The University of Technology Nuremberg (UTN) is participating in the new Bavarian AI Foundation Model Initiative. The aim of the project is to develop a foundation model for artificial intelligence that is unique in Europe and designed to enable powerful AI applications in both academia and industry.
A central role is played by Prof. Dr. Wolfram Burgard, Founding Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at UTN. Together with Prof. Dr. Björn Ommer (LMU Munich), he is responsible for the overall scientific coordination of the project. As an internationally renowned pioneer in artificial intelligence and robotics, Prof. Burgard is thus shaping both the scientific direction and the strategic development of the initiative.
As part of a statewide selection process, around 50 researchers from eleven universities across Bavaria have been involved in the project. Together, they form a collaborative innovation network that explores new approaches to the development of AI models. The Bavarian AI Foundation Model Initiative follows a multimodal approach and emphasizes open source as well as close collaboration across disciplines.
Initially, the initiative focuses on two key application areas: Health and the field of Robotics and Perception. In the healthcare domain, multimodal models are being developed to analyze diverse data sources—such as medical imaging, clinical data, and biosignals—enabling more comprehensive insights. In robotics, the focus is on developing so-called embodied AI systems that not only analyze their environment but also actively interact with it.
With its clear focus on forward-looking foundational AI research and the development of new structures, UTN is positioning itself as a driving force within the Bavarian AI ecosystem. In doing so, the university is setting important impulses for innovation, scientific excellence, and international visibility.
The initiative is led by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts, which is laying the foundation for the development of the AI foundation model through significant investments in computing infrastructure and early-career researchers.
Further Information
Read the press release by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts
Visit the website of the Bavarian AI Foundation Model
Download press image
The University of Technology Nuremberg (UTN) is participating in the new Bavarian AI Foundation Model Initiative. The aim of the project is to develop a foundation model for artificial intelligence that is unique in Europe and designed to enable powerful AI applications in both academia and industry.
A central role is played by Prof. Dr. Wolfram Burgard, Founding Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at UTN. Together with Prof. Dr. Björn Ommer (LMU Munich), he is responsible for the overall scientific coordination of the project. As an internationally renowned pioneer in artificial intelligence and robotics, Prof. Burgard is thus shaping both the scientific direction and the strategic development of the initiative.
As part of a statewide selection process, around 50 researchers from eleven universities across Bavaria have been involved in the project. Together, they form a collaborative innovation network that explores new approaches to the development of AI models. The Bavarian AI Foundation Model Initiative follows a multimodal approach and emphasizes open source as well as close collaboration across disciplines.
Initially, the initiative focuses on two key application areas: Health and the field of Robotics and Perception. In the healthcare domain, multimodal models are being developed to analyze diverse data sources—such as medical imaging, clinical data, and biosignals—enabling more comprehensive insights. In robotics, the focus is on developing so-called embodied AI systems that not only analyze their environment but also actively interact with it.
With its clear focus on forward-looking foundational AI research and the development of new structures, UTN is positioning itself as a driving force within the Bavarian AI ecosystem. In doing so, the university is setting important impulses for innovation, scientific excellence, and international visibility.
The initiative is led by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts, which is laying the foundation for the development of the AI foundation model through significant investments in computing infrastructure and early-career researchers.
Further Information
Read the press release by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts
Visit the website of the Bavarian AI Foundation Model
Download press image