Week 13: New Executive Director of AI NATION, Key Takeaways from the Trip to China

Weekly Wrap-up: Our topics of week 13

Last week brought some big news: Dr. Tina Klüwer, co-founder of K.I.E.Z., is the new Executive Director of AI NATION, Germany’s nationwide ecosystem and platform for AI startups! With K.I.E.Z., she was a true pioneer in the field of AI hubs, setting new standards and playing a decisive role in the program’s high visibility throughout Germany. Now, AI NATION stands to benefit from her extensive experience in AI research, startups, and industry.

She is widely regarded as a key figure in the scene, uniquely combining entrepreneurial, scientific, and political expertise. In the coming years, she will be responsible for the strategic development of AI NATION and will play a major role in shaping the next growth phase of Germany’s AI ecosystem.

The travel group that spent nine days in Shanghai and the Yangtze Delta has returned, bringing back their key takeaways. Dr. Isabelle Harbrecht from the China Competence Center, who played a leading role in organizing the trip, summarized those:

• German companies in China are increasing their investments locally and view China as a model to learn from.
• 73 percent of German companies operating on the ground want the German government to treat China more strongly as a partner again.
• Transfer and matchmaking between researchers and companies are prioritized in the Yangtze Delta.
• China’s new five-year plan focuses on AI, quantum computing, humanoid robots, brain-computer interfaces, deep-sea and polar technologies, and 6G.
• China’s relevance in international legal affairs has grown. For instance, China acts as a key player in the international development of legislation regarding anti-money laundering, the taxation of global income, and e-Apostilles.