This ARIES project aims to establish the foundations for a sustainable digital transformation, preparing the region for the challenges and opportunities of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era. To this end, the project’s main objective is to provide the University of Madeira and the Autonomous Region of Madeira with a robust Artificial Intelligence infrastructure and the technical expertise needed to address current and future challenges in scientific and technological research. Therefore, the objectives are:

1. Establish a local AI infrastructure. To achieve this, the aim is to create an independent AI platform that ensures the confidentiality of sensitive data (medical, business, and research). It is also intended to develop processing capabilities for specific regional data (tourism, agriculture, and regional health) in order to ensure technological autonomy for a geographically isolated region.
2. Train specialised human resources to prepare the next generation of professionals with AI skills. The goal is thus to empower researchers and teachers to integrate AI into their fields of work, developing the know-how that enables the creation of new companies and the modernisation of existing ones.
3. Implement prototype projects in strategic areas for the Autonomous Region of Madeira, namely: Health – applying AI in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of regional medical data; Agriculture – optimising agricultural production and sustainability through AI; Tourism – developing smart solutions for tourism personalisation and management; Digital technologies – modernising administrative and management processes.
4. Promote knowledge transfer by creating a demonstration effect that spreads across society and the business sector, fostering the connection between academic research and business applications. To this end, the solutions developed will be scalable and replicable in other contexts.
5. Strengthen regional competitiveness, positioning Madeira as a benchmark in applied AI, creating the conditions to attract investment and talent in the technology sector. To achieve this, the project aims to contribute to regional economic diversification through technological innovation.