Discussions on Current Research and Its Application in Practice

Minister Ebling and Minister Hoch Visit Fraunhofer IESE to Learn About Dependable AI

Today, Monday, August 3, 2026, Michael Ebling, Minister of Economic Affairs, Tourism, Energy, and Climate, and Clemens Hoch, Minister of Science, Continuing Education, and Health for the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, visited the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE in Kaiserslautern. The focus was on efficient AI-supported engineering of dependable software and concrete applications in industry and healthcare.

Gruppenfoto zum Ministerbesuch mit dem Austausch über verlässliche und effiziente KI am Fraunhofer IESE (v.r.n.l): Michael Ebling, Minister für Wirtschaft, Tourismus, Energie und Klima des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Liggesmeyer, geschäftsführender Institutsleiter des Fraunhofer IESE; Clemens Hoch, Minister für Wissenschaft, Weiterbildung und Gesundheit des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Dörr, wissenschaftlicher Institutsleiter des Fraunhofer IESE; Nicole Spanier-Baro, Verwaltungsdirektorin des Fraunhofer IESE; Dr. Daniel Schneider, Hauptabteilungsleiter Dependable Systems am Fraunhofer IESE; Dr. Thomas Kuhn, Hauptabteilungsleiter Embedded Systems am Fraunhofer IESE
© Fraunhofer IESE
Discussion on Dependable and Efficient AI at Fraunhofer IESE (from right to left): Michael Ebling, Minister of Economic Affairs, Tourism, Energy, and Climate for the State of Rhineland-Palatinate; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Liggesmeyer, Executive Director of Fraunhofer IESE; Clemens Hoch, Minister of Science, Continuing Education, and Health for the State of Rhineland-Palatinate; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Dörr, Scientific Director of Fraunhofer IESE; Nicole Spanier-Baro, Administrative Director of Fraunhofer IESE; Dr. Daniel Schneider, Divison Head Dependable Systems at Fraunhofer IESE; Dr. Thomas Kuhn, Divison Head Embedded Systems at Fraunhofer IESE

"Artificial intelligence becomes a true driver of innovation when it can be used dependably, transparently, and securely. Fraunhofer IESE impressively demonstrates how excellent research in Rhineland-Palatinate yields concrete solutions for businesses and the healthcare sector. This transfer of excellent research into practice strengthens our innovative strength and the competitiveness of our state,” said Michael Ebling, Minister for Economic Affairs, Tourism, Energy, and Climate, and Clemens Hoch, Minister for Science, Continuing Education, and Health of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate.

AI Makes Development Processes More Efficient

The institute directors, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Liggesmeyer and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Dörr, as well as the heads of divisions, Dr. Thomas Kuhn and Dr. Daniel Schneider, presented current research projects. Fraunhofer IESE develops methods, tools, and quality assurance measures that enable artificial intelligence to efficiently support development processes. Safety, quality, traceability, and regulatory requirements are taken into account from the very beginning.

“In light of increasingly scarce resources, companies must develop innovations faster and more efficiently. AI can provide crucial support in this regard. Our goal is to harness the potential of AI in engineering without compromising on quality, safety, and dependability. This enables companies to remain competitive even under rising cost pressures,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Liggesmeyer, Executive Director of Fraunhofer IESE.

Specific Applications in Industry and Healthcare

Dr. Thomas Kuhn demonstrated how software-defined laboratories, Digital Twins, and simulations can accelerate the development of industrial automation solutions. Dr. Daniel Schneider provided insights into the digitalization of the healthcare sector, with a particular focus on interoperability and the trustworthy use of AI.

In the discussion that followed, participants explored which companies and industries could benefit even more from Fraunhofer IESE’s expertise and services. Another topic was how Rhineland-Palatinate and Germany can take a leading role in dependable AI-supported engineering.

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