Leading by ExampleVanguard Initiative launches pilot projects on artificial intelligence

Steinbeis Europa Zentrum has been supporting research and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence for many years. In addition to the goal of bringing AI innovations to the market, it is particularly important to us to promote interregional cooperation in Europe. In this context, we are involved in the conception and development of research and innovation policy and funding instruments at European level and support both the European Commission and stakeholders in Baden-Württemberg in the implementation of political projects and collaborations. Our memberships in various initiatives, such as the Enterprise Europe Network and the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), contribute to our interconnectivity.

Interregional cooperation is also the focus of the around 40 regions of the Vanguard Initiative, which sees itself as a community of pioneers to strengthen industrial growth in the EU in line with the motto "Leading by example". Their starting point are the regional strategies for intelligent specialization, meaning a concentration on existing strengths and their further strategic development. Since the beginning of 2016, Dr. Petra Püchner, the European Commissioner of the Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, as well as Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, are the contact point for companies and research institutions in Baden-Württemberg.

As part of the Vanguard Initiative, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum has developed an "AI pilot" together with the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. The pilot project is being coordinated and managed together with partners from the Basque Artificial Intelligence Center (BAIC). With the future oriented topic of artificial intelligence (AI), the pilot project is aimed at SMEs that want to implement AI in their company. The pilot concept is organized through demo cases, which aim to bring the results of the collaboration that was established as part of the pilot project closer to the market. The focus lies on research into AI applications for process optimization in production.

The AI Pilot is currently home to four demo cases. One specific thematic focus is, for example, the development of AI applications to help optimize product development in the textile industry.

As a coordinating organisation in Baden-Württemberg, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum is still looking for interested players such as cluster organizations, science parks, research institutes and universities and, of course, companies to actively participate in driving and accelerating the market acceptance of innovations. The aim is to give companies and research institutions an additional opportunity to participate in European funding and interregional cooperation alongside existing initiatives in the region.