At Rise of AI 2024 in Berlin, Sabine Döring, State Secretary at Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research, presents an update on the country's AI strategy. She argues AI is a once-in-a-century opportunity that Germany must help shape, not just use, so that it is not left behind by the US and China. She outlines a cultural shift starting in schools through the BMBF's Startchancen program and a renegotiated Digitalpakt 2.0, and cites that 34% of 14 to 20 year olds already use AI, mostly not to cheat. On research, she points to six AI centers of competence, 150 AI professorships and roughly 500 million euros invested in 2024, nearly double the previous legislative term, funding better AI methods, early-career and women researchers, and medical applications. She reports 40% more German AI patent applications since 2019 and 341 AI startups founded in 2023. She stresses European cooperation, highlighting the Jupiter exascale supercomputer, and defends the AI Act's research exemption, closing by citing a semiconductor-company CEO's comparison of AI to electricity, a foundational technology rather than an optional appliance.
Key takeaways
- 34% of 14 to 20 year olds in Germany already use AI regularly, mostly not to cheat, according to Döring.
- Germany's AI Action Plan funds roughly 500 million euros in 2024, nearly double the previous legislative term.
- German AI-related patent applications rose about 40% since 2019, and 341 AI startups were founded in 2023, up 67%.
- AI developed and used for research purposes is exempted from the EU AI Act, a point Döring welcomes.
- Europe's Jupiter exascale supercomputer, built through the EuroHPC initiative, is set to start operation the following July.
Detailed notes
AI as a once-in-a-century opportunity
Döring frames AI as a way to turn the complexity of modern challenges into strength, unlocking value from large volumes of industry, healthcare and science data to optimize traffic, predict weather and enable faster, more precise medical diagnoses. She warns that Germany must not only use AI made elsewhere but must also help shape it and bring its own products and services to market, or risk its prosperity.
Education and a cultural shift
She agrees that AI adoption requires a cultural shift starting with schools, citing the BMBF's Startchancen program, described as the largest and longest-running education program in German history, and ongoing negotiations with the states on a Digitalpakt 2.0 for school digitalization. She notes that 34% of 14 to 20 year olds already use AI regularly, mostly not for cheating, and says the shift must extend to all age and occupation groups through vocational and lifelong learning programs.
Research investment and the AI Action Plan
Döring lists existing research infrastructure: six AI centers of competence, 150 AI professorships, AI service centers and the Gauss Centre for supercomputing. Under the ministry's AI Action Plan, funding of about 500 million euros in 2024, nearly twice the previous legislative term, goes toward developing AI methods that are more flexible and resource-efficient, supporting early-career researchers and especially women in AI, and applying AI in medicine, including cancer research and long COVID.
Transfer to business and European cooperation
She emphasizes moving research into the business world through targeted advice for SMEs and easier deep-tech spin-offs. She cites growth signals: about 40% more German AI-related patent applications since 2019 per the European Patent Office, and 341 AI-related startups founded in 2023, 67% more than the prior year, with nearly 40% originating from research projects at universities and institutes. She frames European cooperation as essential for computing power, pointing to Jupiter, Europe's first exascale supercomputer, set to start operation the following July, built through the EuroHPC initiative.
Regulation and closing message
Döring addresses the EU AI Act, calling for enforcement against misuse with as little red tape as possible and welcoming that AI developed and used for research purposes is exempted from the new rules. She argues Europe's values can be a competitive advantage, and cites an unnamed CEO of a large microchip producer who compared AI not to a toaster you can choose to use, but to electricity, a foundational technology, closing with a call to seize the opportunity to shape the technology's future.
Quotes
The Benchmark is to not slow down the future but rather to enable it.
Sabine Döring
It's why you are here, it's why I am here, it's what brings us together.
Sabine Döring
Questions answered in this talk
How much is Germany investing in AI research through its AI Action Plan?
According to Sabine Döring at Rise of AI 2024, Germany invested roughly 500 million euros in AI in 2024, nearly twice as much as during the entire previous legislative term, funding AI methods research, early-career and women researchers, and medical applications.
Is research AI exempt from the EU AI Act?
According to Sabine Döring at Rise of AI 2024, AI that is developed and used for research purposes is exempted from the new EU AI Act rules, a provision she says she is especially glad about.
How many AI startups were founded in Germany in 2023?
According to Sabine Döring at Rise of AI 2024, the German Startup Association reported 341 AI-related startups founded in 2023, 67% more than the previous year, with nearly 40% originating from research projects.