New Zentrum Digitalisierung.Bayern (ZD.B) opened

MUNICH   Bavaria's Minister for Economic Affairs Ilse Aigner and Minister of Science Dr Ludwig Spaenle opened the Zentrum Digitalisierung.Bayern (ZD.B) in Garching today.

Aigner and Spaenle: “Bavaria has a clear goal. With our BAYERN DIGITAL strategy for the future, we are securing ourselves a leading role in the digital age. The high investment strength of Bavarian companies and research facilities, well-educated staff, the strong industrial base and outstanding connections between business and science form the basis for the digital awakening in our state. We do not want technology to define our everyday lives, but our everyday lives to be made easier by innovative ideas. This extends from services provided by authorities to more flexible working models and a better balance between work and family life. BAYERN DIGITAL has an impact on every aspect of society, and we are delighted to get a crucial building block in this started today – the Zentrum Digitalisierung.Bayern.

“Data is the fuel of the 21st century. We want to make use of this fuel for Bavaria's economy, both for large corporations and for the many small and medium-sized companies here. Our goal is to become the technology leader,” says Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs, Ilse Aigner. The Bavaria state government is investing EUR 200 million in the ZD.B as a hub for digitization throughout the state. Aigner: “With the ZD.B, we are bringing together digital expertise in Bavaria, initially in six topic platforms. We are investing in people, in bright minds. The ZD.B is a crucial step in moving digitization forward. The research sector is producing stimulus for business and society, which will ensure that Bavaria remains competitive.”

The state's universities and university-based research institutions are a key building block in BAYERN DIGITAL. Minister of Science Dr Ludwig Spaenle emphasised: “As well as its significant role for business, the ZD.B is a centre from and for science. Its key role will be to promote cooperation at the interface between science and business, in particular with a view to founding companies. To do this, we will incorporate, bring together and strengthen the universities' many different competencies in the field of digitization at the ZD.B. Bavaria will do this by creating 20 new professorships at universities and universities of applied sciences, promoting the next generation of scientists in a targeted way and providing the ideal infrastructure for students to develop innovative ideas. Research in the future fields of digitization will thus be expanded and strengthened.”

The ZD.B has already begun its work in the form of a task force. An office in Garching will be set up by autumn. Alongside, the content of the six topic platforms will continue to be developed. Initial projects on the topics of IT security, digital production and connected mobility have already been approved.

You can find photos from the opening event and the press tour that followed here after the event:  www.stmwi.bayern.de/service/mediathek/fotos/?noMobile=1.