On 28 May 2025, inIT hosted the it's OWL focus group 'Applied AI'. Companies, research institutions and cluster management came together at SmartFactoryOWL in Lemgo at the invitation of Prof. Dr. Volker Lohweg to discuss specific project ideas, exchange experiences and initiate initial collaborations.
Applied AI: Practice-oriented exchange
The Applied AI focus group is part of the cutting-edge it's OWL cluster. Its aim is to create a flexible and practical environment in which companies can contribute their ideas for using artificial intelligence (AI) and develop them further in collaboration with research institutions. Meetings are held approximately every eight weeks and are open to all it's OWL members of the Applied AI focus group who wish to implement concrete AI applications without the need for complex funding structures or long lead times. The Innovation Campus Lemgo, inIT and Fraunhofer IOSB-INA contribute their expertise in AI and machine learning on behalf of the cluster.
Focus group meeting: ideas, insights and networking
The meeting in Lemgo was organised by Prof. Dr. Volker Lohweg together with Christoph-Alexander Holst, Dr. Sahar Deppe (Fraunhofer IOSB-INA), Tommy Falkowski from it's OWL Cluster Management and Matthias Heinrich (GEA). The welcome was followed immediately by the main content: the focus was on presenting initial project ideas, current key topics and insights into ongoing research activities.
Prof. Dr. Volker Lohweg, Christoph-Alexander Holst and Dr. Sahar Deppe also presented the current AI activities of inIT and Fraunhofer IOSB-INA. They demonstrated how AI solutions can be transferred to industrial processes. A subsequent tour of SmartFactoryOWL provided practical insights into various AI applications and research demonstrators.
Diverse perspectives – common goal
Representatives from Miele, GEA Westfalia, TIQ Solutions, Gebr. Becker GmbH, Jürgenhake GmbH, and the research institutions Fraunhofer IOSB-INA, Fraunhofer IEM, and inIT seized the opportunity to engage in active dialogue. The aim was to identify initial starting points for joint AI projects, forge new connections, and coordinate possible forms of cooperation with research partners.
Ein Netzwerk mit Wirkung
Die Fokusgruppe „Applied AI“ bringt regelmäßig Expertinnen und Experten aus Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft zusammen. Gemeinsam werden tragfähige Lösungen für die industrielle Anwendung von KI erarbeitet – praxisnah, kooperativ und wirkungsorientiert.
Prof. Dr. Volker Lohweg emphasises:
‘With the focus group, we are creating an environment in which companies can contribute their own ideas and, together with us as their research partner, quickly put them into practice – without any lengthy hurdles. This results in practical projects with real added value.’
Find out more about the it's OWL leading-edge cluster → https://its-owl.de