How can artificial intelligence be made safer, more inclusive, and accessible to as many people as possible? These are the questions driving research at the four partner universities of AI Academy OWL. On November 5, 2026, representatives from Bielefeld University, Paderborn University, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI), and OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts (TH OWL) came together for a joint milestone meeting at HSBI. The focus: scientific progress, concrete project results, and knowledge transfer to industry and society.
Research Results in Focus
What has been achieved, which approaches have proven successful, and where are new opportunities for collaboration emerging? The four universities shared insights into their research and knowledge transfer activities, highlighting key achievements from recent months. Short live demonstrations showcased practical developments and potential applications. Together with a representative of the project management agency VDI/VDE, the partners discussed progress across the different work packages and the next steps within the consortium.
→ Explore the demos yourself: https://ki-akademieowl.de/demos/
Bringing AI Research Beyond Academia
Representing TH OWL, Prof. Dr. Markus Lange-Hegermann presented selected activities demonstrating the many ways AI research can be communicated and put into practice. These range from interactive exhibits at the Weserrenaissance-Museum Schloss Brake, the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum, and Deutsches Museum Bonn to public events addressing societal issues such as AI and democracy, as well as industry-focused formats like "Smart Agents for Smart Factories".
"Our goal is not only to advance AI research but also to make its results accessible and useful beyond academia. The wide range of activities shows how well scientific research and knowledge transfer can complement each other," said Markus Lange-Hegermann.
AI Academy OWL is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and brings together the AI expertise of the four partner universities. Running from 2024 to 2028, the joint project focuses on technological and societal AI safety as well as personalized and inclusive AI methods.
Learn more about AI Academy OWL:https://ki-akademieowl.de
Author: Mona Marie Brinkmann