Call for Hybrid Intelligence (HI) New Research Initiatives (NRI) 2025 for University of Oulu researchers is open

Hybrid Intelligence research programme is fostering hybrid intelligence related research with a funding for new research initiatives at the University of Oulu. We are offering funding of €12,000 for each of the four HI thematic areas for University of Oulu researchers. Deadline for proposals is February 28th, 2025, at 23:59.

Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of the Hybrid Intelligence (HI) research program New Research Initiatives (NRI) for Human-AI Co-evolution and Learning initiative are primarily focused on fostering the advancement of research within the hybrid intelligence domain that comprises of four thematic areas:

• Data and algorithm assisted AI (HI-1),
• Understanding humans in AI interaction (HI-2),
• The extended human mind in multi-realities (HI-3),
• Emerging sustainable effects on the quality of life (HI-4).

This initiative aims to stimulate a synthesis of ideas and methodologies across different disciplines, thereby encouraging the emergence of new interdisciplinary studies. These efforts are crucial for addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with hybrid intelligence research. By promoting collaboration between various scientific and technological fields, the initiative seeks to explore how human and artificial intelligence can co-evolve, enhancing wellbeing and learning. The overarching goal is to understand and harness the potential of AI to augment human capabilities and to devise learning systems where humans and AI continuously improve through mutual interaction and adaptation. This involves not only technical and methodological advancements but also understanding the ethical aspects of those advancements as well as addressing ethical, social, and practical implications to ensure that hybrid intelligence systems are developed in a responsible and beneficial manner.

Awards

Awards of up to €12,000 are available for each of the four thematic areas. Consortium applications that integrate multiple themes are encouraged; in such cases, each subproject within the consortium may receive funding of up to €12,000. The final decision and interpretation of eligibility rest with the Profi7 HI Committee. Funding may support various project pilot expenses, including hiring assistants, pilot implementation, data acquisition, meeting arrangements, equipment, services, and international collaboration. All funding must be utilized by the end of 2025.

Hybrid Intelligence in Mutual Competence Development

The NRI theme, "Hybrid Intelligence in Mutual Competence Development," focuses on exploring the synergistic growth and enhancement of skills where human and artificial intelligence systems collaboratively evolve and refine their competencies. We encourage multidisciplinary projects that bridge technology, human, and health sciences, fostering collaborations that drive innovation and deepen our understanding of learning, wellbeing, and human-AI interactions.

The potential topics for study within hybrid intelligence are broad and include but not limited to the below critical applications designed to improve human capabilities and societal conditions:

1. Hybrid Intelligence for Well-being: Tailoring health interventions, monitoring and promoting overall health and well-being to enhance quality of life.
2. Hybrid Intelligence in Learning and Teaching: Developing and promoting core learning processes, such as self-regulation, socio-emotional skills and productive interactions, within the contexts of human-AI interactions in teaching and learning.
3. Hybrid Intelligence for cognitive and emotional interpretation: Improving responses and understanding of emotions from both human and AI sides through collaborative human-AI efforts.
4. Hybrid Intelligence for Enhanced Perception in Multi-Realities: Exploring AI methods to extend and transform human perception through virtual, mixed, and augmented realities, integrating human senses across digital and physical worlds to enhance cognitive abilities and expand perception.

Guidelines and Specifications for Proposals

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria require that the research team includes at least one principal investigator (PI) with a doctoral degree who is currently employed at the University of Oulu, but not directly hired within the HI program.

The team must also be interdisciplinary, comprising members from various academic disciplines to ensure a broad range of expertise and perspectives. This diverse composition is essential for depth in the research. Consortium applications that combine multiple themes are welcome and supported.

Proposal Format

We welcome proposal submissions (between 3 and 5 pages, including references or supplementary materials).

Application Process

All documents should be submitted to the Microsoft CMT website by February 28th, 2025, at 23:59. The application shall be written in English and include the following:

1. Research plan (max. 3 -5 pages). Submissions should follow the Research Council of Finland (a.k.a. Academy of Finland) Template for Academy Project Template for Academy Projects, ensuring a comprehensive presentation of research objectives, methodologies, and anticipated outcomes. A brief budget plan should also be included.
2. Detailed budget of the project. Provide details on intending of use fundings. Use the Excel template.
3. Curriculum vitae (max. 4 pages) in accordance with the guidelines of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity

Ethical Considerations

All submissions must include a separate section for Ethical Considerations (as outlined in the template), where the team identifies relevant ethical issues within their research initiative. Compliance with ethical guidelines and regulations is essential. Additionally, the team should provide ethical reasons for the proposal. This may include identifying relevant stakeholders, and consideration of potential benefits and harms.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Relevance and Alignment: How well the proposal aligns with the goals of the hybrid intelligence NRI. This includes the relevance of the topic and its potential to contribute to the field.
2. Innovativeness: The novelty of the research approach and its contribution to advancing knowledge in hybrid intelligence. This looks at whether the proposal introduces new methods, theories, or technologies.
3. Interdisciplinary Approach: The effectiveness and coherence of integrating different disciplinary perspectives and methodologies within the research team.
4. Methodological Rigor: The clarity and appropriateness of the proposed methodology, including data collection, analysis techniques, and the feasibility of the research design.
5. Team Competence: The expertise and experience of the research team in relation to the proposed project. This includes the ability to successfully execute the proposed research.
6. Impact Potential: The expected outcomes and their significance in terms of scientific, technological, educational, or societal impact.
7. Sustainability and Ethics: Consideration of long-term impacts, sustainability, and ethical issues related to the research from the initial idea to its execution and potential implementation.

The Winners will be announced on March 17th, 2025. Oral presentations will be conducted by authors who are attending in person in HI Data Forum.

The project teams will organize an open presentation to share the results. Each funded project will provide one page report about the results for the HI programme. We expect that the project will contribute to at least one impact such as, publication, conference paper, a new funding application, prototype, new dataset, conceptual or practical model.

Important Dates

Call for Proposals Starting Date: November 19th, 2024

Submission Deadline: February 28th, 2025

Decisions by March 16th, 2025.

Expected Report Deadline: September 30th, 2025

CONTACT INFORMATION
Assistant Professor Haoyu Chen Chen.Haoyu@oulu.fi
Assistant Professor Andy Nguen Andy.Nguyen@oulu.fi
HI research program Coordinator, Dr Satu Kaleva Satu.Kaleva@oulu.fi