User Group: Promovierende

  • Symposium ML4QT: Machine Learning for Quantum Technologies

    Symposium ML4QT: Machine Learning for Quantum Technologies

     

    Leveraging AI to transform quatum advancements 

    Machine learning holds massive potential for transforming quantum technologies. The Symposium Machine Learning for Quantum Technologies (ML4QT) is aiming to explore these potenitals by connecting leading researchers, industry experts, and innovators to discuss how AI-powered quantum computing, machine learning for quantum hardware, and new research methodologies. 

    The event also marks the launch of the Applied Quantum AI Hub Heilbronn, fostering collaboration between academia and industry. 

     

    When? 

    July 7-8, 2025

     

    Where? 

    experimenta – Das Science Center
    Experimenta-Platz 
    74072 Heilbronn

     

    Want to contribute yourself? 

    Researchers are warmly invited to submit talks and posters on topics such as: 

    • Machine learning for quantum hardware & software 
    • Ai-driven optimization of quantum systems 
    • Quantum-enhanced research methodologies 

    Submissions are possible until April 18, 2025. You can submit your contributions, as well as pre-register for the event here. 

     

    Organizers & Partners

    ML4QT is organized by the quantum computing teams at Fraunhofer IAO and Fraunhofer IPA as well as the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo. The symposium is generously funded by the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. 

     

    For more information on the event, please check out this website. 

  • AutoML School 2025

    AutoML School 2025

     

    Scope

    AutoML has become a cornerstone in the toolkit of many developers and researchers. With the rise of foundation models, AutoML's potential has expanded even further, enabling smarter, more powerful, and scalable solutions. Although there is exponentially growing interest in the intersection of AutoML and foundation models, they are rarely taught at universities, leaving a significant gap between cutting-edge research and disseminated knowledge. This school consists of introductory, state-of-the-art, and application lectures for AutoML and Foundation Models covering core topics such as:

    • Hyperparameter optimization and model selection

    • Applying and scaling foundation models

    • Automated model compression, and pruning

    • LLMs for efficient experimentation

    • Explainability methods

    • … and many more (stay tuned while we assemble our schedule)

     

    Target Group

    The AutoML School is a yearly research training event tailored for graduate and postgraduate students, research engineers, and industry practitioners who want to learn about AutoML. However, there are no formal prerequisites, and everyone is welcome.

     

    Date

    June 10–13, 2025

     

    Venue

    Tübingen, Germany

    Registration Link

    Registration Infos | Schedule

  • ELLIS Distinguished Lecture Series: Jens Kober

    ELLIS Distinguished Lecture Series: Jens Kober

    About the talk:

    The acquisition and self-improvement of novel motor skills is among the most important problems in robotics. Complexity arises from interactions with their environment and humans, dealing with high-dimensional input data, non-linear dynamics in general and contacts in particular, multiple reference frames, and variability in objects, environments, tasks, and human behavior. A human teacher is always involved in the learning process, either directly (providing data) or indirectly (designing the optimization criterion), which raises the question: How to best make use of the interactions with the human teacher to render the learning process efficient and effective? In this talk I’ll argue that there are tremendous benefits in having a human teacher intermittently interact with a robot also while it is learning. I will discuss various methods we have developed in the fields of supervised learning, imitation learning, reinforcement learning, and interactive learning. All these concepts will be illustrated with benchmark tasks and real robot experiments ranging from fun (ball-in-a-cup) to more applied (retail environments).

    About Jens Kober:

    Jens Kober is an associate professor at the TU Delft, Netherlands and an ELLIS Fellow. He worked as a postdoctoral scholar jointly at the CoR-Lab, Bielefeld University, Germany and at the Honda Research Institute Europe, Germany. He graduated in 2012 with a PhD Degree in Engineering from TU Darmstadt and the MPI for Intelligent Systems. For his research he received the annually awarded Georges Giralt PhD Award for the best PhD thesis in robotics in Europe, the 2018 IEEE RAS Early Academic Career Award, the 2022 RSS Early Career Award, and has received an ERC Starting grant. His research interests include motor skill learning, (deep) reinforcement learning, imitation learning, interactive learning, and machine learning for control.

    When?

    March 5, 2025, 09:45 CET

    Where?

    Universitätsstraße 32, Room 101, Campus Vaihingen of the University of Stuttgart

    The talk will be followed by an informal reception during which finger food and drinks will be provided.

    Professor Kober will also be available for meetings. If you are interested in scheduling a meeting, please email ellis-office@uni-stuttgart.de.

  • Cyber Valley announces partnership with SPRIND

    Cyber Valley announces partnership with SPRIND

    SPRIND, the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation, funds groundbreaking projects, alternative approaches, and spin-offs. Through this new partnership, Cyber Valley and SPRIND will foster creative solutions beyond conventional paths. 

    This partnership seeks to explore next-level AI technologies, venturing beyond popular concepts like Large Language Models (LLMs), Transformers, and Diffusion Models. It will focus on championing alternative approaches to AI, encouraging bold thinking, and exploring uncharted territories. This collaboration signals a significant step toward redefining the possibilities of artificial intelligence. 

    Leading the charge for this initiative is Mirko Holzer, Innovation Manager at SPRIND, “This partnership is all about pushing boundaries and bringing bold ideas to life. With Cyber Valley, we are creating the perfect launchpad for disruptive technologies that have the power to reshape science and society.”   

