Four new ELSA Labs launched under AiNed programme

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded funding to four research projects under the NGF Call AiNed ELSA Labs. These projects address ethical, legal, societal, and economic questions related to the use of AI in various domains.

The ELSA Labs – short for Ethical, Legal, Societal and Economic Aspects – aim to develop and apply human-centred AI. Each project focuses on a specific public or private case, seeking responsible solutions that serve the public good.

The four selected projects are:

1. ELSA Lab for Technical Industry
This lab addresses the slow adoption of AI in the technical industry, especially among SMEs. The project focuses on promoting equal opportunities, industrial autonomy, and contributions to global sustainability goals.

2. Legal, Regulatory, and Policy Aspects of Clinical Decision Support Systems
This project examines the legal and ethical aspects of AI systems used in healthcare. It focuses on the certification and trustworthiness of AI technologies that support clinical decisions in diagnosis and treatment.

3. ELSA Lab AI for Health Equity: Towards Fairness & Justice in Medical AI
This project studies how to develop and apply medical AI in a fair way. It addresses algorithmic bias and the need to protect marginalised groups based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status.

4. Mobility DesAIgn Lab
This lab focuses on AI-assisted design of urban mobility using “prescriptive digital twins.” It explores ethical, legal, and policy implications of sustainable mobility interventions, including automated vehicle management.

These projects are part of the AiNed programme of the Dutch National Growth Fund, which received €204.5 million in funding in 2021. The programme is implemented by the AI Coalition for the Netherlands (AIC4NL) and aims to promote broad and responsible AI adoption across key sectors.

Read more about the project on the website of NWO.