SAIL Kickoff Event

The external Kick-Off Meeting of the SAIL Research Network took place on March 20, 2023, at the Zukunftsmeile in Paderborn. Moderated by Prof. Dr. Axel Ngonga, the event commenced with welcome addresses from Prof. Dr. Johannes Blömer of the University of Paderborn and Prof. Dr. Angelika Epple of the University of Bielefeld. Subsequently, Prof. Dr. Barbara Hammer provided an overview presentation introducing the participants to the SAIL Research Network.

In a series of six concise spotlight presentations, the six SAIL Principal Investigators (PIs), namely Sebastian Peitz, Sina Zarrieß, Helene Dörksen, Martin Kohlhase, Ilona Horwath, and Hanna Drimalla, showcased a cross-section of the network’s research endeavors. The morning session concluded with a keynote titled “From Data to Value – enabled by sustainable AI?” delivered by Dr. Thomas Bürger from Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG.

The afternoon session featured an exhibition spotlighting 15 demonstrators, highlighting the diversity and potential of SAIL’s research. Among the showcased demonstrators were the Intelligent Charging Station (HSBI), Benchmarking Platforms (UPB), a digital stress test (UNIBI), and the Smart Factory OWL serving as a demonstrator environment (TH OWL).

The Kick-Off Meeting served as a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and setting the stage for collaborative research endeavors within the SAIL Research Network. With presentations ranging from overarching network objectives to specific research projects and practical demonstrations, the event provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of SAIL’s mission and capabilities.