Collaborating in Common Fields of Action

Photo: PIER PLUS

As basic research in the fields of AI and data science progresses at unprecedented speed, findings that are considered established and proven are increasingly being rolled out to specific applications. To do justice to this development, exploit synergistic effects, and ensure the ongoing preservation of methodological expertise, service facilities have been created at a number of institutions to enable and advance digitalization in scholarship.

Participating partners

In the Hamburg metropolitan region, the House of Computing and Data Science (HCDS) at the Universität Hamburg has already established such an institution, which was conceptually modelled after the Hamburg X project: Center for Data and Computing in Natural Science (CDCS) (participating partners: Universität Hamburg, Hamburg University of Technology, DESY). Helmholtz Imaging Platform (HIP) operates at DESY specifically on the subject of image processing. The TUHH is home to the interfaculty initiative Machine Learning in Engineering (MLE) (participation: Hereon). The joint DASHH-Graduiertenschule (Data Science in Hamburg Helmholtz Graduate School for the Structure of Matter), in which many partners are involved, covers the promotion of young researchers

Current Activities in “Computing and Data Science”

Cooperation is currently supported by two structures:

1. The Kiez of Computing and Data Science brings together people from many institutions that apply computing, data science and artificial intelligence in their respective contexts. This is where individuals across institutions can situate themselves and exchange ideas and pool their expertise. The “Kiez” operates an event calendar for relevant events in the Hamburg Metropolitan region and beyond.
2. The Hamburg Virtual Initiative for Science & Technology in AI (Hamburg VISTA) was launched to make the existing synergies between the PIER PLUS institutions at the interface of artificial intelligence and its application in the natural sciences and engineering visible. To strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation in research, the doctoral students associated with VISTA are each supervised jointly by two VISTA researchers; the character of VISTA as an inter-institutional graduate school is underlined by the organization of events and networking events. By bringing together cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, as well as methodological expertise, further education and training opportunities, scientific events, job offers and much more, Hamburg is further strengthening its position as an attractive location for pioneering topics in digitization and automation in science.

The variety of topics covered by the PIER PLUS profiles makes a broad understanding of transfer necessary. Through the development of spaces of interaction and exchange PIER PLUS stresses the needed interconnection between the different target groups in (digital) meetings.

Clear science communication for Hamburg requires mutual dialog between partners and social actors. This is why PIER PLUS partners have agreed to collaborate in the area of science communication. One of the goals here is for the partners to share examples of best practice and devise a joint communication strategy in the context of the PIER PLUS profiles.

The PIER PLUS partners have also committed to work together to support young academics. The most important institution in this regard is the Hamburg Research Academy (HRA), which combines the forces of nine of Hamburg’s universities to provide advice and support to Hamburg’s young academics in a multidisciplinary manner. Other PIER PLUS partners are associate members of the HRA.