In order to further promote research and development of AI, the State of Hessia resolved to set up the AI Centre of Competence (KI-Kompetenzzentrum) and to make funds for 20 permanent professorships available. With the Centre of Competence, the State of Hessia aims at facilitating the transfer of knowledge from scholarly research to the economy.

Higher Education Institutions and Universities of Hessia can affiliate and jointly submit their applications to the public tender. To evaluate the applications, an independent panel of six experts that brings together AI expertise of different fields has been established. Based on Christiane Wendehorst’s work on legal and ethical issues related to AI, she was invited by the Hessia’s Ministry of Science and Arts to join the panel of renowned experts.