Artificial intelligence

The Innovation Center Fellbach (ICF) is to become a hub for AI in the healthcare sector. As an innovation and start-up center, it is intended to promote the formation of networks in science and business with a focus on AI in medicine and the further development of medical technology and diagnostics. On 2,000 square meters of floor space, a tailor-made infrastructure and equipment will be created for companies, start-ups and scientific institute units to test, develop and produce pioneering software and hardware, controlled laboratory models and prototypes for medical applications. The city of Fellbach is being provided with 2.6 million euros in co-financing to equip the new ICF technology building.

"gainInsight" is intended to provide insights into two aspects: AI innovations for electromobility, hydrogen technology and renewable energies are to be developed. At the same time, the project is investigating how the ecological footprint of production and research in these areas can be reduced. A prototype for a hybrid, generic fuel cell system with an AI-supported digital twin is to be developed as a project component. The results will be made available to industry with the aim of transferring knowledge. Another project component is the installation of a tracking system in a coating system for solar cells. The aim here is to show how industrial research can be improved through the use of AI technologies for the prototype development of solar cells. In addition, AI-based technologies and forecasting models will be optimized to enable energy savings in hydrogen production and intelligent waste heat recovery. 133,137.50 euros in co-financing will be provided to the ZSW for gainInsight.

KI-D@ARENA-X addresses the challenge for companies to obtain a high-performance IT infrastructure and specialist support in the early phase of AI use cases. To this end, a network infrastructure is being installed on the premises of ARENA2036 e.V. that combines all the necessary access technologies - copper and fiber optic cables, WiFi as well as 5G and 6G - into a convergent access network and thus enables cross-company data exchange. The test environment is intended to enable the use of AI in all its various forms for established companies and start-ups from the Stuttgart region. Parallel to the development and implementation of tests in the data room infrastructure, a viable operating and financing concept will be developed and tested. A marketing campaign will target start-ups and SMEs. For KI-D@ARENA-X, 685,000 euros in co-financing will be made available to Arena 2036 e.V. and the University of Stuttgart.

For "AI transform", a climate-friendly building with around 2,700 square meters of usable space is being constructed on the grounds of the Böblingen/Sindelfingen Software Center, which will offer productive areas, office space and communication zones for young companies and national and international companies with a focus on AI. AI transform builds on the low-threshold approach of the existing AI innovation hub AI xpress and the services offered by the Böblingen/Sindelfingen software center: Successful start-ups from AI xpress are to be permanently established in AI transform. At the same time, national and international companies with a focus on AI are to be established in AI transform. In addition, consulting and event services will be set up to specifically support the transformation of the IT industry in the region into an AI economy. Five million euros in co-financing will be made available to the two project partners, the City of Böblingen and Softwarezentrum Böblingen/Sindelfingen e.V., for this purpose.

The "Large Scale Robotics Laboratory" (LCRL) building on the campus of the University of Stuttgart will not only be a demonstrator for AI in construction, but also a home and contact point for AI researchers and AI users. The LCRL will use AI in digital building planning, innovative, highly material-efficient and high-performance construction systems as well as digital manufacturing and robotic construction processes. This will transfer the relevant AI expertise to the participating industrial companies. With the support of the Stuttgart Region, the building, which was originally only designed for basic research, will be opened up as an AI Innovation Hub for the transfer of AI expertise to the regional construction industry and start-ups. The University of Stuttgart has been provided with 4.8 million euros in co-financing for this purpose.