Network Role: Partner

  • Cyber Valley Innovation Campus celebrates the success of nine Excellence Clusters

    Cyber Valley Innovation Campus celebrates the success of nine Excellence Clusters

    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT): Two Clusters of Excellence 

    KIT has achieved success with its proposals for two new Clusters of Excellence, focusing on battery research and 3D designer materials. The research holds promise for significant technological advancements in energy storage and material science.  

    1. 3D Matter Made to Order: An interdisciplinary initiative with the University of Heidelberg, concentrating on three-dimensional additive manufacturing techniques from the molecular level to macroscopic dimensions.   

    1. Post-Lithium Storage: In collaboration with Ulm University, this Cluster aims to develop new materials and technologies for storing electric energy, focusing on post-lithium technologies. 

    University of Stuttgart: Cluster Receives Extended Funding 

    The University of Stuttgart's Cluster of Excellence, "Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture" (IntCDC), has secured funding for an additional seven years. Established in 2019, IntCDC is Germany's first Cluster of Excellence in architecture. The Cluster focuses on sustainable and climate-positive outcomes by leveraging digital technologies to revolutionize architectural design and construction. IntCDC's innovative projects, such as the Wangen Tower and the Hybrid Flax Pavilion, have also brought international acclaim, including the prestigious German Design Awards. 

    University of Tübingen: Six Clusters of Excellence 

    The University of Tübingen has been awarded six Clusters of Excellence, which includes the renewal of three existing clusters and three new Clusters. These span neuroscience, microbiology, machine learning, and cultural studies. 

    1. iFIT – Image-guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies: Focuses on developing individualized cancer therapies through a unique collaboration of research areas. 

    1. CMFI – Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections: Aims to understand microbial mechanisms to develop new interventions against pathogens. 

    1. Machine Learning – New Perspectives for Science: Seeks to integrate machine learning into all aspects of scientific discovery, transforming the scientific approach.  

    1. GreenRobust – In collaboration with the University of Hohenheim, Heidelberg University, and the Max Planck Institute for Biology in Tübingen, this Cluster focuses on advancing resilience and sustainability in biological systems, tackling environmental and agricultural challenges. 

    1. HUMAN ORIGINS – In collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment in Tübingen, this Cluster explores the evolutionary history of humankind through cutting-edge research in anthropology and paleoenvironments. 

    1. TERRA – This research cluster focuses on Earth systems and biodiversity in the context of global change. In collaboration with the University of Hohenheim and the Senckenberg Nature Research Society in Frankfurt, it aims to study ecological dynamics and promote sustainable management of natural resources. 

    These developments within the Cyber Valley Innovation Campus highlight Germany's investment in research and innovation, positioning its institutions at the forefront of scientific discovery and technological advancement. 

  • 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. 

  • Cyber Valley celebrates the launch of ELLIS Institute Finland

    Cyber Valley celebrates the launch of ELLIS Institute Finland

    The new institute is part of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS) – a pan-European AI research network that is an important player in the Cyber Valley Community. It will position Finland as a key player in AI, attract international talent, and drive cutting-edge research. This announcement marks a major step towards achieving Cyber Valley’s vision of a closely connected, pan-European AI research network, strengthening Europe’s global standing in AI and machine learning.

    The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture has pledged substantial financial backing, committing €10 million annually from 2025 to 2028, in addition to a launch-phase investment of €6 million. Further support comes from the Post Scriptum Foundation, established by Peter Sarlin, CEO and co-founder of Silo AI. Silo AI joined the Cyber Valley Community in June 2024 at Cyber Valley Days. The foundation has pledged an additional €10 million to fund up to 15 professorships at the ELLIS Institute Finland. 

    This ELLIS Institute, which will be based at Aalto University, is the second in the prestigious pan-European ELLIS network, following the establishment of the first institute in Tübingen, Germany, in 2023. Aalto University will lead the initiative in Finland, working collaboratively with other Finnish universities.

    The new institute will build on the achievements of the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI), which currently hosts ELLIS Unit Helsinki—the Finnish node of ELLIS. Professor Samuel Kaski, director of FCAI and ELLIS Unit Helsinki, will play a central role in the development of ELLIS Institute Finland.

    This initiative underlines Finland’s commitment to becoming a major hub for AI research and innovation, leveraging its longstanding expertise to address both local and global challenges through AI-driven solutions.

    Cyber Valley is proud to support and collaborate with ELLIS Institute Finland. Together, we look forward to advancing European AI research, fostering collaborative innovation, and addressing global challenges through the power of intelligent systems. This marks a significant step in uniting Europe’s AI efforts, strengthening our shared goals and vision for a more connected, forward-thinking AI research ecosystem.

  • Cyber Valley unites AI and robotics expertise for the healthcare sector

    Cyber Valley unites AI and robotics expertise for the healthcare sector

    Stuttgart, October 28, 2024 – The Cyber Valley Health Cluster officially launched last Thursday with a public kickoff event in Tübingen. This initiative launched by Cyber Valley aims to unite the forces of science, industry, and start-ups to improve people’s long-term health through artificial intelligence and modern robotics. 

    Collaboration between research and industry for AI-driven health technologies 

    The Cyber Valley Health Cluster aims to integrate research, practice, and technology. It promotes joint projects between AI experts, scientists, and companies to develop innovative solutions for current and future challenges in the healthcare sector. The Health Cluster emphasizes interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, enabling new approaches and solutions that go beyond individual technological advances.  

