In the Upper Palatinate region, fortiss is focused on close collaboration between industry and science. These activities enable promising networks and high-tech clusters while helping to move the innovation region forward. As a research institute of the Free State of Bavaria, fortiss is increasingly developing services for regional small-to-medium enterprises (SME) with the aim of supporting them on the path to digitalization.
fortiss Mittelstand is the starting point for SMEs interested in pursuing joint research activities and bundling their research and development projects in the area of software and artificial intelligence (AI). This approach can lead to the creation of synergies, the development of new business ideas and the acceleration of the product development process all the way to market introduction.
Dr. Wolfgang Köhler, head of fortiss Mittelstand, is the point of contact for information events such as training programs focused on AI and other topics, or for in-depth workshops in areas such as software excellence, machine learning or human-machine collaboration. fortiss places a special focus on networking events that bring the region’s relevant players together. This includes events such as “Best Practices in Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence for SMEs”, which is scheduled for May 19, 2021 at the Innovision Center in Weiherhammer. BHS Corrugated, a local company in Weiherhammer that is also one of the Hidden Champions of the region, will be available as a partner during the hands-on workshops. An online webinar with the same title will be held on November 19, 2020 to provide a digital introduction to the topic. The webinar will also outline various funding opportunities organized by VDI/VDE for AI-based collaborative projects between companies and universities/research institutes. Both events will be conducted in concert with the Lars and Christian Engel Foundation (LUCE), a fortiss cooperation partner that is well connected in the area.
In October 2020, a virtual round table discussion was conducted by the Regensburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce for companies in the region. fortiss expert Johannes Kroß provided individual advice to companies interested in the potential for improvement in software development. In addition, the Chamber of Skilled Trades in the Niederbayern-Oberpfalz (Lower Bavaria-Upper Palatinate) region, together with the district government office in the county of Tirschenreuth, is planning further cooperation in 2021 in the form of network events.
Further activities are planned for the coming year, such as evening seminars and interesting workshops at the BayernLab in Neumarkt that revolve around the issue of the advance of digitalization. fortiss will be participating with its “Deep Fake” and “Machine Learning” presentations and workshops. The event schedules are available on our website.
