Osnabrück Welcomes a New Era with Its KI Project for the Mittelstand

The city of Osnabrück is set to become a pivotal hub for artificial intelligence (AI) innovation with the launch of the Center of Research and development of trustworthy AI applications (CRAI). This project is part of a national initiative to support mid-sized companies through AI advancements, funded with €8.3 million by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Building and Digitalization (MWNI).

CRAI, located at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) in Osnabrück, aims to assist the Mittelstand in the implementation of AI projects. According to NOZ, the project is supported by a consortium including the University of Osnabrück, Solarlux GmbH, and Meyer & Meyer Holding SE & Co. KG. The initiative will provide a real-world laboratory for testing and developing AI systems.

The project is designed to address the challenges faced by middle-sized businesses, such as limited resources and legal uncertainties. Bundesdigitalminister Dr. Volker Wissing emphasized the importance of creating nationwide support centers for the Mittelstand. More on this can be found in the Strategion announcement.

The primary goal of CRAI is to create an experimental space where new technologies can be tested and refined. Professor Dr. Oliver Thomas, the project's initiator, highlighted the project's potential to bridge the gap between research and practical application, ensuring that AI systems developed are beneficial to the Mittelstand.