GAIIN: The Global AI Initiatives Navigator

Founded by the BMBF in 2017, this expert network fosters interdisciplinary dialogue on AI, involving around 200 members from academia, business, and civil society. It develops guidance on responsible AI use, including resources like the AI Roadmap for SMEs, which provides practical advice for AI adoption in firms.

Established in 2022, these service centres provide advanced computing infrastructure and tailored services to support AI application development, particularly for SMEs and academic institutions that lack such resources. By offering HPC resources, developing tailored services, and fostering innovation ecosystems, the centres help businesses and researchers develop, understand, and integrate AI technologies into their work.

AI Studios, a project of the BMAS, empower workers and their representatives to actively engage with AI and shape its applications in their workplaces. Through interactive AI demonstrators and 350 accessible workshops nationwide, participants experience realistic work scenarios with AI applications to learn about the technology’s impact, opportunities, and risks.

Funded by the European Social Fund and the BMAS, the Hubs for Tomorrow were launched nationwide in 2023 to provide SMEs with guidance and training on digitalisation and AI applications.

The Green AI Hub Mittelstand is an initiative launched by the BMUV to support German SMEs in adopting AI technologies for environmental protection and climate action. The hub aims to empower SMEs to integrate AI solutions that enhance energy efficiency, reduce resource consumption, and minimize environmental impact. It offers a range of resources, including technical guidance, funding access, and training opportunities to facilitate the development and implementation of AI-driven proposals.

Managed by the German Environment Agency, this lab specialises in leveraging AI and big data to advance environmental enforcement, research, and the sustainable use of AI technologies. As part of the Federal Government’s economic stimulus and future technologies package, it is funded until 2025. The lab generates data-driven insights to inform policy decisions and raise public awareness on environmental issues, while also promoting a modern and efficient approach to public administration.

The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) is funding the Mobility Data Space (MDS), a platform designed to facilitate the legally secure exchange of sensitive data. Within this space, private sector data can be voluntarily shared and traded while ensuring full respect for data sovereignty. The MDS operates as a non-profit joint venture and is managed by Datenraum Mobilität GmbH, established in May 2021.

The programme provides funding for AI-driven solutions aimed at addressing environmental challenges and strategically advancing AI applications for environmental and climate protection. This includes areas such as energy efficiency, resource efficiency, biodiversity conservation, nature protection, species preservation, water management, sustainable consumption, and eco-friendly mobility. The focus is on application-oriented research and development projects.

Established in 2020 within the BMAS, the Observatory on Artificial Intelligence in Work and Society examines the impact of AI on the world of work and advocates for a human-centred and responsible approach to AI adoption. It collaborates with businesses, labour unions, civil society, academia, and international partners to develop guidelines and policy recommendations that ensure AI is used ethically and effectively.

Established in 2020 by the BMAS, the CIP focuses on promoting socially responsible and participatory approaches to AI development. It explores a range of tools to support collaborative and participatory social innovation processes. CIP is also a key component of the “Civic Coding – Innovation Network AI for the Common Good,” an interdepartmental initiative involving the BMAS, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV).

Gaia-X was announced in October 2019 as a collaborative effort led by Germany and France to create a secure, federated data infrastructure for Europe. Its goal is to facilitate decentralized data exchange across businesses and research institutions, ensuring interoperability and data sovereignty. Gaia-X is designed to support a wide range of industries, enabling participants to share data and access services on a large scale while retaining control over their data.

Objectives:To build an AI research ecosystem and bring AI research in Germany to a globally leading level.To secure long-term research expertise in Germany.

Safe AI Engineering, funded by the BMWK under the New Vehicle and System Technologies programme, aims to enable comprehensive verification of AI safety for autonomous vehicles, paving the way for their reliable and secure use. The funding guidelines titled “Ensuring a Viable and Sustainable Mobility System through Automated Driving and Connectivity” aimed to support developments in the fields of automated and connected driving as integral components of the future mobility system.

To foster research on AI technologies to optimise the industries of agriculture, health nutrition, food chain, and rural areas.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community’s (Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat, BMI) BeKI initiative is creating a central advisory and coordination hub for AI in the federal administration. It aims to standardise AI initiatives across federal agencies by offering guidance on legal, ethical, and technical aspects of AI use. BeKI also collaborates with other specialised centres like the Federal Ministry of Finance’s AI Competence Centre.

LEAM is an initiative of the German AI Association (KI Bundesverband) and leading representatives from industry and research that promotes the development of large AI models.

It is a cross-cutting initiative. Regulatory Sandboxes can be used for various fields of innovation, such as AI, blockchain, digital platforms, sharing economy, eHealth, modern mobility and logistics solutions, digital administration and energy research.

Following an amendment to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, the German government introduced in January 2017 a bill that would allow the use of automated vehicles.

The aim is to strengthen growth potential and promote future-orientated development. The acquired knowledge and research results will be transferred to the economy and local authorities in a targeted manner.

Development of an AI platform for universal use within the federal revenue administration. The platform can be used in various AI projects of the federal revenue administration and allows for a comprehensive portfolio of AI technologies.