Pioneering: AI research team begins work

Schweinfurts Oberbürgermeister Sebastian Remelé (left in the picture) and Professor Frank Döpper ... (© Stefan Pfister)

...at the symbolic inauguration of the KI-noW building. (© Stefan Pfister)

At Old Station Road 2, Fraunhofer is now conducting research ... (© Stefan Pfister)

...and topics related to artificial intelligence for production. (© Stefan Pfister)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for sustainably optimized value creation, short "AI-noW" – under this heading, scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Automation IPA are now translating the latest insights and results of applied research into industrial practice. To illustrate this, a specially set up showroom displays a selection of demonstration stations. Today marked the official inauguration of the building.

The goal of the "AI-noW" research team is to develop comprehensive scenarios that demonstrate to companies the benefits of using artificial intelligence in manufacturing and how to integrate such applications into ongoing operations. As part of a holistic implementation, it will be shown how AI can be used in modern production based on a comprehensive, networked data foundation and made available to humans as a "powerful" tool. The three areas addressed are manufacturing, assembly, and support processes.

"With the Fraunhofer branch office in Schweinfurt, we are not just opening a research laboratory; we are giving our city and the entire Schweinfurt region the opportunity to position ourselves optimally in Industry 4.0. If we want to successfully meet this structural change, we must compete. Research and development are important location factors that contribute precisely to this and will further advance Schweinfurt. Our slogan 'The future finds the city' must remain our mission, and this is a right and important step. Especially in these currently difficult times, which pose many unexpected and additional challenges, today’s day is a sign that we are moving forward and that we do not lose sight of our goal to make Schweinfurt future-proof," said Mayor Sebastian Remelé.

Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian State Minister for Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy, added: "I am particularly pleased that today the Schweinfurt branch office 'AI-noW' of the Fraunhofer Project Group Process Innovation is starting its work on the forward-looking use of artificial intelligence methods in production. The Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs is funding the establishment of this working group as part of the High-Tech Agenda Bavaria with four million euros. The High-Tech Agenda Bavaria, whose implementation has recently been accelerated, is an important building block – especially in these particularly challenging times – to strengthen the entire Schweinfurt region in the upcoming structural change and on the path to Industry 4.0."

Supporting regional industry with practical applications

"The goal of our new working group is to research the use of AI methods in production and to create a demonstration environment that consolidates knowledge about data utilization and other important digitalization topics in the region and makes it available to the regional economy," said Prof. Alexander Sauer, Director of the Fraunhofer IPA.

On behalf of the city of Schweinfurt, Fraunhofer IPA had previously conducted a potential analysis on the dissemination and use of digitalization and artificial intelligence. Regional large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the startup center, and the University of Würzburg-Schweinfurt were surveyed through interviews and workshops. The analysis shows that especially SMEs often have only a low level of implementation and limited expertise in digitalization and AI. The currently successful, strongly historically grown company structures pose a future risk of losing competitive advantages in the global competition for products, processes, and services.

Planned institutionalization of the branch office

Beyond the connection to the Fraunhofer Project Group Process Innovation in Bayreuth and the Fraunhofer network, it is planned that the AI-noW working group at the Schweinfurt site will be closely linked to the AI network Bavaria.

"The close networking with other Bavarian Fraunhofer institutions, the supraregional integration into the AI network Bavaria, and the cooperation at the local level with the University of Würzburg-Schweinfurt (FHWS) provide optimal conditions for the successful establishment of our new working group through close collaboration with regional companies," said Prof. Frank Döpper, who is responsible for the AI-noW working group and also the Fraunhofer Project Group Process Innovation in Bayreuth.

Based on the activities of the AI-noW research team, new projects are to be initiated and implemented in Schweinfurt alongside ongoing ones.