Young AI Research Forum strives to provide an interesting opportunity not only to ML/AI PhD students and junior researchers but also to undergraduate students with an interest in research careers from across Czech academic institutions to delve deeper into topics that are relevant to all. Whether it’s developing a strong research brand, collaborating with industry or addressing global challenges exacerbated by the use of AI technologies towards responsible AI research.
The event is part of CLARA Days and is also organised within Dny AI (AI Days),taking place across the Czech Republic to broaden AI horizons of the academic, business, civil sector and general public worlds.
Aim of the Event:
The aim is to create an environment for gaining practical know-how, sharing experience and establishing new relationships, as well as to open horizons and help career and personal development.
This will be achieved through several expert presentations, thematic networking and networking. It also aims to shed light on individual research projects and help to establish research collaborations. Attendees are thus encouraged to bring their existing scientific posters and take part in brief pitches to introduce their research.
- Showcase Your Work: Present your AI-powered research or project during our pitching session and poster display. It’s a great chance to get feedback and highlight what you’re working on.
- Active Participation: Take an active role by choosing discussion topics and engaging with others. This is your event to shape and contribute to.
- Network and Learn: Connect with AI peers and professionals to exchange ideas, get practical advice, as well as share experiences and different perspectives to help you grow in your field.
Who Should Attend?
- Undergrad students interested in a research career
- PhD students and postdocs from technical universities in Prague and beyond
- Early-stage researchers from academic teams
- Young researchers from tech companies & start-ups
What Can You Expect?
- Informal discussions in a relaxed setting
- An open and welcoming environment
- Lightning talks and quick idea pitches
- Networking opportunities that could spark future collaborations
- A variety of inspiring topics to help advance your career
- Interactive, inclusive and co-created content
What Research Areas Are Welcome?
We welcome researchers from all fields, but the event is especially geared toward those working in AI-related areas such as:
- Machine Learning
- Speech & Natural Language Processing
- Computer Vision
- Reasoning
- Robotics
- Cognitive Computing
- Reinforcement Learning
- Multi-Agent Systems & Agent-Based Modelling
- Planning, Routing & Scheduling
- Ethical, Legal & Social Aspects of AI
… and more!
What’s on the Agenda?
Here’s what you can expect — three engaging keynote speeches, presentations and posters (yours or from your peers), thematic networking stations where you can dive into discussions on topics that matter to you. You’ll also get a chance to shine with a pitching session and poster display. Plus, there’ll be plenty of networking and knowledge exchange opportunities. It’s all about sharing ideas, showcasing your work, and connecting with the rising AI community.
Lenka Kučerová from prg.ai will moderate the event and guide you through the afternoon, keeping things moving and making sure the event runs smoothly.
Registration: CIIRC CTU, Jugoslávských partyzánů 1580/3, Prague 6 - Dejvice
Check in, pick up your name tag, and get ready to dive into an evening of AI goodness. Arrive a bit early to settle in, meet a few new faces, and maybe enjoy a coffee before the program kicks off. Do not miss the opportunity to investigate what's new at our poster area.
Opening and welcome through an inspiring speech
Let’s kick things off! We’ll start with a warm welcome to set the vibe for the evening - exciting talks, engaging discussions, and plenty of opportunities to connect. Guiding us through it all will be Lenka Kučerová, who’ll ensure everything runs smoothly. To open the event on behalf of CLARA, Vít Dočkal will present his fresh perspective on funding scientific innovations to spark interesting conversations. So, sit back, relax, and get ready for an inspiring evening!
Vít Dočkal, INDRC: "Financing Science through SPVs and Pre-seed Funds – A New Approach to Commercialization and Tech Transfer."
Keynote #1: Josef Šivic, CIIRC CTU on "AI in Multidisciplinary Science"
Josef Šivic is an ERC Advanced grant beneficiary and a leading Czech AI researcher at CIIRC CTU, where he heads the Intelligent Machine Perception (IMPACT) group and the ELLIS Unit Prague. After studying in Oxford and working in Paris, he now focuses on teaching machines to understand the 3D world around us. In his talk “AI in Multidisciplinary Science” he’ll show how AI isn’t just about technology - it’s also helping us make discoveries in medicine, neuroscience and other exciting fields.
Pitching sessions: Ready to show off your work?
The pitching sessions are your time to shine! Whether you’ve got an interesting research idea, a cool project, or some fresh findings, here’s your chance to share it with the group.
You’ll have a few minutes to make your pitch - keep it snappy, engaging, and be ready for some quick feedback. It’s a fast-paced, easy way to get your ideas out there and maybe even inspire some collaborations on the spot.
We expect to welcome up to 12 talks/pitches of about 5 minutes each. So feel free to use the space to take the floor!
To sign up for the pitching session, simply fill in the relevant parts of the registration form.
Coffee break
Keynote #2: Anton and Roman Bushuiev (CIIRC CTU and IOCB) on "How to start international collaboration in multidisciplinary research - concrete experiences"
Anton and Roman, early-career researchers from the groups of Dr. Josef Šivic (machine learning) and Dr. Tomáš Pluskal (biology), about their talk:
"The most impactful scientific projects often emerge from international collaborations, which are especially crucial in interdisciplinary research. From this perspective, we will share our experience with initiating and maintaining collaborative projects at the intersection of AI and biology. As a case study, we will discuss the development of MassSpecGym, a benchmarking framework for molecule discovery that we initiated and carried out jointly with 30 researchers from 14 institutions worldwide. We will also reflect on lessons learned from ongoing collaborations with globally renowned institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Seoul National University."
Kenote #3: Karolína Pštross on "Science Communication - Hands-on session"
Beyond the AI Buzz: How to Tell and Sell Your Research Story Without Feeding the Hype
Communicating AI research isn’t easy. The work is complex, and headlines are often louder than the findings themselves. Learning how to share your research responsibly can make a real difference — not only in public debate, but also in your career as a young AI researcher. In this talk, I’ll touch on some basics of science communication, reflect on how AI stories are told, and explore how engaging with different audiences can build trust while opening doors for collaboration.
Karolína Pštross is a Science Communication scholar and practitioner. She is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Communication Studies and Journalism (Charles University) and leads communications at the AI Center at FEE CTU (Czech Technical University in Prague). She is passionate about empowering researchers to share their stories.
CLARA Young Innovator Award 2026: Announcement of the first edition of this award
Be the first to hear about a brand-new CLARA Young Innovator Award celebrating exceptional young talent in science and innovation! This biennial award will spotlight bold digital technologies that improve the lives of ageing populations. The first edition will be awarded in 2026 – and the journey starts here at the Young AI Research Forum, where we reveal the specific terms and conditions. Don’t miss this chance to get inspired and maybe even become the very first CLARA Young Innovator!
The announcement will be made by Vít Dočkal, Director of INDRC and Chair of the CLARA Supervisory Board.
Networking
- Grab a drink, relax, and get ready to mingle! We’ve created thematic clusters where you can choose the topics that interest you the most. At different stations, you'll have the chance to chat with fellow attendees, exchange ideas, and dive into discussions that matter to you. Feel free to move between topics, meet new people, and explore a variety of perspectives.
- Attendees will have the chance to explore some intriguing AI showcases at the RICAIP Testbed Prague. Our young researchers will be on hand to offer a glimpse into their work, allowing you to discover the possibilities and applications of AI in ways you might not expect.
Around 20:00, we’ll head home, and look forward to the next time we can come together to share more AI insights and ideas. See you at the next event!