On January 1, 2023, FARI – AI for the Common Good Institute (VUB & ULB) became a part of the CitCom.ai Project, which will run until January 2028. This initiative, proposed by Digital Europe, unites 33 collaborators with, IMEC leading the project. CitCom.ai is a Test and Experimentation Facility (TEF) that tests and validates AI and robotics for smart cities, ensuring safety and compliance before real-world deployment. The project accelerates responsible AI development to support a greener, more digital Europe. 

About CitCom.ai 

CitCom.ai is a leading Test and Experimentation Facility (TEF) under the European Union’s major initiative to accelerate the development of responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) across Europe. With a focus on smart cities and communities, CitCom.ai is dedicated to testing and validating AI and robotics technologies in real-world environments before they are deployed in areas where humans live and move. 

CitCom.ai serves as a cross-domain bridge, connecting innovative technologies, infrastructure, and citizens. The facility plays a key role in testing cutting-edge solutions in sectors like power, mobility, telecommunications, and self-driving vehicles. It ensures that AI products — ranging from autonomous vehicles to municipal park robots — are fully integrated, tested, and validated, meeting performance and safety standards. 

The CitCom.ai TEF is led by a strong partnership that covers 11 EU countries from the outset. Through testing, validation, and policy input, CitCom.ai plays an essential role in the AI innovation ecosystem, working closely with AI innovators, investors, and regulatory bodies to promote the development and adoption of safe, sustainable, and economically viable AI solutions. 

In line with the broader objectives of the European Union’s initiative, CitCom.ai encourages responsible AI development, contributing to a greener and more digital Europe through its support for the smart city transformation. Collaboration and innovation accelerate the adoption of AI-driven solutions that enhance the quality of life for citizens across Europe.  

FARI’s Involvement  

FARI plays a key role in the CitCom.ai project by leading a task focused on AI Regulatory Sandboxes and their interaction with the CitCom.ai Test and Experimentation Facility (TEF). This task is crucial in ensuring that AI technologies are tested in compliance with regulatory standards, facilitating the safe deployment of innovative solutions. 

Additionally, FARI is actively involved in supporting the development of services for the Brussels TEF site and providing the CAVE (Computer Augmented Virtual Environment) as an infrastructure available for use within the project. Through these contributions, FARI enhances the testing and experimentation capabilities of CitCom.ai, supporting the creation of responsible and trustworthy AI solutions. 

 

Contact  

Martin Canter, FARI Head of Smart Region Hub: martin.canter@fari.brussels  

Tamara De Swert, IMEC, Tamara.DeSwert@imec.be