“Use AI!”: The Mainz region is equipped with a strong AI ecosystem

In front of an audience of around 80 participants, Mainz presented itself as a dynamic and vibrant AI hub with a diverse network of innovation and funding initiatives, offering particular potential in areas such as biotechnology, oil production, glass processing and materials science. Representatives from business, academia, trade associations and social partners emphasised the importance of collaboration between research and industry. They also highlighted the crucial role of networking amongst regional stakeholders in bringing innovations into local business practice more quickly and supporting companies on their path to the successful implementation of AI.

Successfully implementing AI as a tool: identifying added value and getting people on board

In his keynote speech, Professor Tobias Walter from Mainz University of Applied Sciences outlined how to successfully and responsibly implement AI and which steps are crucial in the process: being open-minded, starting small, recognising potential, carefully selecting data, models and providers, as well as sharing experiences and seeking support within the network. He emphasised that it is particularly important for SMEs to select suitable areas of application and establish robust infrastructures.

As the potential applications of AI are so diverse, the first step is to identify the areas in which the technology creates genuine added value, emphasised Dr Fabian Etzold, Head of Data Science at SCHOTT AG. Further prerequisites include high-quality data and appropriately trained staff who can realistically assess the data set. Stakeholder groups should therefore be involved at an early stage in the introduction and use of AI in order to support the process, allay fears and foster understanding and trust, according to Sascha Kopp, Chair of the Works Council at SCHOTT AG. “Getting people on board is a crucial aspect of successful AI deployment,” was the consensus among the panellists.

For companies, this means taking a close look at the legal requirements and raising their staff’s awareness of these issues whilst providing them with the necessary training, explained Christoph Reich, a solicitor.

In view of growing technical, legal and societal challenges, clear political and legal frameworks – such as the European AI Act and corporate compliance regulations governing the use of AI – are indispensable. They provide guidance and help companies to take into account staff training – for example, in terms of AI competence as set out in Article 4 of the AI Act – data protection, trade secrets, and copyright and trade mark law right from the start.

The significance of AI with a view to the future

In the coming years, AI will continue to grow in importance within companies – not only in terms of more efficient processes, according to the unanimous view. Empowering employees to use AI safely and competently is also becoming increasingly important. In light of the skills shortage, automation and AI can help organisations respond to changes in the labour market, emphasised Olga Mordvinova, CEO of incontext.technology GmbH. At the same time, companies must strengthen their digital resilience. This includes being prepared for the failure of individual systems or providers, according to Professor Walter.

Mainz as a high-performing AI hub with a vibrant innovation infrastructure

With its Chamber of Industry and Commerce, innovation agency, universities and other institutions, the region offers a wide range of support services. As Tim Avemarie-Scharmann, Manager of Innovation and Transfer at the Rhineland-Palatinate Innovation Agency, emphasised, it is crucial to refer companies to the right contacts in a targeted manner. The aim is therefore: “Procure AI regionally.”

Moving forward, the focus must be on expanding the innovation infrastructure and actively shaping the AI transformation. This is because AI will increasingly permeate all areas of life and work. This includes stronger networking between research centres, greater computing capacity and the recruitment of additional skilled workers, according to Professor Stefan Kramer of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and AI Coordinator for the State of Rhineland-Palatinate. At the same time, the social and cultural impacts of AI, as well as the changes to the world of work, must be taken into account at an early stage. This also includes the question of where AI-free spaces should be deliberately created – for example, at universities, to strengthen human judgement and critical thinking, as suggested by the German Science Council in its recommendations on higher education in the age of generative AI.

At the get-together that followed, participants took the opportunity to exchange ideas and network. As part of a mini-exhibition, regional partners presented AI applications for participants to try out. These included, amongst other things, controlling a robotic gripper arm or a controller using mixed-reality glasses, and creating a personalised full-body avatar with the help of AI. Organisations involved included Mainz University of Applied Sciences, Schott AG, the Rhineland-Palatinate Innovation Agency, the Regional Centre for the Future of AI and Digital Transformation (RzzKI), the Mining, Chemical and Energy Workers’ Union (IGBCE) and the IT Klub Mainz & Rheinhessen e.V.

The event in Mainz was part of the series ‘Use AI! Opportunities for businesses in their regions’. Through this format, VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH and the Lernende Systeme platform promote exchange within the regions and, in particular, offer SMEs practical guidance on the use of AI. The event series is linked to the High-Tech Agenda for Germany (HTAD) and will continue in spring 2027.