24 July 2023 | Stuttgart

Institute for Artificial Intelligence established

Pooled AI research with a focus on transfer to busi-ness and society

“AI for Simulations” and “Intelligent Robotics” are the areas of specialization of the new Institute for Artificial Intelligence, which has now been established at the University of Stuttgart. The goal of the start-up is to research fundamental questions about AI, reflect on the societal benefits, and advance the transfer of AI applications to business and society.

"AI is changing the world. But this change must also be reflected in new structures for research and teaching“
Petra Olschowski, Minister of Science of Baden-Württemberg.

“With the Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the University of Stuttgart is sending a clear signal for AI as an independent research area and is combining a broad range of scientific activities. The result is greater visibility for the topic of AI. Two state-funded “Cyber Valley” professorships will become part of the new institute, thereby building a bridge to our Innovation Campus. This will further strengthen the Cyber Valley Innovation Campus and the Stuttgart/Tübingen AI region," says Petra Olschowski, Minister of Science of Baden-Württemberg.

Pooled expertise for interdisciplinary AI research

With the founding of the institute, the University of Stuttgart is taking a further step towards realizing its vision of "Intelligent Systems for a Sustainable Society": "We are pooling our expertise in AI in order to explore AI applications across disciplines for the benefit of people. One area of specialization will be intelligent robotics, which will be used to achieve advances in medicine and production technologies, among other things," says Prof. Wolfram Ressel, Rector of the University of Stuttgart.

AI institute with five working groups – more are planned

Prof. Steffen Staab, the first executive director of the new institute, emphasizes: "The Institute for Artificial Intelligence aims to achieve three things: First, to conduct internationally outstanding research; second, to be a qualified research partner for other scientific disciplines that use AI to advance their research; and third, to promote the transfer of AI methods to industry and society." The AI Institute comprises the two "Cyber Valley" professorships "Analytic Computing" (Steffen Staab) and "Autonomous Systems" (Kai Arras), the professorship "Machine Learning in Simulation Sciences" (Mathias Niepert) located in the Cluster of Excellence "Data-Integrated Simulation Science" (SimTech), the junior professorship "Autonomous Sensing and Perception Systems" (Alina Roitberg), and the professorship for "Machine Learning and Robotics", which are currently being filled. There are also plans to expand the institute by adding professorships in the field of intelligent robotics.

Networked via Cyber Valley, ELLIS, Clusters of Excellence, and more

The close networking of the institute with numerous international and internal university initiatives related to AI is demonstrated by the participation of Cyber Valley and SimTech. The second Cluster of Excellence of the University of Stuttgart, "Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture" (IntCDC), also relies on advances in artificial intelligence for its research tasks. As part of the international network "European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems", the ELLIS Unit Stuttgart is promoting the exchange of knowledge with top-class universities throughout Europe. The Artificial Intelligence Software Academy (AISA) links interdisciplinary research and education at the Stuttgart site, and the Interchange Forum for Reflecting on Intelligent Systems (IRIS) and critically examines the societal implications of intelligent systems.

Expert Contact:

Prof. Dr. Steffen Staab, University of Stuttgart, Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Phone: +49 (0)711 685-88100, E-Mail: steffen.staab@ipvs.uni-stuttgart.de