Collaborative Graduate Center Fuels Next-Generation AI Research and Talent in Germany

Collaborative Initiative for Advanced AI Research and Training

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has partnered with the universities of Stuttgart and Tübingen to establish a state graduate center (LGZ) dedicated to applied artificial intelligence in Heilbronn. This collaboration, formalized on May 8, 2025, marks a significant step in advancing AI research and education in Germany.

The LGZ focuses on training experts in key AI-related disciplines such as chip design, robotics, and cybersecurity. It supports doctoral candidates whose research intersects computer science, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. Operating as an external branch of KIT in Heilbronn, the center will be managed jointly with the partner universities.

Objectives and Strategic Vision

The LGZ’s mission is to attract global talent in the specified fields and offer exceptional training that eases the transition from academic research to industry and start-ups. Petra Olschowski, Minister for Science, Research, and the Arts, highlighted the center’s role as an experimental higher education lab with flexible frameworks to develop new training formats and strengthen collaboration between academia and industry.

Professor Oliver Kraft, Vice President Research at KIT, emphasized the necessity of attracting diverse young talent to maintain leadership in AI research and application. According to Kraft, providing excellent learning and working environments is crucial to producing graduates who will have a meaningful impact beyond academia.

Funding and Development Timeline

The LGZ will appoint its founding directorate later this year and aims for completion by 2029. Annual state funding is planned to reach up to 30 million euros, with initial allocations of 1.4 million euros in 2025 and 11 million euros in 2026. The center will host about ten professors, over 60 doctoral candidates, and approximately 20 post-doctoral researchers.

About Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

KIT, part of the Helmholtz Association, is committed to generating knowledge that addresses global challenges in energy, mobility, and information technology. With a staff of around 10,000 and a student body of 22,800, KIT offers research-based study programs across natural sciences, engineering, economics, and social sciences.

Its innovation activities focus on bridging scientific discoveries with practical applications benefiting society and the economy. KIT is recognized as one of Germany’s universities of excellence.

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