The European Commission has selected Ubotica Technologies, a space artificial intelligence (AI) company, as a participant in the ARCHYTAS project, an initiative to develop AI accelerators for defence applications.
Funded by the European Defence Fund (EDF), ARCHYTAS brings together leading technology firms and research institutions to advance AI capabilities through innovative hardware and software solutions.
The ARCHYTAS project aims to revolutionise AI for defence through:
- Exploring cutting-edge device and package-level advancements, such as optoelectronic-based accelerators and neuromorphic devices; and
- Prioritising solutions that minimise energy consumption, a critical factor in defence operations; and
- Developing accelerators capable of significantly faster processing for rapid decision-making in critical situations; and
- Delivering high-performance AI solutions that are affordable and accessible.
Ubotica’s SPACE:AI technology brings AI processing directly to Earth Observation satellites and will play a central role in the project. By analysing data in orbit, SPACE:AI enables faster threat detection, classification, and response times for defence applications, eliminating the need to transmit massive amounts of data to Earth, and improving efficiency and mission effectiveness.
“We are delighted to receive our first grant from the European Defence Fund (EDF),” said Ubotica CEO Fintan Buckley. SPACE:AI can be a critical tool in defence, identifying risks in real time and ensuring rapid response capabilities. This support from the EDF enables us to push the boundaries of AI technology and contribute significantly to Europe’s defence capabilities.”
The EDF, a key initiative of the European Union, bolsters Europe’s defence capabilities by funding collaborative research and development projects. It fosters innovation and cooperation across member states, companies, and research institutions to develop cutting-edge defence technologies. The EDF aims to strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy and resilience in an increasingly complex security landscape by supporting projects from research to final products.
