Name in original language
קול קורא להקמת מאגד בתחום הבינה המלאכותית
Initiative overview
The term Moonshot project refers to broad research efforts, at the forefront of global knowledge, which require collaboration by several different research teams. Projects may differ in nature on the range between basic and applied research, but all will have a relatively broad scope of research activity and a high rate of uncertainty about whether the challenge can be solved, or the research question answered (high risk – high gain).
Such research characteristics ensure that even in case of “failure” to solve the challenge, the generated intellectual property is expected to be substantial, positioning the researchers involved at the vanguard of global research. Moreover, groundbreaking, and broad-scope research projects are expected to help draw leading global researchers, and to establish Israel’s research reserve.
Various projects are to be launched by different entities that take part in the program, in accordance with the research question. Projects pertaining to the foundations of AI technology will be launched by the Planning and Budgeting Committee, projects that are more applicative will be launched by the Innovation Authority, and projects pertaining to the dual needs of the defense system will be led by the Directorate of Defense Research & Development.
Each such project is expected to span several research teams from different disciplines and institutions, working together for a period of two to three years. Subjects for challenge projects will be chosen by a combination of open calls for proposals (bottom-up approach), and general guidance towards broad and relevant spheres of interest (top-down approach). The research activity’s operational mechanism will be derived from the leading entity’s toolbox. Chosen projects may include a variety of research fields, combining software, hardware, robotics including humanoid robotics, and others.
