Stifterverband: Federal states need to work better together on AI strategies

Federal states rely on their own approaches when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. There is hardly any synergy effect: while some countries are already revising their strategies, others do not have any yet. This is the result of a study by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft e. V. – And also criticism.

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Donor association demands (PDF) A Strong Grouping of Forces. This is absolutely essential to create attractive beacons in AI research and innovations beyond national boundaries. Their aim is to attract talent and reassure investors. But this requires better cooperation between the federal and state governments, the association emphasizes.

Stifterverband: Federal states need to work better together on AI strategies

Only half of countries have an AI strategy

According to their analysis, seven federal states have their own strategy, one is currently revising it and eight states do not yet have a concept paper for the use of the new technology. The association is critical, “Here, artificial intelligence – the biggest transformation topic of the next few decades – is treated only as a subdiscipline in innovation or digitalization strategy.” He analyzed papers from Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Saxony.

The federal and state governments currently have separate priorities, which also vary in depth and content – ​​more so between individual states and states than within the federal government. According to the Donor Association, states are placing intense emphasis on innovation and research. “Education and skills as well as research and development are key content elements, as are topic clusters, and areas of collaboration and AI collaboration are also central.”

Volker Meyer-Guckel, Secretary General of the Stifterverband, emphasizes the importance of cooperation in the federal system. “This helps them to quickly identify how and in which areas cross-border goals and cooperation or funding programs can be implemented.” If the priorities collapse – some of which even contradict each other – this will jeopardize the leading role that the EU has been pursuing.

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