German industry digital application products are known worldwide as „Industrie 4.0 – Made in Germany“. Digitized factories are already a reality in many places. To leverage the potential of Industrie 4.0 to the fullest, companies are further developing and using data-based business models. With the help of AI, companies can merge industrial data and transform it into innovative, data-based products and services. Over the next five years, AI is expected to contribute an additional 32 billion EUR to the production industry’s gross value. These numbers correspond to about one third of projected industry growth.

Plattform Industrie 4.0 establishes AI as cross-sectional topic

The Federal government’s official „Artifical Intelligence Strategy“ is to extend Germany’s strong position in the field of Industrie 4.0 and to become a leader in industrial AI applications. As a result, Plattform Industrie 4.0 has anchored artificial intelligence within its work program. The Plattform highlights (new) digital business models, analyses legal frameworks in the context of AI and emphasizes AI’s role in upskilling. To develop synergies, the Plattform’s activities are interlinked with the Plattform Learning Systems. As a result, Plattform Industrie 4.0 will deliver thorough research, specific recommendations on industrial applications of AI, as well as informative use cases and scenarios – especially with respect to SMEs.

 
Staff turnover in the Plattform’s steering committe

At the end of the year, Bernd Leukert, board member of SAP SE, will hand over the role of steering committe leader to Dr. Frank Melzer, board member of Festo AG & Co. KG. „I am particularly delighted that I have the possibility to further contribute my experiences and perspectives and, at the same time, to hand over the chairman’s seat to Dr. Frank Melzer”, said Mr. Leukert, board member of SAP SE and responsible for the sectors of products and innovations. Dr. Melzer is eager to engage in the new role: “I want to thank Mr. Leukert for the past two years of successful work and am pleased to take the position of chairman. Mr. Leukert has led the steering committee with great commitment and has contributed to the Plattform’s success through promoting and implementing innovative test beds for companies. During my time in office, I want to focus on technological advancement. My main emphasis will be on advancing decentralized, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, which can offer great tools for further industrial production process optimization. A second focus will be on the qualification and upskilling of skilled workers – since digitalization promotes a change in competencies within our society faster than any prior industrial change.

About the Plattform Industrie 4.0

The Plattform Industrie 4.0 is Germany’s central network for the promotion of the digital transformation in industrial production. Bringing together politics, the private sector, academia, trade unions and associations, more than 350 stakeholders from over 150 organisations actively contribute to the work of the Plattform. As one of the biggest international and national networks, the Plattform supports German compa-nies in the implementation of Industrie 4.0 strategies. In particular, it endeavours to disseminate awareness of existing 4.0 practice examples within companies and also in the world at large. With its concrete recommendations, the Plattform builds mo-mentum and indicates offers of support and testing fields. The Plattform’s numerous international collaborations underline its key role in international discussions on the topic of Industrie 4.0. Further information can be found on: www.plattform-i40.de