The Augsburg AI Production Network's groundbreaking research will take place in 7,000 m² of space in the future. The rental agreement for the research facility, which will enable research to be scaled from laboratory to industrial scale, has been signed. This will create a technology platform for the AI Production Network, providing space for research on production facilities with an industrial level of complexity.

The University of Augsburg, the Fraunhofer Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology IGCV, and the Augsburg Center for Lightweight Production Technology (ZLP) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), together with the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences and regional industry partners, are researching AI-supported solutions for future-proof, highly modular and material-optimized production in the Augsburg AI Production Network.

Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger explains: »This is a great start into 2022 for the high-tech region Augsburg. Artificial intelligence opens up completely new perspectives for our companies and enables new business models. Every euro spent on AI research is an investment in Bavaria's competitiveness. I am convinced: Far-reaching impulses for our economy will come from the new AI Production Network in Augsburg.«

7,000 m² comprise the facility and office space on the grounds of the WALTER Technology Campus Augsburg, which has now been rented. Near Fraunhofer IGCV and the university campus south of Augsburg, the facility creates excellent conditions for a targeted transfer of knowledge between the institutions and industry.

Augsburg's mayor Eva Weber also emphasizes: »An important milestone has been reached for Augsburg's AI production network and for the Augsburg region. This opens the way into the world of artificial intelligence for our local companies. The facility enables applied cutting-edge research on a large scale with the close involvement of regional players, who thus remain internationally competitive and use AI for their own benefit.«

The AI Production Network will initiate research projects with the industry within the new facility's network by 2025. It will establish a technology platform for successfully transferring basic to applied research.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus Drechsler, Managing Director at Fraunhofer IGCV, explains, »In the research network, there are comprehensive competences for the implementation of intelligent, sustainable supply chains, generative production methods and material-adapted design. Material-adaptive production processes and their planning as well as integrated material and component testing are thus made possible. These potentials are now to be used for the specific problems from regional industry in order to jointly develop tailor-made solutions«.