In March, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) agreed to collaborate with the Latvian technology company Sorsera on the implementation of agent-based artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in CERN’s procurement and supplier engagement processes.
As part of the collaboration, Sorsera will develop and adapt its agent-based AI tools to CERN’s procurement needs to automate and improve supplier selection, research, and evaluation, as well as enhance supplier engagement in procurement. CERN is one of the world’s leading research organizations, with an annual procurement budget of over 600 million euros and a supplier base numbering in the tens of thousands and spanning the globe.
Under the partnership, Sorsera is responsible for the design and development of the technological solution, while CERN provides industry expertise, advisory support, access to data, and opportunities for testing in a real-world work environment.
CERN’s procurement portfolio for operations and development is very broad, ranging from everyday consumer goods to complex and specialized vacuum, cryogenic, and other technologies required by scientists and for the operation of the Large Hadron Collider. One of CERN’s objectives is to return as much money as possible to the economies of CERN member states, including Latvia.
“Procurement is one of the main ways to engage companies from CERN member states in our activities. Our primary task is to achieve this engagement while maintaining strong competition, fair and transparent processes, and ensuring high-quality results. However, identifying the right suppliers and encouraging their participation is time-consuming and requires significant resources. “Therefore, the artificial intelligence tools developed in this pilot project have the potential to create real added value,” emphasizes Simons Guerri dall’Oro, Head of Procurement at CERN.
Alise Pīka-Ozola, Head of the LIAA Innovation and Technology Office in Geneva and CERN Business Coordinator for Latvia, reveals: “I introduced Sorsera to CERN and its procurement department about six months ago, and it is gratifying to see that innovative Latvian companies are gradually finding their way to CERN. Sorsera is a shining example of how a Latvian company can meet CERN’s requirements, and the negotiations have resulted in concrete cooperation and a specific, achievable goal that will not only improve CERN’s procurement processes but also promote the growth of Sorsera itself as a company.”
“Collaboration with CERN is a significant step for us in developing AI agents for the procurement sector, as it is not only a globally recognized international scientific institution but also an organization with high standards in procurement management. The fact that they have chosen to work with us confirms that we are on the right track, both in terms of what we have achieved so far and in creating future innovations in the procurement field. “We also recently held our first meetings with CERN procurement specialists, who have praised our capabilities as a Latvian company to create AI innovations in this complex field,” says Georgs Vardanjans, co-founder and board member of Sorsera.
Over the past year, the company has raised more than 2 million euros in private capital and European Union funding, including for the research, development, and implementation of AI tools in procurement processes.
The goal of the Latvian tech startup Sorsera is to assist parties involved in public procurement across Europe. The collaboration and analytics platform it has created facilitates procurement planning, execution, and market research for buyers; helps identify potential clients and procurement opportunities; supports procurement management for suppliers; and ensures communication between the public and private sectors.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)