    Rebecca C. Reisch, Managing Director of Cyber Valley GmbH, highlights the importance of this collaboration: “The Cyber Valley Health Cluster is more than an academic endeavor; it’s a collaborative alliance that encourages exchange between industry, start-ups, and research. The Health Cluster is where AI-based solutions can be developed to address the most pressing challenges in modern medicine and beyond.”

    Strong Cyber Valley Partners and Friends are already on board  

    The Cyber Valley Health Cluster is backed by strong partnerships. Among the already confirmed Cyber Valley Partners are well-known players such as Boehringer Ingelheim, ZEISS, the University of Tübingen, the University of Stuttgart, and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS). These partners are investing significantly in the Cyber Valley Community and are playing a central role in the further development of the Health Cluster. 

    In addition, the Cyber Valley Health Cluster is supported by numerous committed Cyber Valley Friends who enrich the network with their expertise and connections. These include Immatics, Cegat, Ovesco, BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg, BioRegio STERN Management, as well as the Medical Innovations Incubator, and the start-ups Osora and Cerebri.  Further candidates are already under consideration.  

    Reisch emphasizes the role of the Cyber Valley Community: “Together with our Partners and Friends, we are creating an environment that drives the development of technologies that are not only groundbreaking but also practical and ethical. Because only by working together do we have the chance to establish Baden-Württemberg and the whole of Germany at the forefront of global AI health innovations.” 

    Long-term goal: a lasting healthcare alliance 

    The Cyber Valley Health Cluster supports start-ups and innovation projects to create real value by generating new jobs and health solutions. Health Cluster participants moreover benefit from extensive connections and new networking opportunities that enable the development of pioneering healthcare solutions and rapid knowledge transfer between research and industry. 

    The long-term goal of the Cyber Valley Health Cluster is to create a lasting and active community, pooling health expertise to enable interdisciplinary teams to tackle global health challenges. Further events and interaction formats are planned for the Cyber Valley Health Cluster in the coming months. 

    About Cyber Valley 

    Cyber Valley is Europe’s largest and leading center for excellence in artificial intelligence and modern robotics. Its mission and public mandate are to advocate for the research, development, application, and acceptance of technologies and methods in the field of intelligent systems. Cyber Valley encourages entrepreneurship by uniting scientific excellence with innovation and technology transfer. In addition, Cyber Valley facilitates critical reflection on the ethical and social implications of AI through public engagement. Cyber Valley envisions a future in which the full potential of intelligent systems is leveraged for the greater good of the world. 

    Media Contact: 

    Laura Neusser 
    Public Outreach Manager 
    Cyber Valley GmbH 
    laura.neusser@cyber-valley.de 

  • The Cyber Valley Start-up Network continues to grow

    The Cyber Valley Start-up Network continues to grow

    Medicalvalues:

    Medicalvalues develops AI-based solutions for integrated diagnostics, streamlining complex diagnostic decisions across various diseases. Their Order Intelligence software offers AI-supported digital ordering with modern report view. It supports customers in finding diagnoses with intelligent test suggestions and modern request and add-on ordering for special parameters. In addition to clinical chemistry, they also cover microbiology, genetics, hygiene, and other specialties.

    NECKAR:

    NECKAR manages finances proactively and focuses on growth by providing features like a financial dashboard for real-time reporting, as well as, tracking revenues and expenses. They use optical character recognition (OCR) to extract data from scanned documents, LLMs to interpret and categorize complex financial information, and provide insights by combining real-time data retrieval with AI-driven analysis.

    Yugen Space:

    Yugen Space is a space-tech start-up making Earth observation simple to tackle the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Their breakthrough AI platform turns satellite data into actionable insights, as easy to use as a Google search. The first step in their mission is focused on soil—creating precise nutrient and mineral maps from satellite data to monitor and enhance soil quality, predict and boost crop yields, and promote sustainability.

     

    Tetractys:

    Tetractys is a cutting-edge AI start-up that enhances AI accessibility for small and medium enterprises while boosting business revenue through innovative technology. It is developing a new generation of AI that is not only faster, more affordable, and user-friendly but it is also capable of real-time detection and analysis of relevant objects and events in data, featuring one-shot learning capability.

    In joining the Cyber Valley Start-up Network, these start-ups enhance the diversity and collaborative culture of the Cyber Valley Community. We are pleased to have them on board!

  • Cyber Valley welcomes four start-ups to the Start-up Network

    Cyber Valley welcomes four start-ups to the Start-up Network

     

    Respeak 

    Respeak provides AI assistants for various functions, including technical service, customer support, quality assurance, and knowledge management. Their platform allows businesses to integrate AI capabilities easily, enabling tasks such as answering questions, generating documentation, and transcribing speech.  

    ISTARI AI 

    ISTARI.AI delivers automated market research and lead generation by analyzing a global database of over 100 million entities. Their platform provides real-time insights, helping companies quickly identify trends, competitors, and opportunities for smarter decision-making. 

    Fara.AI 

    Fara.AI offers AI-Analytics for the fashion industry with data-driven insights from social media and photography, enhancing sustainability and market orientation. Their product helps brands stay ahead of the market by providing insights into consumer preferences and future trends. 

      

    Earlytrace 

    Earlytrace uses specific protein biomarkers to analyze protein patterns in blood samples, identifying early signs of breast cancer. The radiation-free AI-powered analysis delivers highly precise predictions on breast cancer sensitivity. 

    These four companies have joined the dynamic Cyber Valley Start-up Network, becoming part of a thriving AI community focused on advancing technology and fostering collaboration among start-ups, researchers, and industry partners.