    Florian Mayer, COO of Cyber Valley, shares the enthusiasm, “It’s fantastic to see SPRIND committing significant resources and funding to such a vital area of innovation. We are thrilled to join forces and pave the way for the next wave of groundbreaking AI technologies.” 

    Alternative approaches 

    Through this collaboration, SPRIND and Cyber Valley are looking for innovators who are working on new and alternative approaches to artificial intelligence (AI), transformative artificial intelligence (TAI), and artificial general intelligence (AGI). The goal is to find alternative, bold, even speculative ideas that diverge from established AI pathways such as diffusion models, large-scale language models, and/or generally transformer-based architectures. 
     

    The partnership supports visionary AI methods, emphasizing:   

    • New Architectures: Energy-efficient designs inspired by biological systems, non-neural paradigms, quantum-inspired models, adaptive systems, and generative models simulating environments. 

    • New Learning Paradigms: Innovative methods like federated learning, causal learning, reinforcement learning, active learning, and synthetic data ecosystems to redefine how machines learn. 

    • New Hardware Approaches: Breakthroughs in neuromorphic, photonic, holographic, and biohybrid computing, as well as robotic systems with embodied cognition and sensory integration. 

    • Innovations outside the mainstream: Bold ideas such as meta-learning, swarm intelligence, digital organisms, evolutionary algorithms, and AI systems with emotional and self-aware intelligence. 

  • Demo Day for Batch #5 of The AI Incubator

    Demo Day for Batch #5 of The AI Incubator

     

    After six weeks of workshops and inspiring sessions, participants from Batch #5 of The AI Incubator will present their final ideas to a jury and an esteemed audience of investors, corporate leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs. The top teams will be recognized by the jury and have the opportunity to win attractive prizes. Event attendees can meet the teams during the closing networking event, complete with beverages and finger foods.

     

    When? 

    December 12, 2024, 16:00–19:00 CET

     

    Where? 

    Amazon Research & Development Center
    Friedrich-Miescher-Straße 4, 72076 Tübingen

     

    Schedule

    16:00–16:30: Welcome & Drinks

    16:30–16:45: Introduction to Batch#5 of the AI Incubator

    16:45–17:30: Pitches from the AI Incubator Teams

    17:30–17:45: Keynote: Sciencepreneurship and AI

    17:45–18:15: Award ceremony

    18:15: Networking with drinks & fingerfood

     

    Registration

    Tickets for this event are sold out, registration is closed. 

     

    The AI Incubator

    The AI Incubator is a six-week program for AI talents with brilliant ideas. The program encourages scientists, technologists, and business talent to found their own companies, fostering the next generation of AI start-ups. The AI Incubator equips participants with the right knowledge, tools, and skills to transfer their cutting-edge AI and robotics research into products and applications.

    It covers topics such as, AI prototyping, product-market fit, business strategy, and funding. The program also provides participants with access to a network of experts, mentors, founders, and investors who offer guidance and inspiration on their journey into the AI business world.

    The AI Incubator is organized by Cyber Valley and funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. 

  • IMPRS-IS Call for Applications is Now Open

    IMPRS-IS Call for Applications is Now Open

    This school is a key element of Baden-Württemberg’s Cyber Valley initiative to accelerate basic research and commercial development in artificial intelligence and robotics. The program seeks students who want to earn a doctorate while contributing to world-leading research in areas such as:

     

    •  Artificial Intelligence

    •  Biomedical Technology

    •  Computational Cognitive Science

    •  Computer Vision and Graphics

    •  Control Systems and Optimization

    •  Data Science & Visualization

    •  Haptics and Human-Computer Interaction

    •  Machine Learning

    •  Micro- and Nano-Robotics

    •  Natural Language Processing

    •  Neuroscience

    •  Perceptual Inference

    •  Robotics and Human-Robot Interaction

    •  Soft Robotics and Materials

     

    Intelligent systems that can successfully perceive, act, and learn in complex environments hold great potential for aiding society. The IMPRS-IS program seeks doctoral students who are curious, creative, and passionate about research to join the school and help advance human knowledge about intelligent systems.

    • Admitted students can join the program starting in spring of 2025.

    • You will be mentored by internationally renowned faculty.

    • You will register as a university doctoral student and conduct research.

    • IMPRS-IS offers a wide variety of scientific seminars, workshops, and social activities.

    • All aspects of the program are in English.

    • Your doctoral degree will be conferred when you successfully complete your doctoral project.

    • Dedicated staff members will assist you throughout your time as a doctoral student.

     

    Who can apply?

    People with a strong academic background and a master’s degree (conferred or expected soon) in Engineering, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Mathematics, Control Theory, Neuroscience, Materials Science, Physics, or related fields should apply.

    IMPRS-IS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to excellence through diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, gender identity, or any other non-job-related criteria. They believe in the importance of a multicultural community of students, faculty, and staff who seek to advance our commitment to diversity and inclusion. IMPRS-IS strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

    Admission is competitive. If selected, applicants will receive funding via an employment contract, subject to the rules of the Max Planck Society and the two participating universities.  

    You can apply at https://imprs.is.mpg.de/application before 11:59 p.m. (23:59) CET on November 15, 2024. Finalists will be invited to selection interviews that will take place from February 13 to 21, 2025.

    For further information, please visit https://imprs.is.mpg.de.