AI in Germany: Extended map provides overview of research, applications and transfer

Munich, 29 July 2020

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will develop into a driver of the economy in the coming years and thus into an important location factor. Which AI applications are already in use in Germany today? Where is research being conducted into the fundamentals and applications of Artificial Intelligence? And who supports companies in the introduction of AI in their operations? The continuously expanding Map on AI of Plattform Lernende Systeme provides an overview of AI applications, research institutions and transfer centres in Germany – now also in an English version.

With its Map on AI, Plattform Lernende Systeme – initiated by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and based at acatech – now also makes internationally visible where AI technologies are being researched and tested in Germany or are already in use. In the Applications section, almost 800 AI-based solutions can currently be filtered according to field of application and value-added activity, AI technology used, as well as company size, sector and region. The spectrum of AI applications is broad, ranging from learning chat offers for customer service to condition monitoring of machines and assistance systems in healthcare.

“In AI research, Germany has been internationally well positioned for many years. It is now important to rapidly translate scientific findings into concrete applications. The AI map creates transparency about current AI activities in Germany – and thus the basis for successful networking between industry and science,” says Karl-Heinz Streibich, Co-Chairman of Plattform Lernende Systeme and President of acatech – German Academy of Science and Engineering. Karl-Heinz Streibich demands that particular attention should be paid to the transfer of knowledge between small and medium-sized enterprises: “SMEs must recognise the benefits of progressive digitisation for their business, otherwise they will be left behind. However, they must also be enabled to exploit the potential of AI through the availability of data in secure open data spaces.”

Ensuring successful transfer to the economy

The Map on AI of Plattform Lernende Systeme shows where companies are supported free of charge in the introduction of AI and find offers for networking with partners in the section “Strategy and Transfer”. In addition to the transfer and SME centres of the federal government, there are numerous digitisation centres of the federal states. The site also provides an overview of the strategic goals and measures of the federal government and the individual states to promote artificial intelligence.

The section “Research Institutions” on the map shows which universities and non-university institutions in Germany are conducting research on AI. A filter function allows the user to select key topics, such as image recognition, data management and analysis, human-machine interaction, natural language and text comprehension, intelligent robotics or social issues relating to the development and use of Artificial Intelligence. In total, the AI map currently lists almost 200 scientific institutes and facilities throughout Germany, including the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), which was founded in 1988, the AI competence centers in Berlin, Munich, Dresden/Leipzig, Dortmund/Bonn and Tübingen, which are funded by the BMBF as part of the national Artificial Intelligence strategy, as well as numerous university institutes and non-university research facilities.

Ongoing expansion of the Map on AI

AI applications from Germany, which are not yet represented on the AI map of Plattform Lernende Systeme, can be entered for inclusion by means of an online questionnaire (in German). For information on research institutions, other transfer centres and general inquiries about the map please contact presse@plattform-lernende-systeme.de.