The Free State of Bavaria plans to invest two billion euros in the promotion of artificial intelligence (AI) over the next five years. In an interview, Jörg Bienert, partner at Alexander Thamm GmbH and board member of the KI Bundesverband, assesses the package.

On Thursday, 10 October 2019, Minister President Markus Söder delivered his fifth government declaration. Under the heading "High-Tech Agenda Bavaria", he presented a two-billion-euro investment programme to promote the Artificial intelligence in Bavaria. To be created:
- 10,000 new study places in Bavaria, 5,000 of them in computer science
- 1,000 new professorships, including 100 new chairs for Artificial
Intelligence
- A Bavarian AI Centre in Munich
- A 600 million euro rehabilitation programme for the
Universities
- Particularly well-funded research and excellence professorships in order to
attract top researchers from all over the world.

Andreas Gillhuber, Co-CEO of Alexander Thamm GmbH, in conversation with the Bavarian Radio on the planned high-tech agenda in Bavaria:

Here`s to the BR contribution

How do you assess the two billion euro package announced by the Bavarian state government?

Jörg Bienert: We are pleased that the Bavarian State Government is giving priority to the future topics of high-tech and Artificial intelligence pays so much attention to. The programme is going in the right directionHowever, in addition to research funding, we need a clear focus on the transfer of research results into the economy so that we can get growing technology companies and more global players in this field.

In your opinion, what adjustments need to be made to ensure that Germany and Bavaria do not miss the technological boat?

Jörg Bienert: As a company founded in Munich, we welcome the Bavarian initiative, which in many aspects serves as a model for other federal states and also for the federal government. However, it is hardly productive, When we compare ourselves with other federal states. If you look at the initiatives and investment sums of our competitors from other continents, you quickly realise that we in Germany can only compete together. All initiatives of the federal states, the federal government and even Europe should therefore be strategically coordinated.

Would you like to see more support from politics in general?

Jörg Bienert: We are a private and privately financed company that has to compete as such in the market. That politics the importance of high-tech for the future Development and prosperity of our country has recognised and is acting, we welcome this. In addition, we would like to see a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. The transfer of research results to small and medium-sized enterprises must be improved and promoted more intensively.

How does Germany currently stand in international competition in the field of AI?

Jörg Bienert: Germany has a long history in AI research. Unfortunately, about ten years ago we were left behind by the international development in the field of Deep Learning been overtaken by countries such as the USA and China. We must now use our good starting position in the area of Automobile, Mechanical Engineering and Robotics to once again become the world leader in this area through the increased use of AI.

What impact will the package have on Bavaria?

Jörg Bienert: The package certainly helps to create a change in public awareness. We have to represent, What opportunities and possibilities through the intelligent data processing offers. Artificial intelligence is THE issue for the future. We must not leave this to other countries.