Germany wants to secure access to the world’s leading models while strengthening European alternatives, particularly through expanded cooperation with France and Canada, according to the report.
“We are leveraging collaborations with like-minded partners in the EU and worldwide (especially France and Canada) to benefit the German AI ecosystem and ensure sovereign access,” the report noted. “We will also use intra-European collaborations,” such as with French AI company Mistral, “to achieve this leverage,” its authors added.
At the same time, “AI made in Germany” should stand out through its focus on industrial AI with “highly specialized models,” the report read.
“A key focus here is the development of innovative production systems to increase productivity through the use of AI,” the report noted. “The widespread use of AI and AI-based robotics can boost productivity and quality, optimize industrial processes, and improve control over complex systems.”
To help speed up the development of AI in Germany, the government plans to act as a “strategic anchor customer,” using public contracts and pilot projects to help European AI providers enter the market.
The plan comes as Germany struggles to catch up on AI while cultivating more strategic autonomy in the area. Much of the blueprint, however, lacks key details, including on financing. The measures “neither constitute funding decisions nor prejudge” future budget procedures, according to the report.