Auf dem Weg zu vertrauenswürdiger KI

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we work, learn and live — faster than any technological shift before it. When we launched the L3S 2030 strategy process in 2023, one thing quickly became clear: we could not simply build on past successes. The global AI ecosystem is in motion, innovation cycles are accelerating, and the conditions in which research unfolds are shifting just as rapidly.

Ein starkes Fundament

The L3S enters this new phase from a position of remarkable strength. Outstanding publications, competitive funding, impactful transfer projects and a dense network of international collaborations all underline the centre’s scientific and strategic relevance. With CAIMed, the AI service centre KISSKI and the European innovation hub DAISEC, the L3S is investing in research and transfer initiatives that set clear signals for the years ahead — visible well beyond Europe.

Dynamik generativer KI: Herausforderung und Chance

Few developments have progressed as dramatically as generative AI. The direction of travel may not have surprised us, but the sheer speed and breadth of adoption certainly have. Within just two years, generative AI reached 40 per cent user penetration — a milestone that took the internet 25 years and computers two decades, as a joint study from the Harvard Kennedy School and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis illustrates.

In an environment marked by such momentum, strategic clarity becomes essential. Our strategy is therefore both ambitious and robust: defined by concrete goals, measurable milestones and clear indicators of success. At the same time, it deliberately remains flexible — a necessity in deep-tech fields where expectations rise and fall quickly and innovation cycles shrink.

Trustworthy AI als Leitprinzip

At the heart of the L3S 2030 Strategy lies one central premise: trustworthy AI. AI systems must be dependable, transparent and fair — and users must feel confident relying on them. Only then can AI truly advance society: in personalised learning, precision medicine, smart manufacturing, autonomous mobility or public safety.

Innovation requires openness and room to experiment. Yet it must remain firmly aligned with legal and ethical principles — a commitment that is particularly strong in Europe. The EU AI Act provides a structured framework for this balance. For the L3S, it means pairing ambition with accountability, ensuring that AI research remains both pioneering and responsible.

Strategie mit Weitblick

To put this vision into practice, the L3S has anchored key action areas in its Strategy 2030. We will expand our digital infrastructure, strengthen scientific excellence on an international scale and deepen collaborations across Europe and beyond. We aim to intensify knowledge and technology transfer and to share our research results more widely and more visibly.

Gleichzeitig setzen wir auf die Förderung von Vielfalt und exzellenter Talente, bauen ein aktives Alumni-Netzwerk auf und streben an, das Volumen an Forschungsmitteln auf hohem Niveau zu stabilisieren und auszubauen.

Zukunftsfelder: Wohin wir unsere Forschung ausrichten

Parallel zur Stärkung bestehender Aktivitäten in Forschung und Lehre erschließen wir gezielt neue Themenfelder, die die Zukunft von Data Science und KI prägen werden. Sie stehen im Mittelpunkt dieser Binaire-Ausgabe:

1. Vertrauenswürdige KI
   KI muss nachvollziehbar, robust und sicher sein. Wir entwickeln Methoden, die Fairness und Transparenz garantieren – für Anwendungen von der Medizin bis zur Industrie.
2. Agentic and Embodied AI
   Die nächste Generation von KI-Systemen wird handeln können: autonom, adaptiv und in enger Interaktion mit ihrer Umgebung.
3. Hybrid AI
   Wir verbinden symbolische und neuronale Methoden, um die Stärken beider Welten zu nutzen – für präzisere und effizientere Systeme.
4. Medizinische Foundation-Modelle
   Große KI-Modelle für die Medizin eröffnen neue Möglichkeiten in Diagnostik und Therapie. Wir schaffen die Grundlagen für diese Zukunft.
5. Energieeffiziente KI
   Moderne KI ist leistungsfähig, aber ressourcenhungrig. Wir forschen an Lösungen, die den Energieverbrauch drastisch senken.
6. KI für die Wissenschaft
   KI beschleunigt Forschung in allen Disziplinen – von der Physik bis zur Sozialwissenschaft. Wir entwickeln Werkzeuge, die neue Erkenntnisse ermöglichen.

Ein strategischer Kompass für ein dynamisches Umfeld

The history of AI research shows that progress requires agility and foresight. The L3S will continue to advance its strengths while staying alert to new scientific, economic and societal signals. This balance — between stability and adaptability — has guided our development so far. It will continue to shape how we contribute to an AI future that serves the needs of industry, science and society.

PDF-Dokument der Strategie L3S 2030