SCO-TTi research group and Infineon drive European AI innovations for the industry of the future
International partners of the EU project AIMS5.0 met in Heraklion to develop new approaches for sustainable and AI-supported production systems - accompanied by further impulses from the European semiconductor and research community at the APCM conference in Sicily.
Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, together with international partners, hosted a key working meeting as part of the major European research project AIMS5.0. At the invitation of Dr. Loukas Michalas from the “Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas,” partners from across Europe gathered in Heraklion to discuss current research findings examining the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in sustainable industrial production.
The meeting focused on an intensive exchange between academia and industry. Twelve European use cases presented their progress and jointly explored how innovative technologies can be integrated even more effectively into production processes in the future, as well as the key insights gained from the past three years of collaborative research. Such meetings are crucial for bringing together different perspectives and jointly developing viable solutions for industrial practice.
The university was represented at the event by Prof. Sophia Keil and research associate Pascal Herfort from the HSZG research team SCO-TTi. As the work package leader, the HSZG, together with the recently appointed honorary professor Germar Schneider, took the lead in shaping the content and coordinating the next steps. The SCO-TTi research group plays a key strategic role in the project in developing human-centered AI applications and designing new models of collaboration between academia and industry. Prof. Schneider of Infineon Technologies Dresden and HSZG already share a long-standing partnership that has yielded numerous research and development projects and strengthens HSZG’s position on the international stage as a research-intensive and application-oriented university.
Working with colleagues from the HSZG as part of the AIMS5.0 project was a great experience - highly committed people, a great campus and a pleasant environment. Research benefits significantly from this lively exchange across national borders. New ideas can be spread around the world and at the same time the relevance and truth of one's own research can be discussed in critical dialog with research colleagues.
”
International research shows its strength when it works together across borders. The AIMS5.0 project shows how artificial intelligence makes industrial processes smarter, more sustainable and more human-centered - and how scientific excellence results in concrete innovations for business and society.
”The EU project AIMS5.0 has reached an impressive climax in Heraklion. We worked together on 12 concrete use cases that serve a clear goal: To redefine the competitiveness and productivity of European industry. The partners' results were not only promising, but absolutely outstanding. It was proof of what is possible when expertise and collaboration go hand in hand. A huge thank you to everyone involved for this great success!
”
Human-Centered AI-Supported Work Environments
HSZG’s research focuses on the development of human-centered AI-supported work environments. The goal is to intelligently analyze production data and integrate it into decision-support systems. The central question is always how humans can make effective use of AI and act as confident partners in the production process.
The project brings together academic research with partners from the industrial production sector—ranging from small businesses to highly automated manufacturing facilities—thereby creating a close integration of research and application. This broad scope makes it possible to test and further develop innovative solutions under real-world conditions. International collaborations, such as those within the framework of the EU project AIMS5.0, not only strengthen HSZG’s research capabilities but also open up opportunities to specifically address key societal challenges. Topics such as sustainability, resilience, and a human-centered approach are not only explored theoretically but are also directly integrated into industrial processes through technology transfer projects.
Strategic Collaborations Between Universities and Industry
The HSZG’s international visibility extends beyond the AIMS5.0 project. For example, representatives of the European semiconductor and high-tech community recently gathered at the APCM conference in Sicily. There, Prof. Dr. Sophia Keil and Prof. Dr. Germar Schneider presented their joint paper, “Co-Creating the Future: Agile Research Partnerships for Global High-Tech Leadership.” The focus was on new models of strategic research collaborations between universities, industry, and international partners as the foundation for Europe’s technological innovation capacity and competitive strength. Prof. Schneider particularly emphasized the central importance of strategic collaborations between universities and industry. He noted that the key factors for success are, above all, the speed of knowledge and technology transfer, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the close integration of research, teaching, and industrial application.
In addition, Prof. Keil, Prof. Schneider, and Prof. Dr. Fischer jointly presented the HSZG’s new semiconductor degree programs : “Semiconductor Processes and Materials Chemistry” (B.Sc.) and “Mechatronics for Manufacturing.” These degree programs address the growing demand for highly qualified professionals in the European semiconductor industry and combine application-oriented teaching with current research and industrial requirements.
New “SuperComp” Project
The project partners are already looking ahead: They are collaborating on the new “SuperComp” project, which aims to prepare European production sites for future manufacturing environments. The focus is on the use of humanoid robotics and AI-based systems designed to make production processes more flexible, efficient, and sustainable.
The momentum of international collaboration will continue in the coming weeks: The project partners will meet again in Madrid from June 15 to 18, 2026, for the official EU review of the AIMS5.0 project. There, the research results and progress to date will be presented to and evaluated by representatives of the European Commission and the funding agencies. The review marks an important milestone on the path to successfully implementing the project’s goals and transferring the developed AI solutions into industrial applications.
Through its involvement in European research networks, international industrial collaborations, and forward-looking educational programs, HSZG is strengthening its role as a prominent innovation partner in the European high-tech and semiconductor ecosystem and is actively shaping the industry of the future.
1st floor
First floor
Funding Note:
The AIMS5.0 project is supported by the Chips Joint Undertaking and its members, including supplementary funding from national funding authorities in the participating countries under grant agreement No. 101112089. The participating countries are Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.