Fourteen months after the launch of project nxtAIM – Generative Methods for Perception, Prediction and Planning – 85 researchers gathered for the first Winter School at the Research Center in Jülich. The goal was to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration while enabling the participating partners to efficiently utilize Jülich’s computing resources.

On March 13 and 14, 2025, academic and industrial project partners delivered and engaged in lectures, workshops, and deep dives covering fundamental, advanced, and practical topics in generative AI.

The program was complemented by sessions on supercomputing and the necessary data-loading processes. Guided tours of the Jülich supercomputer and quantum computer provided participants with an impression of the scale of the required computing power.

At the end of the two-day event, all participants gave positive feedback: well-organized, insightful technical discussions, an excellent tour of the computing center, and engaging deep dives were among the comments heard at the farewell.

Building on the success of this first Winter School, the project organizers plan to hold a second Winter School in 2026.

EICT conceived, organized, implemented, and managed the successful Winter School from the initial idea to the dismantling after the event.