Following the successful announcement of the Next Frontier AI Initiative by SPRIND in December 2025 at [EurIPS in Copenhagen]((https://sprind.org/en/words/magazine/announcement-next-frontier-ai), the next important step now follows: the start of the roadshow. It brings the mission of the initiative directly into the ecosystems where ideas are created, discussed, and further developed.

The roadshow events are not traditional presentations. They are spaces for exchange, inspiration, and collaborative thinking. People from start-ups, research, industry, politics, and the broader community come together to connect, test ideas, and initiate collaborations.

Upcoming dates at a glance:

📍Munich — March 4, 2026

📍Paris — March 19, 2026

Both events offer the opportunity to meet the team behind the initiative, gain a deeper understanding of the challenge approach, and step into the next phase of shaping AI in Europe.

Teams interested in participating in the Next Frontier AI Challenge will soon have the opportunity to apply. Details regarding the application timeline will be announced shortly. In June, an expert jury will select up to ten teams, each of which will receive €3 million from SPRIND as early as July for the first stage of the Challenge.

After seven months, the teams will present their interim results. Based on these results, the jury will select up to six teams to receive an additional €8 million each. In the third and final stage, up to three teams will receive €15.5 million each.

Over the course of two years, SPRIND will invest a total of €125 million through this innovation competition to build European Frontier AI labs. In autumn 2028, up to three winning teams will be selected, with the potential to become Europe’s next breakthrough technology companies.

Europe has the talent, the scientific excellence, and the entrepreneurial drive to take a leading role in AI development – the Next Frontier AI Roadshow marks the starting point for bringing this energy together and breaking new ground.