UPDATE connAIx: New Graduate Center for Applied AI founded

Training young research talents in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and transferring research results to industry more quickly - this is the aim of a joint center for applied artificial intelligence at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the University of Stuttgart and the University of Tübingen. In the presence of the state government of Baden-Württemberg, they signed the founding agreement for the graduate center "connAIx - Research School for Applied AI" today. The institution is being established in Heilbronn and will promote the practical application of AI in areas such as robotics, chip design and cyber security.

"We need excellently trained experts in the future technologies of AI, robotics, chip design and cybersecurity," says Minister President Winfried Kretschmann. ConnAIx combines cutting-edge research with practical application. "It brings together our excellent AI research with the engineering sciences and promotes AI talent for science and industry. This strengthens Baden-Württemberg as a state of inventors and thinkers and as one of the leading AI locations in Europe."

State to fund connAIx with around 30 million euros annually from 2029

From full expansion in 2029, the state will support the center with up to 30 million euros per year. Ten professorships are planned - four of which will be established by KIT - as well as 60 international doctoral students and 20 postdocs who will conduct joint research into applied artificial intelligence. The programs are aimed at young professionals who want to develop and apply AI for production, mobility, energy or health. To this end, connAIx offers networked doctoral programs, access to modern infrastructure and close collaboration with companies and start-ups.

"In AI, we need fast results in order to survive the tough international competition and to be able to react agilely to the needs of the economy," said Science Minister Petra Olschowski. It is therefore a strong signal that the three state universities are working closely with companies and start-ups to qualify top AI talent at the highest level with tailor-made career paths.

KIT is leading the establishment of the center and is helping to shape the research and training structures. "The three universities are contributing their expertise in different fields of research and linking this specifically with applied AI. On the one hand, it is crucial to promote young scientists and, on the other, to transfer research results to industry more quickly," says Professor Oliver Kraft, Vice President Research, Teaching and Academic Affairs at KIT. In this way, connAIx will make a significant contribution to strengthening Europe as a business location and to its technological sovereignty.

To the press release of the Ministry of Science, Art and Research Baden-Württemberg