The German Federal Government have published an updated AI Strategy to introduce far reaching measures to shape the development and application of AI in a holistic manner.
The Government is responding to the developments in AI since the initial 2018 AI strategy was published and implementing further measures to fill these gaps. The report is issued as a result of seven forums which were held by experts from a range of fields.
Focus point of the AI strategy. These are the focal points from the AI strategy:
- Heads
- Research
- Transfer and Application
- Company
Heads-
The Federal Government is looking to attract more skilled workers through studies and training and to create an attractive working environment for scientists. The Government wants to secure outstanding professional expertise and reaffirms its goal in the establishment of 100 professorships for AI in German Universities.
In addition, the Federal Government intends to open up career paths for young-scientists and highlight the attractive working environment within Germany.
Strengthening Expertise- A highly skilled workforce is required in order to make Germany a world-leading location for AI. The Government will work with states to strengthen academic qualifications for students with skills in AI and promote innovations in higher education and aim to encourage students to take MINT subjects (Maths, computer science, natural sciences and technology) as well as provide career prospects for each.
The National Continuing education strategy is working to implement a broad set of instruments to promote the skills of employees in digital change.
Research-
Strengthening national research structures- To promote Germany as a leading location for science, the Government is pushing for the expansion of the 6 competence centres. The aim in this is to establish a research and teaching network in Universities to bring together skills. The Federal Government will accelerate the expansion of the Gauss centre for supercomputing to escalate suitable computing capacity
The Federal Government has also founded the Agency for innovation in Cyber security which will commission research projects. The Central Office for Information Technology in the Security Sector is also working as a research and development service provider.
European and international research collaborations- The Federal Government will be continuing to promote the internalization of AI research and aims to establish an AI network under the brand “Ai made in Europe.” The Government will be supporting the European commission with partial funding in expanding structures and bundling expertise in the AI network.
Interdisciplinary Research and Sustainable Utilization- It is important to strengthen the interdisciplinarity of AI research and to combine AI expertise with sector-specific specialist knowledge. The Government will support the linking of computer science and mathematics with other disciplines.
AI research for healthcare– The Federal Government will add a further four-year funding phase to the medical informatics initiative and roll out the solutions and use cases developed in other healthcare facilities. The setup will test the approach for data-supported digital medicine developed in the university hospitals in broad healthcare.
The strategy then reviews additional research development in the following areas:
- AI research to protect the environment and climate
- Making AI environmentally friendly
- AI research in Aerospace
- AI research for mobility
- AI in agriculture
Transfer and Application-
The Federal Government is maintaining the competitiveness of the German and European economy and expanding through innovative technologies.
Implementation in the economy- The EXIST programme for start-ups contributed through supporting the transfer from research to market. As well as this, the start-up funding programme is intended to make a contribution to the competitiveness within start-ups.
Train the trainer programmes are being increasingly supported due to the Federal Government’s attempt to reduce barriers to transfer and deployment as well as expand support offers. This means companies which are suitable for AI can be addressed and AI concepts developed. The Government will also promote closer ties with research centres to quickly implement research
Standardisation- (DIN) and the German Commission for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies in DIN and VDE have developed a standardisation roadmap on behalf of the government. This forms the basis of a implementation programme which is intended to initiate concrete standardisation projects, deal with certification issues for learning systems, and initiate the rapid transfer of knowledge gained into international standards and test criteria.
AI in Health care- The Federal Government is laying down foundations for data-supported and quality-assured healthcare. The government will also fund projects to assess the benefits of AI in healthcare. These are intending to investigate the use of decision support, expert systems and smart sensors in care-related scenarios. These have high clinical relevance up to 2024.
AI in the world of work– The established Observatory Artificial Intelligence in work and society examines the effects of AI on work, monitors developments and develops solutions for a human centred design of AI. The Federal Government is also developing indicators for AI monitoring in the area of work and society in order to review the implementation of the AI strategy. The AI Observatory also examines the interaction between people and AI in the workplace for a safe and human-cantered use of AI-based applications. The model for future centres was set up to support companies in the introduction of human-centred AI.
AI in Public Administration– The federal government will investigate the extend to which AI can be used to improve general security to ward of cyber-attacks
Regulatory framework
The responsible and common goal-oriented framework must be designed in a specific way to acknowledge the vast opportunities that accompany AI as well as the risks.
Framework for secure and trustworthy applications- This regulatory framework laws, sub-legal norms and technical standards. In areas in which AI holds huge potential, caution must be taken to ensure innovation encouraged rather than inhibited.
The government is taking the approach proposed by the European Commission in the AI White paper. This is to discover whether the current legislation is adequate for the current AI risks, or if further legislation is needed.
Safety, robustness and sustainability of AI– The government will be working towards IT security standards for IT systems which depend on the respective intended use. Must ensure confidentiality and integrity is upheld throughout the entire life cycle. In order to ensure sustainable AI, Environmental laws will be assessed.
Company
This chapter concerns the opportunities for all individuals to participate in the development and application of AI. The earlier individuals are involved, the more experience they can develop in the field of AI. The government is funding programmes in this area to drive innovation of AI.
AI skills for all- Every individual in Germany should be well informed about the opportunities and challenged of AI. The Federal Government is supporting the online course “Elements of AI.” This is aimed to make the applications more understandable to those without prior technical knowledge.