

Given the wide range of services, providers (partners), and contract terms, there is no single answer. Furthermore, depending on the service, its cost, the contract term, and whether the company is eligible, organizations may receive financial support in the form of a discount.

If your company is interested in one of our services or would like to discuss your AI needs, we would be happy to schedule a no-obligation consultation with you via our contact page.

With AI-MATTERS, companies can experiment with AI solutions in a controlled yet realistic production environment.

This means you can do the following:

  • Test usage scenarios with real data
  • Assess the impact on efficiency, quality, or downtime
  • Make well-considered decisions before proceeding with implementation
In addition, depending on whether you are eligible, we can discuss possible financial assistance.

Depending on the service, its cost, its duration, and whether the company meets the eligibility requirements, organizations may receive financial support in the form of a discount. This financial support is available to European small and medium-sized enterprises, including startups, provided they are eligible.

If your company is interested in one of our services or would like to discuss your AI needs, we would be happy to schedule a no-obligation consultation with you via our contact page.

The success rate of services depends on how we define success when we set up 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 test whether a particular AI technology will work in their environment and is scalable, or whether an AI technology can be validated in a production environment. Success can mean either making a follow-up investment in the AI technology to implement and scale it, or concluding that the technology has not been validated and deciding against further investment.

When we talk about a service, we also discuss how success is defined for that service.

We are proud to report that all of our clients to date have achieved successful results and are very satisfied with the final outcome.

Data, Security, Intellectual Property, and Results

What kind of results can I expect?

Depending on your specific application, AI-MATTERS can offer the following:

  • Proof-of-concept reports
  • Measurable improvements (efficiency, quality, downtime)
  • Feedback from real users
  • Recommendations for Scaling Up and Implementation

The goal is to mitigate risks and uncertainties before making the investment.

Companies participating in AI-MATTERS retain ownership of and control over their data. Data ownership means that you determine how your data is accessed, used, and shared, ensuring that it remains under your control throughout the entire experimental process.

AI-MATTERS operates within structured data management frameworks, ensuring transparency, proper processing, and clear agreements regarding the use of data.

AI-MATTERS follows strict procedures regarding data management and security, 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 protects sensitive industrial data while still allowing for meaningful testing.

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

  • Companies retain ownership of their technologies, models, and data
  • The agreed-upon terms and conditions apply to all jointly developed results
  • IP protection is integrated into the collaboration framework

The specific details regarding how intellectual property is handled within an AI-MATTERS service are set forth in the agreement for that service.

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

This allows you to:

  • Test the system thoroughly before putting it into use
  • Identifying Risks Early
  • Testing performance under realistic conditions

Locations and Travel

Where are AI-MATTERS' offices located?

AI-MATTERS operates a network of test and pilot facilities in eight European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Greece.

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

Usually not; many services can be provided partially remotely, particularly when it comes to data analysis or early-stage experiments. However, testing in real production environments or when using specific infrastructure may require on-site collaboration at one of the European locations.

Since AI-MATTERS operates in various countries across Europe, there is often an office located relatively close to your region or within a reasonable travel distance. In addition, the network connects various partners, allowing companies to benefit from shared expertise across different locations, rather than just at a single location.

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

You don’t have to choose a location yourself: the consortium will help you find the most suitable hub and the right expertise for your project. These facilities (also known as “hubs”) provide access to real production environments where companies can test and validate AI solutions.

Board of Directors

How is AI-MATTERS structured?

AI-MATTERS is a network of seven hubs and one satellite—spanning eight countries—that aims to increase the resilience and flexibility of the European manufacturing sector through the application of the latest developments in AI and robotics, as well as intelligent, autonomous systems for flexible manufacturing.

AI-MATTERS is one of the four sectoral TEFs established under the “Digital Europe” program. All members of the consortium contribute their expertise in manufacturing across various sectors, such as the automotive industry, aerospace and mobility, textiles, recycling, etc.

AI-MATTERS’ governance structure consists of the following bodies:

  • The General Assembly (GA; referred to as the Program Steering Committee in the consortium agreement)
  • The Board of Directors
  • The National Commission for Co-financing (NCFC)
  • The Advisory Board (AB)
  • The Ethics Review 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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