IBM and fortiss Establish Center for AI Research

According to a recent announcement, IBM and fortiss, the research institute of the Free State of Bavaria for software intensive systems and services, have founded a joint research center for artificial intelligence (AI). The partners will develop reliable and secure AI technologies for business and society. This center will be located at the IBM Watson IoT Center in Munich.

“A strong partner ecosystem consisting of industry and research is crucial to sustainably tap the potential of AI. We are therefore very much looking forward to expand our research partnership significantly with fortiss and thus creating an important and global connected center for AI research in Bavaria,” said Kareem Yusuf, Ph.D, General Manager, Watson IoT.

“Artificial intelligence is one of the key drivers for future economic development. We are proud that fortiss and IBM will jointly develop these trendsetting technologies in Bavaria. They are of outstanding importance for the competitiveness of Bavaria as a high-tech location,” said Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian State Minister for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.

In the joint facility, more than 50 scientists from IBM and fortiss reportedly will research and develop new AI-supported software solutions with the aim of exploring and developing the potential of AI for mission and business critical IoT applications. Particular focus will be placed on: AI-supported assistance systems for transparent decision support, prototyping of new digitized citizen services, and reliable, secure control of autonomous robots, distributed production systems and critical supply infrastructures (e.g. energy and water).

“As one of core disciplines of computer science, engineering of the immaterial, AI has every opportunity to flow its applications directly into industrial products over a very short distance - from basic research and idea production to the development of prototypes,” said Dr. Harald Rueß, Scientific Director of fortiss.