The Regional Economic Development Agency of Northern Black Forest (WFG) plans to leverage the AI lab to support the regional economy and has received a grant of €100,000 from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economics, Labor, and Housing for this. The project will provide companies with easy access to AI for its 15-month duration. The initiators have set themselves tasks that include information and awareness-raising activities, as well as initial guidance and startup consulting for companies and startups. Further services will include project initiation in the field of AI, preparation of best practices, visits to real laboratories, networking events, training sessions, and collaborations with national players and AI clusters.

The AI lab is based on the structures of the Digital Hub Northern Black Forest and will be represented by contact points at the Digital Hub’s Pforzheim, Nagold, and Horb locations. Professor Thomas Schuster , a professor at the Faculty of Economics and Law at Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences since April 2016, will head up the AI lab. He will be assisted by Carsten Kraus, founder and managing director of Omikron Data Quality GmbH , who will provide expert advice.