Manuel Hagel visits Cyber Valley

The visit showcased the Cyber Valley Community, an international, dynamic, and future-driven environment, which is home to world-class researchers and agile start-ups. Hagel met leaders from across the region’s AI landscape to discuss how Germany can maintain its global edge in artificial intelligence, emphasizing that innovation driven by science is a key engine for Baden-Württemberg’s future. 

“Within Baden-Württemberg, we have a great opportunity to be among the world leaders in the field of artificial intelligence and the entire emerging ecosystem—and that is precisely our ambition,” Hagel noted, reinforcing the region’s commitment to shaping the future of AI on a global scale. 

Where science meets industry 

The visit commenced at the Amazon Research Center in Tübingen with opening remarks from Cyber Valley spokesperson, Michael J. Black (Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS)), who highlighted the importance of start-ups and forward-looking innovation that benefit both society and the global community. 

Matthias Bethge (University of Tübingen, Tübingen AI Center), Samuel Wagner (University of Tübingen), Jonas Geiping (ELLIS Institute Tübingen), Oliver Schöllhammer (Fraunhofer IPA), Peter Gehler (Tübingen AI Center), Michael Hirsch (Amazon Research Tübingen), Ulrich Hemel (Deputy Spokesman PAB, former Director at Global Ethic Institute), and Bernhard Schölkopf (MPI-IS & ELLIS Institute Tübingen), amongst others represented the Cyber Valley Innovation Campus and Community. 

Exploring the AI campus: the power of applied AI 

Following opening discussions on Germany’s strategic positioning in AI, the group embarked on a campus tour, visiting key institutions including the Tübingen AI Center, ELLIS Institute Tübingen, CeGaT, and the new Cyber Valley building, before concluding at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. There, Hagel gained exclusive access to some of the region’s most promising AI applications. Wieland Brendel (MPI-IS, ELLIS Institute Tübingen) presented the various projects in which he is involved, including topics on education and AI, polybot, ELLIS Institute Tübingen, Tübingen AI Center, Bundeswettbewerb Künstliche Intelligenz (BWKI). Other start-ups from the Cyber Valley Start-up Network—DxOmics, and Optocycle—demonstrated innovations ranging from AI-driven healthcare diagnostics to recycling technology.

A shared vision for the future 

This visit marked a significant moment for Germany’s AI ambitions. It highlighted the importance of close collaboration between academia, industry, and government. Innovation driven by science is key, and Cyber Valley stands as a prime example of how cutting-edge research can translate into real-world impact. It is essential to establish political frameworks that support science and innovation, creating an environment where talent can thrive and groundbreaking ideas can flourish. 

Cyber Valley GmbH, Managing Director, Rebecca C. Reisch remarked, "As AI transforms every aspect of our economy and society, collaboration between researchers, businesses, and policymakers is essential. The Cyber Valley Innovation Campus shows what’s possible when science, entrepreneurship, and policy come together to create technological solutions that address real-world needs."   

With the Cyber Valley Innovation Campus and the Cyber Valley Community acting as a driver for global breakthroughs, today’s visit underlined a crucial message: Baden-Württemberg is establishing itself on the global map of AI.