From September 8–14, 2025, Split will host one of Europe’s most important educational events in the field of artificial intelligence – the Mediterranean Machine Learning Summer School (M2L). The school will take place at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FESB) of the University of Split, an institution distinguished for its innovation, international collaboration, and high-quality STEM education.
FESB’s research and teaching excellence, as well as its extensive experience in hosting international events, make it the ideal partner for delivering the M2L School. This event serves as a bridge between education, industry, and the scientific community.
“M2L is not just a series of lectures, it is a place where collaborations, ideas, and trust are born. Knowledge here is not simply transferred but built collectively through dialogue and interaction. What makes this school truly unique is its focus on the region; at a time when the Mediterranean is seeking new directions for development, M2L acts as a platform that connects young minds with top-level knowledge and global AI experts. Participation in the M2L School not only gives young researchers access to cutting-edge scientific knowledge but also professional networks that can shape their future careers,” emphasizes dr. Matko Bošnjak, scientist at Google DeepMind and a member of the organizational team.
This year, M2L brings together more than 300 carefully selected participants—young researchers, PhD candidates, students, and engineers, representing 63 nationalities from 56 countries. The interest was overwhelming: from almost 1,700 applications, only 18% of candidates were accepted, reaffirming M2L’s status as one of Europe’s most selective and respected AI summer schools.
Lecturers this year include leading experts from renowned institutions such as University College London, University of Warsaw, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Dubrovnik, University of Neuchâtel, Delft University of Technology, and the University of California, Santa Barbara, as well as from top companies such as Google DeepMind, Meta, Amazon, and Cohere. We highlight the lecture on the AlphaFold model, whose creators were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024 for this discovery, as the lecture will be held by one of the project’s key scientists.
“M2L brings together researchers, professionals and students in the field of ML which is a unique opportunity to meet and engage with new people. I hope the participants will take away a different point of view on RL and ML from a control engineer perspective. With special focus on applications to physical systems with direct contact/impact on people,” elaborates prof. Dr. Ivana Palunko, one of the summer school lecturers from the University of Dubrovnik.
This year’s cohort comprises a diverse and highly motivated group of young talents and AI experts. The largest group consists of PhD students (44.7%), followed by graduate students (26.3%). Undergraduate students (10%) and industry professionals (12%) are also part of the program, highlighting the strong demand for lifelong learning and connecting academia with the business sector.
The M2L School offers an intensive program of lectures, workshops, and knowledge exchange through poster presentations, where participants present their research to one another in the presence of the world’s leading experts in machine learning and artificial intelligence. The focus is on an interdisciplinary approach, hands-on knowledge, and sharing experiences—particularly important for Mediterranean countries striving to strengthen their AI ecosystems.
“While deep technical immersion is prioritized, M2L ensures the personal growth aspect remains strong: structured social and cultural activities, intentional networking spaces, and poster sessions that promote confident public communication. It is also committed to gender, nationality, and socioeconomic diversity, with merit-based anonymized selection processes, which enriches peer learning and ensures broad representation in AI. M2L is therefore more than just a summer school — it’s an immersive, selective, and empowering platform where technical mastery intersects with mentorship, cultural engagement, and community building”, says prof. dr. Petar Šolić, FESB, University of Split.
The fifth edition of the school comes at a particularly important moment for Split—the city has been declared the European Ambassador of Science for 2026, and M2L perfectly aligns with Split’s vision as a city of knowledge, young talent, and international collaboration. Through M2L, Split gains a platform that transcends local boundaries and draws the attention of the global scientific community to the Adriatic.
More information and the detailed program are available on the school’s official website: www.m2lschool.org
