Smart Factory 2.0: The ProKI Network Event in Darmstadt

Smart Factory 2 Exhibition & Conference: AI Systems for Production

On October 9, 2024, the ProKI-Netz Smart Factory 2 Exhibition & Conference was held at the Merck Stadium in Darmstadt. Together with the BMBF-funded project consortia of ProLern and ProKI-Netz, executives, employees, and consultants from small and medium-sized manufacturing companies were invited to experience the results of the funding line live.

The focus was on "AI systems for production."

In addition to lectures, workshops, and a panel discussion with AI experts, the project results of ProLern and ProKI-Netz were presented. aiXbrain contributed the articles and presentations on the GeMeKI research project. aiXbrain CEO Dr. Alexander Engels also participated in the concluding panel discussion.

ProKI-Netz coordinator Dr. Lukas Gründel was also delighted with the success of the event for the hosts and organizers of Smart Factory 2:

"I am delighted that we were able to present the broad research landscape in the field of 'AI in production'. And what's more, at the Merck Stadium in Darmstadt. I would like to thank all the AI enthusiasts who made the Smart Factory conference such a success."

What is the ProKI network? The ProKI network generates valuable technological knowledge and expertise in data-driven production. The eight participating technical universities are conducting research into innovative AI applications for manufacturing. The knowledge and expertise is tested with demonstrators in university labs and then transferred to production processes in industry. ProKI-Netz offers a wide and differentiated range of consulting, knowledge transfer, and transfer channels for successful technology exploitation. The ProKI university network includes: RWTH Aachen University - TU Berlin - TU Darmstadt - TU Dresden - LUH Hannover - TU Ilmenau - KIT Karlsruhe - FAU Nuremberg https://proki-netz.de/

Exciting program with theory, practice, and networking

After a welcome by Tom Wünsche from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and Prof. Peter Groche from the Institute for Production Engineering and Forming Machines at TU Darmstadt, the program began with two exciting keynotes.

Prof. Christian Brecher from the Machine Tool Laboratory at RWTH Aachen University first presented the advantages and challenges of AI applications in an industrial context using specific ProKI transfer projects as examples.

Prof. Dominik Bösl from the Bavarian University of Applied Sciences then gave an outlook on how the use of AI in industry is likely to develop in light of current developments and technical innovations. This

was followed by presentations on projects and their key findings on the scientifically supported introduction of "AI in the production process" within the framework of ProLern. Participants in the event then had the opportunity to examine various demonstrators at the ProKI-Netz and ProLern stands. In the afternoon, a varied program of lectures and workshops was offered.

The event was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the "Demonstration and Transfer Network AI in Production (ProKI-Netz)" and "Learning Production Technology – Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Production (ProLern)" by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the "Future of Value Creation – Research on Production, Services, and Work" program and supervised by the Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Additional information available for download here The project atlas "Artificial Intelligence in Production" – A reference work for anyone interested in the opportunities and challenges of AI for the production of the future. In addition to current research results, it offers a comprehensive guide to introducing AI in companies, addressing key topics such as strategic and economic use and promoting acceptance among employees. Practical best practices provide insights into the necessary digitization of manufacturing systems, data management, specific AI methods, and, here too, the interaction between humans and AI. The project atlas was published by the projects of the two announcements "Learning Production Technology – Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Production (ProLern)" and "Demonstration and Transfer Network AI in Production (ProKI-Netz)".