Artificial Intelligence, Data and Robotics: Foundations, Transformations and Future Directions

This open access book explores the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, data and robotics (ADR), highlighting their foundational principles, transformative applications and future directions. Emphasising ethical considerations, human-centric design and sustainability, it sets the stage for understanding how multidisciplinary collaboration and strategic foresight are critical to unlocking the full potential of ADR in creating a competitive, inclusive and resilient digital society.

The chapters are organized in three parts and provide a comprehensive overview of the key research agendas, innovative frameworks and real-world deployments that define the current and emerging state of ADR. First, Foundations introduces the strategic, technical and conceptual foundations that underpin Europe’s ADR ecosystem. Collectively, the contributions establish a robust foundation strategically guided by the vision put forward through the European AI, Data and Robotics Association and practically informed by emerging technologies and methodologies. Next, the chapters in Transformations examine the transformative impact of ADR technologies across diverse industrial and societal domains. They provide a comprehensive and nuanced view of how ADR are reshaping industries, infrastructure and human-centred applications and emphasise the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, ethical considerations and technological innovation. Eventually, Future Directions explores the critical pathways for advancing ADR technologies through strategic planning, applied industrial innovation and human-centred approaches. The selected chapters present a coherent and forward-looking narrative: setting strategic priorities, translating them into transformative industrial applications and addressing the nuanced human factors essential for the responsible and effective deployment of ADR technologies.

By exploring cutting-edge theory, technologies, methodologies, and best practices within industrial and public sector scenarios, the book provides researchers, professionals and policy makers with a basis for understanding the scientific foundations, the transformation potential, and the future research challenges of ADR technologies.

Edward Curry is the Established Professor of Data Science and Director of the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics at the University of Galway. He has made substantial contributions to semantic technologies, incremental data management, event processing middleware, software engineering, and (distributed) information systems. He combines strong theoretical results with high-impact practical applications.

Philip Piatkiewicz is Secretary General of Adra – the AI, Data and Robotics Association. His expertise encompasses strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, policy analysis and project execution. He has successfully managed and coordinated complex collaborative projects that support the research, innovation and industrial agendas of regional, national and EU level, with a particular focus on key enabling technologies and digital industries.

Fredrik Heintz is Professor of Computer Science at Linköping University, where he leads the Division of Artificial Intelligence and Integrated Computer Systems (AIICS) and the Reasoning and Learning Lab (ReaL). His research focus is artificial intelligence, especially trustworthy AI and the intersection between machine reasoning and machine learning.

Heike Vornhagen is a researcher and educator at the Insight SFI Centre for Data Analytics whose work bridges the fields of design, data visualisation and technology with a strong emphasis on human-centred approaches. She contributes to several interdisciplinary research initiatives that aim to make data more accessible and actionable, especially in the context of public services.

Ahmed Nabil Belbachir is a research director at NORCE, director at eu-robotics Aisbl and strategy advisor for ADRA Aisbl for coordinating European Strategic Research, Innovation and Deployment Agenda 2030 and contributing to HEU work programme 2025-2027 in AI, Data and Robotics. His research interests include artificial vision, lifelong learning and AI for industrial and robotic applications.

Emanuela Girardi is the President of ADRA, the AI, Data and Robotics Association and founder and President of Pop AI (Popular Artificial Intelligence), a non-profit dedicated to raising public awareness about AI technologies and their societal impact. She is a member of the expert group appointed by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development in 2019 to develop Italy’s national AI strategy, which she co-authored.

Marc Schoenauer is Principal Senior Researcher (Directeur de Recherche de Classe Exceptionnelle) with INRIA, Emeritus since May 2024. He had been Head of Research of the Saclay Inria branch (2010-2016) and Deputy Research Director in charge of AI at INRIA (2020-2024). Since the early 90s, Marc has worked at the interface between Evolutionary Computation (EC) and Machine Learning (ML). Last not least, he seconded Cédric Villani in writing his report on the French Strategy for AI delivered to French President Macron in March 2018.

Juha Röning is Professor of Embedded System at the University of Oulu. He has three patents and has published more than 400 papers in the areas of computer vision, robotics, intelligent signal analysis, and software security. He is currently serving as a Board of Director for euRobotics aisbl (Vice-President Research) and Adra (Robotics Research Vice-President).