AI as a trailblazer for SMEs - Launch of the Baden-Württemberg AI Alliance in the Ostalbkreis district
Aalen, November 15, 2024 - How can small and medium-sized enterprises, AI experts, projects and initiators in the Ostalbkreis region come together to engage with and benefit from artificial intelligence? Under the motto "AI as a game changer for SMEs?", the kick-off event of the Baden-Württemberg AI Alliance kicked off on November 6. Practical approaches and new cooperation projects were presented in the Neue Aula of Aalen University - including by
, the community management of the AI Alliance, which, together with the district as a cooperative member and Aalen University as a partner, networks a wide variety of players from politics, business and research.
"Our goal is to make SMEs fit for the use of artificial intelligence by bringing together the right people and resources," says Sandra Rohner, Managing Director of the AI Alliance. "Through targeted networking and exchanges with experts, research institutions and decision-makers, we support companies in developing concrete applications and actively shaping change. The AI Alliance is a strong network that promotes practical solutions and facilitates access to AI technologies."
Data platform, AI challenge and data quality: sub-projects in the Ostalbkreis district
Professor Dr.-Ing. Martin Heckmann from Aalen University presented the "Data Quality" project, which is being carried out at the university as part of the AI Alliance. This project forms an essential basis for the supra-regional AI data platform of the AI Alliance and is dedicated to central aspects of data preparation and quality assurance. An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the Faculties of Mechanical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science and Economics is working on the automated detection and correction of erroneous data, data annotation and the optimization of data representation. "High data quality is an indispensable basis for successful AI applications. With our work, we aim to provide users with methods to achieve this with little effort," says Heckmann. The findings from this project flow directly into the development of the cross-sector data platform.
The AI data platform is being implemented under the leadership of Dr. Thomas Usländer, who works as a business developer at the Fraunhofer IOSB in Karlsruhe, with a total of 9 partners from the regions of the AI Alliance. The AI data platform offers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as public and scientific institutions in particular the opportunity to find the assets required for AI applications and use them in accordance with defined rules in a public-private partnership model. The AI assets include data sets for training
AI models as well as pre-trained AI models themselves. "Our goal is to create an adaptable and practice-oriented platform that describes AI assets in an application-oriented and standardized way, making them easy to find. This promotes collaboration with other partners in an AI ecosystem - an indispensable factor in countering the shortage of skilled workers on the one hand and making the development of AI applications for the manufacturing, healthcare, smart cities and mobility sectors more economical on the other. Existing AI assets can be used, adapted and reused at
," explains Usländer. "Standardized metadata and service support for access to computing resources will also simplify and accelerate the use of AI for regional companies," Usländer continues.
First users wanted
In addition to this, the sub-project also offers an opportunity to get involved with the user forum. Future users of the AI data platform can actively contribute their ideas and needs to the development phase as "early adopters" from mid-November. From summer 2025, the first users from the forum will test the platform and feed their practical experience directly back to the development team. This continuous exchange of needs and application requirements will enable
to tailor the AI data platform to practical requirements. Companies interested in early use can contact the community management of the AI Alliance without obligation to find out more about the user forum and the possible uses.
The second sub-project, led by Fraunhofer IOSB, is the AI Challenge, which is aimed specifically at companies and public authorities that want to take their first steps in the field of artificial intelligence. The aim of this project is to initiate sustainable AI development projects in the regions in line with demand and to address key regional issues. Interactive AI engineering workshops offer companies the opportunity to discuss specific use cases and develop practical roadmaps for their implementation in accordance with the PAISE® AI engineering process model at
. "The AI Challenge helps to understand AI not just as a powerful technology with huge hype, but as a practical tool for your own long-term business success," says Usländer. Aalen University and the district are supporting this sub-project as committed partners and are helping to set regional priorities in the Ostalbkreis district and promote the regional economy in a targeted manner.
AI as a driver of innovation for the region
The various experts who spoke to the audience of around 100 people on the evening provided important impetus. "At company meetings, I am always asked: What does the application of AI look like in concrete terms?" said District Administrator Dr Joachim Bläse, who emphasized the fundamental importance of the use of artificial intelligence for the Ostalbkreis business location. "Process optimization and new business models are essential for securing the future of our companies, especially against the backdrop of transformation and a shortage of skilled workers," added the District Administrator. Dr. Tatjana Djuric-Rissner, Head of Application at PVA TePla Analytical Systems GmbH, used practical examples to show how the implementation of AI solutions can help increase efficiency. The Westhausen-based company is already using artificial intelligence in cooperation with Aalen University to simplify and automate processes.
However, Peter Schopf knows that the path to this is not easy for many companies. The AI expert works as a consultant for companies and is aware of the difficulties involved in implementing a new technical way of working. "How can companies take the first step? Why should AI be used? And what measures are needed to help shape the change?" All of these questions need to be clarified in advance - but support is available from consultants and projects. "But one thing is clear: we can't get everyone on board with this change straight away," says the speaker, emphasizing that companies need to have a clear vision and openness for the use of AI. At the same time, however, the possibilities of generative AI mean that there are now low-threshold entry options that even companies that were previously unfamiliar with AI in a classic technical context can dare to use.
Community management: your first point of contact on site
In all six regions of Baden-Württemberg, the AI Alliance provides the first point of contact for companies and institutions with its local Community Managers. Regardless of whether a company is already using AI, would like to find out more or is looking for suitable partners for future projects - the Community Managers are there for all matters relating to AI. They refer interested parties to the appropriate experts if required, establish contacts with suitable project partners and create a direct link to the projects and initiatives of the AI Alliance across the regions. Anyone interested in the user forum or the sub-projects of the AI Alliance can also contact the local community management directly - as a door opener to the broad network of the AI Alliance.
About the Baden-Württemberg AI Alliance
The Baden-Württemberg AI Alliance is a central initiative made up of the regions of Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Neckar-Alb, Freiburg, Northern Black Forest and Ostalbkreis. Its aim is to build a bridge between business, science, politics and public administration in order to promote the application and development of AI technologies through targeted networking. In doing so, the alliance aims to secure and expand economic success in the regions and to shape a practical and effective change in the use of AI technologies
.
The KI-Allianz stands for a strong network of different players that makes the potential of AI technologies accessible through active knowledge transfer and transparent information. As a recognized point of contact and source of inspiration, the KI-Allianz Baden-Württemberg is actively committed to shaping a sustainable economic and social structure in Baden-Württemberg.
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