SCAI – Swiss Center for Augmented Intelligence

SCAI – Swiss Center for Augmented Intelligence is a national competence center for the development and implementation of augmented intelligence. This center is an initiative of the Swiss Capital Region and focuses on three strategic priorities: an interdisciplinary scientific center of excellence, an independent national reference institution for augmented intelligence and an “Innovation & Partnership” pole for the joint development of projects with companies and the public sector.

What is augmented intelligence?

Until now, research and development in the field of artificial intelligence has mainly focused on technical aspects, aiming to mimic human (work) performance. Augmented intelligence, on the other hand, takes a human-centric approach. It aims to support more efficient task performance by linking human and artificial intelligence. This is intended to protect and promote factors such as well-being, privacy and free will. The strategy is grounded in the belief that digital transformation should not merely serve people; instead, it emphasizes the fundamental role of the “human factor” in shaping the digital future.

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About SCAI

SCAI is a national competence center for the development and implementation of augmented intelligence. SCAI is an association. Members are currently the Universities of Berne and Fribourg, the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), the HES-SO Fribourg and the FHNW School of Applied Psychology (APS). In its three strategic development focal points, the association brings together the skills that these universities have already developed in this field. The center aims to exploit the synergies and multiplier effects resulting from this collaboration. In this way, services and projects will be expanded and further developed, for the benefice of the regional economy and public sector. SCAI thus serves as an innovation catalyst for the economic area of the five cantons of the capital region.

Vision

By 2027, a national center of excellence for the development and implementation of augmented intelligence is to be established in the region of Berne – Fribourg – Neuchâtel – Soleure – Valais under the name SCAI. SCAI aims to support political bodies, authorities, companies, and non-governmental organizations in shaping the digital transformation and strategically positioning themselves at both the national and international levels. To this end, it provides expertise in the development, implementation, and application of human-centered artificial intelligence (augmented intelligence).

Strategic objectives 2022-2026

The implementation of the vision takes place through three strategic development focal points (poles) of SCAI.

Scientific Excellence

SCAI profiles itself as an interdisciplinary scientific center of excellence. With its human-centered approach, it distinguishes itself from other research centers in the field of artificial intelligence. The long-term reference point is the acquisition of an NCCR (National Centre of Competence in Research) from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

National Reference Pole

SCAI profiles itself as an independent national reference institution for augmented intelligence. As such, it offers expertise to policy makers, economic actors, public authorities, and NGOs in the field of augmented intelligence.

Innovation & Partnership

SCAI creates a pole “Innovation & Partnership”, which acts as a point of contact for authorities and companies for questions and the initiation of projects around augmented intelligence.

Organization

SCAI was founded as an association in September 2023. The following research institutions are founding members. Each institution is represented by a delegate at the SCAI General Assembly.

Université de Berne, Prof. Dr. Hugues Abriel, Vice-Rector for Research
Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), Prof. Dr Sebastian Wörwag, Rector
University of Fribourg, Prof. Dr Bernard Ries, Vice-Rector
HES-SO Fribourg, Jacques Genoud, Managing Director
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Prof. Dr Tanja Manser, Head of School of Applied Psychology

Associate Members

SCAI is open to collaborations with other research institutes. They can become associate members, participate in research projects and attend scientific committee meetings. Associations and public bodies can also become associate members.

Statutes

Statutes in French & German (18 septembre 2023)

Committee and Chairmanship

Chairman

Prof. Dr Hugues Abriel

Vice-Rector for Research, University of Berne

Members

Prof. Dr Denis Lalanne, Director Human-IST, University of Fribourg

Prof. Dr Adrian Schwaninger, Member of the Board, FHNW School of Applied Psychology (APS)

The Committee is elected by the General Assembly for a two-year term.

Scientific Committee

The Scientific Committee is responsible for managing scientific projects, including the securing of funding for the promotion of research and innovation. It is made up of scientists from SCAI’s ordinary and associate members. The Chairman may invite other members of the scientific community to attend in an advisory function.

Prof. Dr. Denis Lalanne of the University of Fribourg is the current Chairman of the Scientific Committee.

Set-up and financing

Set-up in phases

SCAI is being built following three phases:

2019-2023
Start-up phase
Developing the conceptual design of SCAI.
2023-2026
Build-up phase
Implementing the basic concept of SCAI, including all three development poles.

2023-2026
from 2027 onwards
Consolidation and development phase
Reaching financial independence and further developing the structures and services established in the build-up phase.

Financing

The Swiss Capital Region and the participating research institutions jointly financed the conception of SCAI. The initiators of SCAI are already conducting research in the field of augmented intelligence and maintain diverse collaborations with private and public partners. They conduct research in numerous third-party funded research projects (SNSF, Innosuisse, etc.) and provide a variety of services for the benefit of the industry and the public sector. SCAI wants to expand these activities. Accordingly, starting from the first phase, SCAI finances itself mainly by securing third-party funds from research and innovation funding as well as from cooperation with partners from the private and public sectors. However, the development of SCAI and its three poles requires comprehensive scientific coordination as well as the establishment of an administrative office. These tasks cannot be financed from the current budgets of the universities. That is why the relevant cantons have expressed their readiness to co-finance the built-up phase.

Involved Institutions

Over the years, research institutions of the cantons of Bern, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Soleure and Valais have built up broad networks in the private and public sectors in the context of the augmented intelligence development. They are already carrying out numerous development and innovation projects in collaboration with companies and administrative bodies and are providing a wide range of services for the benefit of decision-makers in politics and business. SCAI brings together the existing competencies. The following research institutions are involved:

University of Berne
Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH)
University of Fribourg
University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland Fribourg (HEIA)
FHNW School of Applied Psychology (APS)

In addition, the following research institutions are actively involved in the development of SCAI:

SCAI – Swiss Center for Augmented Intelligence
c/o Hauptstadtregion Schweiz
Schauplatzgasse 39
3011 Bern

info@hauptstadtregion.ch / 031 381 54 45

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