### Summary of the "AI4S Climbers Action Plan" by Shanghai AI Lab #### Introduction The Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (Shanghai AI Lab) has launched the "AI4S Climbers Action Plan" to address the challenges in the field of Artificial Intelligence for Science (AI4S). This initiative aims to break down the silos that often characterize scientific research, leading to resource fragmentation and redundant investments. By fostering large-scale collaboration and innovation, the plan seeks to achieve transformative breakthroughs that are beyond the scope of individual research teams and not typically supported by commercial venture capital. #### Key Objectives 1. **Transformative Breakthroughs**: The plan focuses on developing next-generation AI4S technologies with the potential to revolutionize scientific fields. It emphasizes the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration and the integration of research, engineering, and system development. 2. **Goal-Oriented Research**: Clear, goal-directed projects with measurable milestones will be established to ensure focus and efficiency. 3. **Open Technical Research**: The initiative will tackle major open technical challenges, accelerating paradigm shifts in key scientific domains. 4. **Organized Research**: A tightly coordinated research organization mechanism will be implemented, bringing together diverse experts in a full-time, multi-disciplinary team. #### Long-Term Vision Shanghai AI Lab envisions AI4S as a tool that can revolutionize the relationship between research subjects, research tools, and researchers. The long-term goal is to achieve: - **AI for Data**: Enhancing understanding of scientific data. - **AI for Computation**: Improving computational efficiency and capabilities. - **AI for Innovator**: Boosting the originality and creativity of researchers. #### Support System The "AI4S Climbers Action Plan" offers a comprehensive support system to help selected teams succeed: 1. **Basic Infrastructure**: Access to leading AI computing resources, including advanced pre-trained models and financial support aligned with project goals. 2. **Data Capabilities**: Support for data representation, compression, annotation, cleaning, and high-performance storage and processing. 3. **Expert Guidance**: A team of experienced engineers and AI4S scientists will provide support from technical validation to practical implementation. 4. **Ecosystem Network**: Collaboration with strategic partners to build an ecosystem that spans academic frontiers, industry applications, and technology transfer. 5. **Operational Support**: Assistance in team building, talent recruitment, office space, project management, and intellectual property services. #### Support Directions The plan will support proposals with the potential for significant domain transformation: 1. **Innovative Scientific Directions**: Facilitating collaboration between top scientists from scientific and AI fields to address key scientific questions. 2. **Common Technical Issues**: Developing general AI4S tools, systems, and platforms, particularly focusing on the next generation of AI for Data, AI for Computation, and AI for Innovator technologies. 3. **Industry Benchmarks**: Targeting major application scenarios, the plan aims to implement high-value applications based on innovative projects and common technologies. #### Application Timeline The "AI4S Climbers Action Plan" operates on a rolling basis, with the following key dates for the first batch: - **January 22, 2025**: Open for applications from global universities, research institutes, new R&D institutions, and tech companies. - **February 28, 2025**: Deadline for submitting the first batch of application materials. - **Mid-March 2025**: Notification of application feedback. - **Late March 2025**: Review and evaluation of proposals, followed by the announcement of selected teams and the opening of new batches. #### Contact Information For further information or to apply, interested parties can contact: - Lu Yubo: [email protected] - Li Meng: [email protected] - Lu Kai: [email protected] #### Conclusion The "AI4S Climbers Action Plan" by Shanghai AI Lab represents a significant step towards overcoming the limitations of traditional research models in AI4S. By providing a robust support system and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, the plan aims to catalyze groundbreaking innovations and ensure that these advancements have a meaningful impact beyond the laboratory environment. This initiative is open to a global community of researchers and scholars, encouraging bold and unexplored questions to drive the future of AI in scientific research.