Expansion of the de:hub for applied AI
Flagship and contact point for SMEs and start-ups
The three de:hubs in Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Karlsruhe are entering their third funding phase. They primarily address existing companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises with an interest in the respective focus area, as well as start-ups, research institutions, students, and investors from Germany and abroad. The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, and Tourism is funding the three de:hubs in the state in a third funding phase with a total of around 1.2 million euros from the 2025/2026 double budget over two years. The continued state funding will enable the de:hubs in the state to develop their structure and content further.
Focus of Karlsruhe's de:hub for Artificial Intelligence
During its third funding phase, the de:hub for applied AI in Karlsruhe will focus on strengthening the networking between AI providers and user companies, as well as creating new cooperation opportunities between them. Furthermore, knowledge and technology transfer between industry and research will be explicitly promoted. AI provider companies will become familiar with new technologies through knowledge-sharing initiatives such as the TECH.minds event series and AI trend monitoring, enabling them to utilise these technologies in a targeted manner within their own organisations. AI user companies have the opportunity to learn about AI solutions via an enhanced AI showroom and industry-focused workshops. Plus, they get support when implementing AI within their own organisations. The de:hub for applied AI will receive approximately 400,000 euros in funding for its third funding phase.
What is the goal for the third funding phase?
The de:hub project, conducted by DIZ | Digital Innovation Center and the FZI Research Center for Information Technology as a consortium, supports the objectives outlined in the Agenda 2025 of the state of Baden-Württemberg, which focuses on the future and innovation. In its third funding phase, the project aims to secure the state’s technological leadership through consistent digitalization and cross-industry innovation approaches by:
– linking SMEs with knowledge, technologies, and partners in a targeted manner
– facilitating knowledge transfer between research and industry
– providing practical support services for AI applications
– promoting national and international cooperation
What specific plans exist?
To provide sustainable support to commercial enterprises in Baden-Württemberg, the third funding phase will focus on the following:
- Developing and implementing practical formats that facilitate access to AI for SMEs
- Connecting Baden-Württemberg AI companies and research institutions with SMEs
- Establishing and implementing digital transfer platforms
- Expanding targeted partnerships with other de:hubs for cross-industry exchange.
What is the FZI's contribution?
Under the consortium leadership of the DIZ, the FZI will primarily implement practical support services that facilitate technology transfer between research, start-ups, and established companies, tapping into new value creation potential in the field of digitalization.
Examples of this include industry-specific AI workshops in collaboration with associations, the expansion and further development of the virtual AI showroom through the integration of the “AI Showroom Insights” event series, and networking and positioning at both national and international levels.
About the de:hubs
In Spring 2017, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy honoured the first twelve de:hubs nationwide, which had industry- or technology-specific focuses, as part of its Digital Hub Initiative. The ministry’s defined objective was to advance Germany’s transformation into a global leader in digital technology. In April 2024, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs launched a call for the expansion of the Digital Hub Initiative. Since September 2024, the nationwide network has grown to encompass 25 de:hubs. It covers other key industries and additional regions. The focus is on connecting small and medium-sized enterprises with innovation partners from the start-up scene and the scientific community.
The state promotes the de:hubs as part of its “Wirtschaft digital Baden-Württemberg” initiative as thematic flagships with international appeal, given their complementarity to the regional digital hubs. They serve as thematic input providers for the regional digital hubs, and in return, benefit from enhanced access to regional companies, research institutions, and other key stakeholders. Together with the regional digital hubs and European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) in the state, the Baden-Württemberg de:hubs form the Digital Hub Network Baden-Württemberg.
About the FZI
The FZI Research Center for Information Technology, with headquarters in Karlsruhe and a branch office in Berlin, is a non-profit institution for information technology application research and technology transfer. It delivers the latest scientific findings in information technology to companies and public institutions and qualifies individuals for academic and business careers or the leap into self-employment. Supervised by professors from various faculties, the research groups at the FZI develop interdisciplinary concepts, software, hardware and system solutions for their clients and implement the solutions found as prototypes. The FZI House of Living Labs provides a unique research environment for application research. The FZI is an innovation partner of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and strategic partner of the German Informatics Society (GI).