BMFTR promotes the use of generative AI for SMEs

Presentation of certificates to the ten winning projects in the "Generative AI for SMEs" funding competition by Dr Tina Klüwer, BMFTR

© J. Konrad Schmidt

The new funding programme "Generative AI for SMEs" from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) was presented to the public for the first time today at the Digital Technologies Forum in Berlin. The ten funded projects impressively demonstrated how generative AI can contribute to making processes in SMEs more efficient and innovative.

More competitiveness through practical AI solutions
With the new technology programme, the BMFTR is specifically supporting the productive use of generative AI in SMEs. The projects cover key fields of application - including industry/manufacturing, medicine, construction, logistics, media and culture. The focus is on topics such as knowledge management, standardisation and quality assurance. The aim of the programme is to reinforce the innovative strength and competitiveness of SMEs through concrete, reusable AI solutions.

Tina Klüwer, Head of Department for Research for Technological Sovereignty and Innovation at the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, emphasises: "Generative AI offers enormous potential for SMEs: from more efficient processes and optimised use of knowledge to new business models. With the "Generative AI for SMEs" technology programme, we are creating practical solutions that will make a lasting contribution to the international competitiveness of our SMEs."

Kick-off event with exchange, inspiration and networking
At the programme kick-off, visitors were able to find out about the funded projects and discover points of reference for their own specialist topics. Keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops shed light on current issues - such as the potential of generative AI as a game changer for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The BMFTR is providing funding totalling around 30 million euros for the ten projects.

Further information on the programme and the funded projects can be found at

www.digitale-technologien.de

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• Opening by Dr Tina Klüwer, BMFTR
  © J. Konrad Schmidt
• Panel discussion: Generative AI - a game changer for SMEs? f. l. t. r. Dr Tina Klüwer, BMFTR; Dr Michael May, Siemens AG; Jörg Bienert, KI Bundesverband; Dr Tim Polzehl, DFKI; Alexa von Busse, moderator
  © J. Konrad Schmidt
• Keynote: How generative AI is revolutionising the economy - Dr Michael May, Siemens AG
  © J. Konrad Schmidt
• Keynote: Generative AI language models - what is the state of the art? - Dr Joachim Köhler, Fraunhofer IAIS
  © J. Konrad Schmidt
• Brief presentation of the FHIR-Starter project with a role play - Daniela Hery and Stephan Adler, Fraunhofer IESE
  © J. Konrad Schmidt
• In poster session I, Bastian Thanhäuser (Fraunhofer IPT) and colleagues will present the GEPARD project.
  © J. Konrad Schmidt
• The new accompanying research introduces itself. From left to right Prof Dr Daniel Fürstenau, FU Berlin; Nadezhda Filina, Possible; Alexander Linder, PwC Strategy&; Alexa von Busse, moderator
  © J. Konrad Schmidt