Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to our FAQ section! Here you’ll find clear and practical answers to the most common questions
about AI-MATTERS’ Testing and Experimentation Center (TEF) for manufacturing and the services we offer.
Whether you want to learn how AI-MATTERS fosters innovation, find out about the resources and services available at
, or learn how to access our facilities, this section will guide you through the most important information.
Who we are
Who is AI-MATTERS intended for?
Technology companies that want to test their artificial intelligence solutions in a real manufacturing environment and refine or improve their solutions based on the feedback they receive.
Manufacturing companies should test artificial intelligence-based solutions and evaluate their suitability and potential impact before making an actual investment and implementing them.
We focus on startups, growing companies, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), although large companies can also participate.
What services does AI-MATTERS offer?
AI-MATTERS is the European testing and experimentation center for validating new AI technologies in the manufacturing sector.
Test your latest technological solution in AI and robotics with access to our facilities and real manufacturing data, or discover how a new technology could be applied to address your needs, with the possibility of receiving financial support.
AI-MATTERS gives you access to:
- Real production environments and real data
- Advanced infrastructure and expertise
- Proof-of-Concept Validation
- Financial Support Operations for Experimental Projects
Do I need to already have an AI solution to get started?
No; AI-MATTERS is compatible with both:
- Companies that already have an AI solution and want to validate it
- Companies that want to explore how AI could solve a specific challenge
You can start with a problem, a use case, or an idea.
What are the benefits of working with AI-MATTERS?
We provide facilities and infrastructure for testing and experimentation to validate and demonstrate new technologies in a real-world manufacturing environment.
- Access to state-of-the-art facilities
- Collaboration with AI experts from across Europe
- Lower cost and lower risk associated with experimentation
- Faster innovation and time to market
AI-MATTERS helps companies experiment with, validate, and implement AI with greater confidence and more efficiently.
How does the partnership with AI-MATTERS work?
The process typically includes:
- Define your challenge or use case
- Evaluate the available data and systems
- Set up a test or an experiment
- Run the validation in a live environment
- Receive the results and recommendations
This structured approach helps companies move from an idea to a validated solution.
How do I choose the right AI technology or partner for my use case?
We’d love to help you figure that out: whether you contact us through our website, at an event, or in person, we’ll help you identify the AI technology best suited to your use case and find a partner with the necessary expertise.
Our services
What services does AI-MATTERS offer?
AI-MATTERS offers testing and experimentation services that help companies validate, improve, and implement artificial intelligence and robotics solutions in real-world manufacturing environments.
These services combine:
- Infrastructure (laboratories and facilities)
- Experience (AI and manufacturing specialists)
- Data and Use Cases
- Collaborative Experimentation
The goal is to help companies move from an idea or a prototype to validated solutions that can be applied in the real world.
You can find all of our services in our service catalog.
How can I test AI in my factory before investing?
AI-MATTERS allows companies to test AI solutions in a controlled yet realistic production environment.
This means you can:
- Test the use cases with real data
- Assess the impact on efficiency, quality, or downtime
- Make well-informed decisions before you start implementing
How can I validate an AI solution before deploying it at scale in production?
AI-MATTERS enables validation through structured experiments in real manufacturing environments.
This includes:
- Real-world performance tests
- Assessment of Integration with Existing Systems
- Assessment of Scalability, Robustness, and Regulatory Compliance
This shortens the gap between prototyping and production, which is often a common challenge in the manufacturing sector.
If you have an AI solution that you’d like to validate before deploying it at scale in production, please contact us for a no-obligation discussion.
How can I integrate AI solutions into the production systems I already have?
AI-MATTERS’ services are designed to integrate with your existing systems, data, and processes, with the support of expert consultants.
You can start by:
- A specific problem or use case
- Current Production Data
- Limited knowledge of AI
The goal is to make AI accessible, not complicated. However, it depends on the context (use case).
That’s why the best way to answer this question would be to have a casual coffee with one of our partners.
How can I demonstrate that my AI solution works in an industrial setting?
Technology providers can use AI-MATTERS to:
- Testing Solutions Using Real Manufacturing Data
- Test performance with end users
- Improve maturity (for example, progression in the TRL)
- Get proof-of-concept results
This helps demonstrate value to customers and accelerate market adoption.
How long does a checkup take?
The duration of the services depends on each individual; it can range from a few hours to a few months.
How can I book a service?
You can view our services in the service catalog on our website, but you cannot book them.
We believe that, given the complexity of technologies and use cases, every request, technology, and use case deserves careful attention. So, if you’re interested in any of our services or would like to explore the possibilities, please don’t hesitate to contact us through our contact page.
Investments and Contracts
What kind of investment does an AI-MATTERS service require?
Given the wide variety of services, providers (partners), and durations, there is no clear-cut answer. Furthermore, depending on the service, its cost, its duration, and whether the company meets the requirements, organizations may receive financial assistance in the form of a discount.
If your company is interested in any of our services or would like to discuss your needs with AI, we’d be happy to schedule a no-obligation consultation through our contact page.
How can I test AI in my factory without having to make a large initial investment?
