In a call for tenders published on 23 March, DG ECFIN announced its intention to award around 10 contracts for research fellowships to academics or researchers covering specific issues or topics outlined in the document ‘Specifications Fellowships 2018 ECFIN 005/B’. The aim is to establish an ongoing exchange of ideas and research between the group of fellows and ECFIN staff. In the next ten or twenty years, machine learning will allow many jobs or tasks to be automated; from driving taxis to diagnosing disease and from cashiers to translators. Moreover, not just AI but also digitalisation and automation are expected to have a pervasive impact not only in manufacturing but also on production structures and on economic activity in general. The contracted researchers could address topics such as the impact of intelligent robots on productivity, inequality, innovation, employment and income, as well as how to restructure taxation systems and redesign labour market institutions and welfare systems to address the implications of a big wave of automation. The call deadline is 2 May 2018.