In 2016, important actors from science, industry, and politics founded the Cyber Valley Consortium, which became the first Innovation Campus in Baden-Württemberg. To mark Cyber Valley’s tenth anniversary in 2026, we’re revisiting the most significant milestones from the last decade. Each month, we’ll focus on a particular year since Cyber Valley’s beginning.
This month, we’re looking back to 2024, which was a big year for Cyber Valley! Alongside Cyber Valley Days, a three-day AI and robotics event, 2024 saw the opening of the ELLIS Institute Tübingen and the Robotics Institute Germany. Together, they continue to advance Cyber Valley’s mission: turning excellent AI and robotics research into a better future for all.
Cyber Valley Days: a three-day AI and robotics festival
In June 2024, researchers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, policymakers, and investors gathered in Stuttgart and Tübingen for Cyber Valley Days. Across three days, the event showcased Baden-Württemberg’s AI ecosystem through expert talks, networking opportunities, start-up exhibitions, and pitches from participants in the Cyber Valley AI Incubator.
A key highlight was the ELLIS Institute Symposium, at which world-renowned AI researchers, including Yann LeCun, shared insights into the next generation of AI research and its implications for society and the economy. Overall, Cyber Valley Days demonstrated how collaboration across research, industry, and entrepreneurship can turn advances in AI and robotics into innovations that address real-world challenges and build a better future. Read more.
Opening of the ELLIS Institute Tübingen and KIT joins Cyber Valley
Cyber Valley Days also marked a major milestone for European AI research: the opening of the ELLIS Institute Tübingen, presided over by Petra Olschowski, Minister for Science in Baden-Württemberg. The ELLIS Institute Tübingen is the world’s first institute of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS) and is designed to attract top international talent to Baden-Württemberg. Its opening brought together prominent players from research, industry, and politics, including Yann LeCun, underscoring Cyber Valley’s growing significance in the field.
During Cyber Valley Days, Minister Olschowski also announced the addition of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) to the Cyber Valley Innovation Campus. “Together with the ELLIS Institute, this will create a unique AI ecosystem that offers top international researchers and start-up founders optimal conditions,” said the Minister. Read more.
Launch of the Robotics Institute Germany (RIG)
The Robotics Institute Germany (RIG) launched in August 2024, bringing together leading universities and research institutions with the goal of making Germany a global leader in AI-based robotics. RIG is led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The new consortium includes the University of Stuttgart, Fraunhofer IPA, and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) as funded partners, and the University of Tübingen and Cyber Valley as associate partners.
The consortium aims to strengthen collaboration across research, industry, and entrepreneurship while advancing the development of intelligent robots for sectors such as healthcare, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and mobility. Backed by €20 million in federal funding, RIG will foster talent, develop shared infrastructure and benchmarks, and accelerate the transfer of robotics innovations into real-world applications.
“The RIG is more than just a nationwide network that brings together the best scientists,” said Prof. Kai Arras from the Institute for Artificial Intelligence at the University of Stuttgart. “It is a catalyst for innovation and economic progress.” Read more.
Start of RHET AI’s citizens’ council
In 2024, RHET AI and the University of Tübingen launched the citizens’ council “Künstliche Intelligenz und Freiheit” [Artificial Intelligence and Freedom], a new platform for public participation in AI research and policy. 40 randomly selected citizens from across Baden-Württemberg met over four sessions to discuss how AI affects individual and societal freedom in everyday life. Through exchanges with AI researchers and experts, participants explored AI’s opportunities and challenges while contributing their own perspectives.
Based on these discussions, the council developed recommendations for the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, which were presented in a policy paper at the end of the year. The initiative demonstrated the importance of involving citizens in shaping the future of AI and reinforced Cyber Valley’s commitment to ensuring that technological progress is guided by societal values, public dialog, and real-world needs. Read more.
Opening of KI-Studios
In February 2024, Cyber Valley joined Fraunhofer IAO for the opening of the new KI-Studios in Stuttgart, an initiative designed to make AI tangible for employees and organizations. The launch brought together representatives from government, research, and industry to discuss how AI is transforming the future of work and how employees can play an active role in its adoption.
Cyber Valley contributed to the discussion through its expertise in public engagement, emphasizing that successful AI innovation requires collaboration among science, business, and society. The opening of KI-Studios reflected a shared commitment to fostering AI literacy, encouraging dialog, and ensuring that advances in AI have meaningful benefits for people and organizations. Read more.
