Announcement of the Winners of the First European AI Awards
In a celebration of excellence in the European AI ecosystem, the European AI Forum has presented the inaugural European AI Awards at the 10th European AI Forum conference. These prestigious awards recognise excellence in AI development, innovation and support across five key categories: AI Business, AI Spin-Off, AI Ecosystem Enabler, AI Policy Shaper and AI Investor. The winners embody the spirit of European AI leadership, innovation and collaboration.
The 2024 European AI Awards winners are:
Category: AI Business
autoscriber (Netherlands) Pioneering AI-powered digital scribes for healthcare, autoscriber automates clinical note taking, reducing administrative burden and saving approximately 25% of doctors' time. The technology processes natural speech in consultations of up to 90 minutes and extracts relevant data to pre-fill electronic medical records. Xayn (Germany) Berlin-based Xayn has developed Noxtua, Europe's first sovereign legal AI tool. This AI-powered copilot helps lawyers analyse, review and draft legal documents in seconds, while ensuring strict confidentiality and compliance with EU data protection regulations. neuland.ai (Germany) Based in Cologne, neuland.ai focuses on AI consulting tailored to German SMEs. The company specialises in the development of customised, industry-specific AI models. To date, neuland.ai has successfully delivered AI solutions to over 40 clients, improving operational efficiency and driving innovation in the German SME sector.
Category: AI Ecosystem Enabler
KI Park (Germany) Founded in Berlin and now active in multiple countries, KI Park e.V. connects more than 200 companies, start-ups, research institutions and technology partners. Focused on driving European AI innovation, KI Park supports high-impact technologies such as deep reinforcement learning, LLMs, and digital twins. France Travail (France) As the first European public employment service to publish an ethical AI charter, France Travail is a leader in the responsible use of AI. Its comprehensive ethical AI framework, developed in collaboration with CNIL and LaborIA, ensures governance, regulatory foresight and ethical integrity. K.I.E.Z (Germany) This Berlin-based accelerator supports AI entrepreneurship by connecting startups with resources, capital and industry expertise. Part of the Science & Startups programme of Berlin's universities, K.I.E.Z has supported more than 188 teams, creating more than 750 jobs and €67 million in funding.
Category: AI Policy Shapers
Kai Zenner (Germany) As a prominent digital policy advisor, Kai Zenner has played a crucial role in shaping EU AI and digital legislation. Working as Head of Office and Digital Policy Advisor for MEP Axel Voss, Kai Zenner has been instrumental in influencing AI frameworks that balance innovation and consumer protection. Mariya Gabriel (Bulgaria) Former European Commissioner for the Digital Economy, Mariya Gabriel was instrumental in launching the EU's Coordinated Plan on AI and establishing ethical guidelines for AI. Her contributions have laid the foundations for Europe's AI strategy. eaiforum
Category: AI Spin-Off
DeepL (Germany) Originating from the University of Mannheim, DeepL has set the standard for high quality neural machine translation. The company has raised significant funding and is recognised worldwide for its AI-driven translation solutions. ArtiQ (KU Leuven, Belgium) A KU Leuven spin-off, ArtiQ applies AI to diagnose respiratory diseases with remarkable clinical efficiency. KU Leuven's robust technology transfer office has supported the creation of 135 innovative spin-offs, contributing to its four-year run as Europe's most innovative university. Mistral AI (France) Founded in 2023 out of École Polytechnique, Mistral AI has quickly become a leader in generative AI models. With €105 million in seed funding and a $6 billion valuation, Mistral aims to democratise access to advanced AI technologies. Aleph Alpha (Germany) Founded in 2019 out of the University of Mannheim, Aleph Alpha is focused on developing large-scale language models for businesses and governments. The company has raised significant investment, and is committed to integrating AI across different sectors. Graphcore (United Kingdom) Founded in 2016 out of the University of Bristol, Graphcore specialises in AI hardware accelerators and software solutions. The company has raised over $500 million in funding, and is known for its innovative approach to machine learning infrastructure.
Category: AI Investors
Bpifrance (France) As a major state-backed investor, Bpifrance supports large-scale AI and deep tech projects, including French AI startup Mistral. Its investments support local AI companies and enhance France's AI ecosystem.
European Innovation Council (EIC, EU) With a budget of €10 billion, the EIC invests in deep-tech AI startups, funding 43 AI companies in 2022 alone. Areas of focus include quantum computing, photonics and generative AI, positioning Europe at the forefront of AI innovation. Index Ventures (Europe/Global) Focused on growth-stage AI investments, Index Ventures co-led a €277 million round for DeepL. The firm backs scalable AI companies and drives European AI competitiveness on a global scale.
The European AI Forum would like to congratulate all the winners for their groundbreaking contributions to the European AI landscape. The European AI Awards celebrate the innovation, ambition and collaboration that will shape Europe's digital future.
Co-Founder @ Empion | Vorstand @ KI Bundesverband | Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe | Capital Top 40 Unter 40
Hyperautomation & Enterprise Architect / Professor @ Warsaw School of Economics
C-Level Executive | Driving strategic vision, growth and operational success across EMEA markets | AI | Digital Assets | Technology | Financial Services | Angel Investor