AI-MATTERS allows companies to test AI solutions in a controlled yet realistic production environment.
This means you can:
- Test the use cases with real data
- Assess the impact on efficiency, quality, or downtime
- Make well-informed decisions before you start implementing
Is financial assistance available for contracting an AI-MATTERS service?
Depending on the service, its cost, its duration, and whether the company meets the requirements, organizations may receive financial assistance in the form of a discount. This financial assistance is available—provided the requirements are met—to European small and medium-sized enterprises, including startups.
If your company is interested in any of our services or would like to discuss your needs with AI, we’d be happy to schedule a no-obligation consultation through our contact page.
What is the success rate?
The success rate of services depends on how we define success when launching a service. AI-MATTERS offers testing and experimentation services that help companies validate, improve, and implement AI and robotics solutions in real-world manufacturing environments.
Companies often turn to us to determine whether a particular AI technology will work and can be scaled in their environment, or whether that AI technology can be validated in a manufacturing setting. Success can mean either a subsequent investment in that AI technology to implement and scale it, or realizing that it is not validated and deciding not to continue investing in it.
When we talk about a service, we’re also talking about how we define the success of that service.
We are proud to say that, so far, all of our clients have achieved positive results and are very satisfied with them.
Data, Security, Intellectual Property, and Results
What results can I expect?
Depending on how you use it, AI-MATTERS can offer you:
- Proof-of-Concept Reports
- Measurable improvements (efficiency, quality, downtime)
- Reviews from Real Users
- Recommendations for Expansion and Implementation
The goal is to reduce risk and uncertainty before investing.
Who owns the data used in the AI-MATTERS experiments?
Companies participating in AI-MATTERS retain ownership and control over their data. Data ownership means that you decide how your data is accessed, used, and shared, ensuring that it remains under your control throughout the experimentation process.
AI-MATTERS operates within structured data governance frameworks, ensuring transparency, proper handling, and clear agreements regarding data use.
How is my data protected when I use AI-MATTERS' services?
AI-MATTERS follows strict data management and security practices, including:
- Secure Data Management and Storage
- Controlled Access to Datasets
- Compliance with European data protection regulations
- Clear policies on data reuse and sharing
The experiments are conducted in controlled environments, which ensures the protection of confidential industrial data while still allowing for meaningful testing.
What happens to my intellectual property (IP) when I work with AI-MATTERS?
AI-MATTERS ensures that intellectual property rights are clearly defined and protected throughout the collaboration.
- Companies retain ownership of their technologies, models, and data
- Any results obtained jointly are governed by the agreed-upon terms
- Intellectual property protection is integrated into the framework for collaboration
Specific details regarding how intellectual property rights will be managed in an AI-MATTERS service are set forth in the service agreement.
Can I safely test AI without putting my operations or production systems at risk?
Yes, AI-MATTERS offers controlled testing environments that replicate real-world production conditions without disrupting your operations.
This allows you to
- Test everything carefully before putting it into operation
- Identify risks early
- Validate performance under real-world conditions
Places and Travel
Where are AI-MATTERS' facilities located?
AI-MATTERS has a network of testing and experimentation facilities spread across eight European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Greece.
These facilities (also known as “nodes”) provide access to real-world manufacturing environments where companies can test and validate AI solutions.
Do I have to travel to use AI-MATTERS' services?
Not usually; many services can be provided partially remotely, especially when it comes to data analysis or early-stage experimentation. However, to conduct tests in real production environments or use specific infrastructure, it may be necessary to collaborate in person at one of the European facilities.
Since AI-MATTERS has a presence in several European countries, there is usually a center relatively close to your area or within a reasonable distance. In addition, the network connects various partners, allowing companies to benefit from the collective expertise of all locations, not just one.
Can I choose which AI-MATTERS center I want to work at?
Yes. AI-MATTERS is a distributed European network, and companies are matched with the most suitable facility based on their use case, technology, and industry.
You don’t have to choose the location yourself: the consortium helps you identify the node and experts that best suit your project. These facilities (also called “nodes”) give you access to real-world manufacturing environments where companies can test and validate AI solutions.
Governance
How is AI-MATTERS structured?
AI-MATTERS is a network consisting of seven nodes and one satellite—eight countries—whose goal is to increase the resilience and flexibility of the European manufacturing sector by implementing the latest advances in artificial intelligence and robotics, as well as intelligent and autonomous systems for flexible production.
AI-MATTERS is one of the four sector-specific TEFs launched by the “Digital Europe” program. All members of the consortium contribute their expertise in manufacturing across various sectors, such as the automotive, aerospace and mobility, textile, and recycling industries, among others.
AI-MATTERS’ governance structure consists of the following bodies:
- The General Assembly (GA; referred to in the Consortium Agreement as the “Program Steering Committee”)
- The Board of Directors
- The National Co-financing Committee (NCFC)
- The Advisory Board (AB)
- The Ethics and Regulatory Compliance Committee (ESCC) and the Evaluation and Quality Assurance Committee (EQAC)
- Committees dedicated to specific work packages
Would you like to discuss your use case with our project managers?
If you need further assistance, please contact us directly.
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