BRATISLAVA — May 22, 2025 — ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, has committed €3 million to support lorAI – Low Resource AI, a major Horizon Europe initiative led by the Kempelen Institute of Intelligent Technologies (KInIT), an independent research institution based in Bratislava, Slovakia. ESET is a co-founder of KInIT and has been a long-standing supporter of its mission to advance trustworthy AI and data science.
The six-year lorAI project focuses on developing artificial intelligence (AI) systems that perform effectively in data- and resource-constrained environments—an increasingly critical challenge in global AI development. The project aims to create scalable models for AI development that can play a crucial role in improving language representation for smaller European languages in large language models (LLMs). It also places strong emphasis on the ethical use of modern technologies.
“KInIT is dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence, and ESET has proudly supported it since its inception,” said Richard Marko, CEO of ESET. “Today marks a significant milestone, as KInIT has secured substantial funding from the European Union to establish a Center of Excellence in Slovakia. At ESET, we recognise the importance of supporting science and education in the fields of technology and AI. We are proud to be a long-term partner in this initiative and to contribute to shaping a more innovative and secure digital future.”
“ESET’s support is instrumental in helping us scale our efforts and build a sustainable model for AI research and innovation,” added Prof. Mária Bieliková, General Director of KInIT. “Together with our European partners, we are laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and responsible AI future.”
ESET has established itself as a European leader in artificial intelligence, with deep-rooted expertise in research and technology. Its long-term, systematic support for science and research initiatives—such as lorAI—reflects the company’s commitment to building ethical, inclusive, and high-impact AI solutions.
Backed by €14 million in funding from the European Research Executive Agency and co-financed by national education authorities, lorAI brings together a powerful consortium of European research institutions, including the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), the ADAPT Centre – the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, and the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH).
“One of the biggest challenges in AI development in Europe is our linguistic diversity,” said Prof. Owen Conlan, Strand Leader at ADAPT Centre and Professor in Computer Science at Trinity College Dublin. “Most large language models are trained primarily on English, which leaves minority and low-resource languages at a disadvantage. How can we expect high-performing AI systems when the data for these languages is so limited? This project gives us a unique opportunity to explore how we can adapt and transfer knowledge to ensure that all European languages are represented fairly in the AI landscape.”
“In Europe, we are many small countries, so collaboration is essential,” said Prof. Philipp Slusallek, Scientific Director at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). “We need to come together, build strong networks, and join forces to stay competitive in AI. That’s exactly what we’re doing with the lorAI project—creating a large European network with over 500 partners. It’s truly bringing people together.”
About ESET
ESET® provides cutting-edge digital security to prevent attacks before they happen. By combining the power of AI and human expertise, ESET stays ahead of known and emerging cyberthreats — securing businesses, critical infrastructure, and individuals. Whether it’s endpoint, cloud or mobile protection, our AI-native, cloud-first solutions and services remain highly effective and easy to use. ESET technology includes robust detection and response, ultra-secure encryption, and multifactor authentication. With 24/7 real-time defense and strong local support, we keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. An ever-evolving digital landscape demands a progressive approach to security: ESET is committed to world-class research and powerful threat intelligence, backed by R&D centers and a strong global partner network. For more information, visit www.eset.com/uk or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.