Uber Co-founder Garrett Camp Donates €5 Million to ISTA for Human-Centered AI Research

Major Philanthropic Investment in Austrian AI Research

The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) has announced a substantial donation of €5 million from Garrett Camp, the co-founder of ride-hailing giant Uber. This significant philanthropic contribution is dedicated to advancing human-centered artificial intelligence (AI) research at the Austrian institute. The donation agreement was signed on January 13, 2026, with the announcement made shortly thereafter.

This marks Camp's first gift to a European institute, underscoring ISTA's growing international prominence and its commitment to responsible AI development. Camp, a Canadian philanthropist and entrepreneur who also founded Camp.org, selected ISTA for its focus on long-term scientific rigor over short-term commercial speed.

Advancing Trustworthy and Beneficial AI

The €5 million funding will bolster ISTA's efforts to develop AI as a trustworthy technology that benefits society. The institute's research in AI is broad, aiming to build systems that are reliable, efficient, and scientifically grounded. Key areas of focus include:

• Trustworthy AI: Researchers like Christoph Lampert are working towards principled solutions to make AI safer, more robust, fair, and respectful of data privacy.
• Sustainable AI: Led by Dan Alistarh, this research aims to make AI models more resource-efficient and broadly accessible.
• Causal AI: Francesco Locatello and his team are exploring how AI systems can learn cause-and-effect relationships and adapt to changing data.

ISTA President Martin Hetzer emphasized the importance of the donation, stating, 'With this generous gift, ISTA can further build upon fundamental research in artificial intelligence, drawing on our strengths in computer science, mathematics, and the natural sciences.' He added that it helps the institute 'pursue AI research within a broad, interdisciplinary scientific context, deepen our understanding of how these systems work, and address their limitations,' which is essential for 'developing robust and trustworthy AI systems that deliver long-term value for both science and society.'

ISTA's Expanding Research Landscape

The donation arrives as ISTA continues a significant expansion phase. The institute, which currently hosts approximately 90 research groups, plans to grow to 150 groups by the mid-2030s. President Hetzer views Camp's contribution as a 'major vote of confidence in Europe's ability to shape responsible technology' as ISTA expands its global research footprint. ISTA's interdisciplinary approach integrates AI with various other research fields, fostering a comprehensive understanding and application of the technology.