The AI Competence Center aims to promote the acceptance, dissemination, and internationalization of artificial intelligence technologies and products developed in Germany. A key role in this is played by the exchange of experience between stakeholders in Germany and leading international AI hubs such as Silicon Valley and Singapore. To this end, the AI Competence Center develops and promotes powerful and diverse innovation ecosystems with offices in Germany, the USA, and Asia. These ecosystems are also intended to serve as important building blocks for German startups on their path to international expansion.
In addition, targeted initiatives are designed to provide German AI startups with a professional and public forum to present their companies. One of these initiatives is an annual innovation competition in which young companies compete to find the best solution to current, complex challenges using AI. All initiatives aim to raise public awareness of AI technologies and their applications.
“We will have to broaden the scope of startup support”
The funding program German Accelerator supports high-growth German startups in their international expansion. It is operated by German Entrepreneurship and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK). Since its launch in 2012, the German Accelerator has supported over 500 startups from a wide range of industries through all growth phases. Five of them have now reached a valuation of over one billion dollars and currently employ approximately 6,000 people.
The Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Oliver Krischer, see:
"We will need to broaden our startup funding—not only in terms of content, but also geographically. The German Accelerator program succeeds in helping German startups worldwide identify and exploit market opportunities in global innovation hubs. With their ideas, startups can contribute to reducing risks in supply chains and developing innovative, sustainable products and services. Responsible use of the technical possibilities of artificial intelligence is crucial to the success of AI startups."
Matthias Notz, Managing Director of German Accelerator, thanks for the new opportunities in the field of AI and adds:
"For over 10 years, we have been offering German startups access to global innovation ecosystems comprised of experienced mentors, partners, companies, investors, and universities. International exchange is particularly important in the field of AI. We will actively promote this with the new AI Competence Center and thus foster innovation."
