International Workshop “Development Program #2” Launches at GTU under the EU’s Horizon Europe Project “FORGE-AI”

An educational and practical event – a workshop titled “FORGE-AI – Development Program #2” – has started at the Georgian Technical University as part of the FORGE-AI project, which is funded under the European Union’s research and innovation framework program, Horizon Europe. The workshop primarily targets students and young scientists. The program aims to strengthen participants’ innovative and entrepreneurial competencies in artificial intelligence, identify new opportunities in the modern technological landscape, help transform innovative ideas into practical projects, and deepen participants’ engagement with the startup ecosystem.

Giorgi Giorgobiani, Deputy Director of the Niko Muskhelishvili Institute of Computational Mathematics at the Georgian Technical University and coordinator of the FORGE-AI project, moderated the workshop’s opening event.

As Giorgi Giorgobiani noted, the educational program is based on interactive learning, teamwork, and sharing practical experience. Its content integrates the technological capabilities of artificial intelligence, the fundamentals of innovative entrepreneurship, modern approaches to startup development, and funding mechanisms.

“The interactive lectures and practical sessions planned as part of the workshop cover such relevant topics as: startup structure, along with the core principles of establishing and developing a startup; interactive working formats – such as “World Café”, “Startup Problem-Solving Clinics”, and pitching; innovation, as well as European and Georgian funding sources and mechanisms; the experiences of successful Georgian startups; and the EU AI Act and the regulatory framework governing the field of artificial intelligence.

Special attention will be devoted to developing participants’ practical skills – specifically methods for identifying problems and devising innovative solutions, as well as to presenting business ideas and evaluating potential investment opportunities. Teamwork and problem-oriented sessions will enable participants to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience, and to define realistic pathways for developing their own ideas.”

– Giorgi Giorgobiani, Deputy Director of the Niko Muskhelishvili Institute of Computational Mathematics

The workshop’s international panel of experts brings together representatives from leading organizations and academic circles in France and Germany, whose work focuses on innovation, artificial intelligence, research and development, digital technologies, and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Representatives from leading organizations and academic circles in France and Germany, alongside scientists from GTU, will lead the two-day program. From France, “Creative Valley” – a French organization dedicated to innovation and startup development, with a focus on fostering innovative entrepreneurship and advancing new technological projects – will be represented by Tunde Kalai, an R&D and innovation consultant, and Yann Gozlan, the founder and CEO of “Creative Valley”. From Germany, the “DFKI” (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence) will be represented by Andrei Girenko, an R&D administration specialist focusing on EU funding, and Jan Alexandersson, a Principal Researcher and Research Fellow. Also participating are representatives from Saarland University and Triathlon: Morelia Vasquez Renteria, a team member at Triathlon” specializing in entrepreneurship, and Sven Hardt, a startup consultant, also focused on entrepreneurship.

According to Professor Vakhtang Kvaratskhelia, Director of the Niko Muskhelishvili Institute of Computational Mathematics at GTU, the participation of international experts adds a distinct practical and international dimension to the workshop. By sharing their experience, these experts will help participants gain insight into approaches proven within the European innovation ecosystem, mechanisms for startup development, strategies for commercializing research ideas, and current trends in artificial intelligence.

“The primary value of the workshop organized within the framework of FORGE-AI lies in its ability to integrate academic knowledge, contemporary technological challenges, and the practical experience of innovative entrepreneurship into a unified educational space. Our goal is to provide students and young scientists with the opportunity to transform the knowledge they have gained in the field of artificial intelligence into concrete, innovative ideas and promising technological projects. Significantly, the program focuses not only on deepening theoretical competencies but also on developing creative thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills.”

The international dimension of the project is of particular significance, as direct collaboration with representatives from leading organizations in Germany and France enables our students and young researchers to gain European experience and familiarize themselves with modern mechanisms for developing innovations.”

– Professor Vakhtang Kvaratskhelia

The workshop will be organized into two sections, allowing participants to engage in interactive educational and practical activities tailored to specific thematic areas, work in teams, and gain firsthand insight into international specialists’ expertise.