MISSION KI, the National Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Data Economy, is a key project in the German government’s digital strategy. With funding of more than €32 million from the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV), it is based at acatech – the German Academy of Engineering Sciences. The goal is to establish ‘AI made in Germany’ as a mark of quality that brings trust, innovation and competitiveness on an equal footing.
The three building blocks for an AI ecosystem
MISSION KI is based on three pillars that shape a sustainable, secure and innovative AI ecosystem:
- Improving the data basis for AI
Networking data spaces across sector and country boundaries, promoting data exchange and quality, supported by open-source products and services for improved discoverability and use of data-driven innovations. - Strengthening trustworthy AI
Developing a voluntary, practical quality standard that is compatible with the EU AI Act, builds trust and is based on six quality dimensions: reliability, cybersecurity, data governance, transparency, control and non-discrimination. In addition, protection needs analysis and structured testing procedures (VCIO approach) are used. - Promoting AI innovations
Promoting AI development through matchmaking, fellowships and public relations work, with the aim of facilitating start-ups and establishing AI in the market.
Innovation centres: practical spaces for AI (IQZ)
The initiative is establishing two innovation and quality centres (IQZ) that cater to both the public and businesses in a practical manner. These are the IQZ Kaiserslautern at DFKI, which combines research with application, particularly with regard to EU requirements and quality testing, and the IQZ Berlin, an experience centre in the Technology Museum, which offers information, a dialogue zone and a contact point for those interested in AI.
Current milestones and developments
MISSION KI not only builds infrastructure, but also delivers concrete products:
- AI compliance testing system, an open-source approach that helps companies check data protection requirements (Data Act, DORA, etc.) and licensing aspects in real time.
- AI Founder Fellowship: Supporting young AI talent on their way to founding a company – with coaching, business model validation and market entry presentations.
- Matchmaking for SMEs: Successful events in Schleswig-Holstein and Bavaria, for example.
- Further events & webinars: From topics such as generative AI and humanoid robots to next-level coding – numerous webinars and events are planned.
Global AI competition
In the global AI competition, Germany faces the challenge of being both strongly regulated and technologically innovative. MISSION AI addresses precisely this issue: quality, openness, standards and promotion – all in harmony with each other. Partnerships with leading institutions such as TÜV AI, Fraunhofer, CertifAI, PwC and VDE are creating a robust network for trustworthy AI development and market access.
Quelle: mission-ki.de