CLARA

CLARA represents the interdisciplinary Center of Excellence, the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on the next generation of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications and quantum-centric supercomputing tools to push the frontier of neurodegeneration research, particularly Alzheimer‘s disease, by processing large-scale multidimensional biological and clinical data using powerful supercomputers and quantum methods.

There are over 50 million people worldwide living with dementia today, and this number is expected to reach 82 million by 2030. According to the World Alzheimer Report 2020, the global annual cost of dementia is estimated to be more than US$ 1 trillion and is forecasted to double by 2030. We believe that Europe as a whole has the most up-to-date scientific and clinical knowledge to understand the complexities of neurodegeneration and to develop new technological and therapeutic innovations. Europe has long been a major driver of global innovation but has recently lagged behind in growth sectors and in areas of innovation such as genomics, quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

CLARA will use Europe’s full potential and contribute to change.

The grand challenge of vitality and longevity of neurons The conventional approach in dementia research to explain neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's is to focus on presumed mechanisms of neuronal dysfunction leading to failure in particular neural systems. CLARA wants to be more ahead of the curve and is therefore tasking a bold new question: What are the essential conditions to maintain optimal function, vitality, and longevity of neurons for over 100 years?

In CLARA, cutting-edge technologies meet groundbreaking research in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). In CLARA, we explore the complex interactions between molecular, behavioural, and clinical aspects of NDs through the integration of Quantum Computing (QC), High-Performance Computing (HPC), and Hybrid Computing (HPCQC), powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). By harnessing deep domain expertise and processing large-scale biological and clinical data, CLARA aims to advance our understanding of these transformative technologies. Our work accelerates innovation in computing, tackling real-world challenges, and ultimately benefiting society.

CLARA serves as a catalyst for cross-institutional and interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together the best teams from diverse institutions under a shared scientific vision. By fostering strong connections between different disciplines and research organizations, CLARA ensures a flexible, transparent, and innovative approach to governance. Built on a solid legal and scientific foundation, CLARA establishes a groundbreaking organizational platform that unites top-tier R&D&I teams from across the Czech Republic and beyond, driving innovation and excellence.