Your Challenge:
Composite Learning

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Hello, innovators! We need breakthrough innovations to train AI models across decentralized and heterogenous nodes. We need bold ideas. We need you.

AI is revolutionizing industries like healthcare, finance, and automotive, but only the biggest players have the resources to develop the most powerful models. High-performance training still depends on costly, centralized data centers, limiting access for SMEs and startups—especially in Germany and Europe, where advanced computing resources lag behind.

Composite Learning combines distributed, decentralized and federated learning, offering a new approach to AI and allowing models to be trained across diverse systems without the need of centralized data centers. This method lets organizations collaborate and train models securely, preserving data privacy and making cutting-edge AI accessible to more companies. However, new solutions are needed to overcome the limitations of today’s systems, such as a lack of compatibility between different devices, communication bottlenecks, and reliance on central update servers.

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The task: Your mission is to create a robust, scalable framework for Composite Learning that can handle AI training across diverse, decentralized systems.

The focus is on developing solutions that enable efficient model training on heterogeneous Hardware, from high-performance GPUs to CPUs of different types and manufacturers. Solutions must also be resilient, dynamically adapting to computing resource fluctuations and device outages. The teams will deliver a functional core for this framework as open source, which will serve as the foundation for further development, including commercial services and proprietary product features.

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We support: Potential disruptive innovations

The SPRIND Challenge spans 30 months over three stages. A jury of distinguished experts will assist SPRIND in evaluating the applications and choosing up to ten teams to participate in Stage 1.

SPRIND provides substantial, tailored support throughout each phase of the challenge, including financial backing and direct access to a network of experts and potential collaborators. For Stage 1, teams may receive up to EUR 530,000 (plus VAT), with funding based on each team’s projected costs. After each stage, the jury will review interim results, evaluating which teams display the strongest potential for transformative innovation. Up to seven teams will advance to Stage 2, with funding of up to EUR 520,000 (plus VAT) per team. For those moving into Stage 3, SPRIND will provide up to EUR 600,000 (plus VAT) to support further development and implementation.

How to participate in the SPRIND Challenge?

Applications will be accepted until January 15, 2025, 6:00 PM CET

Registration Webinar

To introduce SPRIND and our new SPRIND Challenge, we are offering two webinars. The first webinar took place on December 3, 2024, 14:00-15:00. The recording is available for you to watch. The second webinar will take place on January 7, 2025, 17:00-18:00. The webinar will conclude with a Q&A.

Recording of the webinar from 03.12.2024

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FAQ

The start-up budgets provided for each team are intended for the duration of the SPRIND Challenge. Teams should plan their resources accordingly in order to complete their project successfully. However, it is also possible to spend any remaining money beyond the Challenge funding period.

All expenses that serve to achieve the Challenge goal can be paid with SPRIND funds. The start-up budget made available to each team is intended to cover the costs of research and development, material procurement, and any travel and accommodation costs that are incurred as part of the Challenge. This can include, for example, personnel costs, equipment and materials, or rent.

The criteria and evaluation process for the performance of the Challenge COMPOSITE LEARNING will be made transparent and communicated to the teams prior to the event.

The intellectual property rights created by the teams during the SPRIND Challenge remain with the teams. Upon request, SPRIND receives a free and non-exclusive right to use the results found. Details can be found in the Participation agreement which will be published alongside the Call for Submissions.

No. However, you should ensure that your team covers all the skills and expertise required to successfully overcome the challenges . It needs to be clear from the work plan that the tasks are manageable for the team.

Yes, applications by project consortia are permissible. The leading consortium partner must be identifiable as the sole contracting partner with SPRIND and have its headquarters in the European Union, European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the United Kingdom, or Israel.

A team of experts from SPRIND makes a preliminary selection from the applications received. The final decision on admission to the Challenge will be made on the basis of the application and the pitch in front of an external jury of scientists, industry experts and/or investors. The pitch is scheduled to take place January, 2025, in Leipzig/Germany.

Do you have any questions about the Challenge? Write to us at challenge@sprind.org.

Jano Costard, Challenge Officer
Jano Costard, Challenge Officer
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