Steering committee of Plattform Lernende Systeme: Focus on the AI Roadmap of the High-Tech Agenda Germany

The strategic development of artificial intelligence as a key technology for Germany was the focus of the 17th meeting of the Steering Committee of Plattform Lernende Systeme (PLS) on 22 June 2026 in Berlin. Together with Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space, the members of the steering committee discussed the new AI roadmap set out in the High-Tech Agenda for Germany, as well as key challenges facing Germany as a hub for AI. The meeting was chaired by acatech President Claudia Eckert.

With its AI Roadmap, the Federal Government aims to set out clear milestones, consolidate AI activities more effectively and give them a strategic focus. By 2030, ten per cent of Germany’s economic output is to be generated by AI, and Germany is to be developed into a leading provider of industrial AI and robotics. To this end, a total of 25 milestones and 27 packages of measures are planned, providing, for the first time, a comprehensive overview of federal and national AI activities. Key projects include the establishment of an AI gigafactory in Germany, the development of globally successful domain-specific AI systems, and the expansion of the technological infrastructure.

During the discussion, the members of the steering committee emphasised the importance of an ambitious yet consistently managed implementation process. Claudia Eckert highlighted the detailed structure of the roadmap and pointed out the need to take interdependencies between individual measures into account at an early stage. Further contributions addressed the communication of the roadmap to the public, its implications for the world of work and sustainability, and the need for agile funding instruments to respond to the rapid pace of AI development. The expansion of Frontier Labs and the greater integration of European industrial strengths were also highlighted as key success factors.

The economic potential of agentic and generative AI for Germany

Another key focus of the session was the keynote presentation by Prof. Dr Susanne Boll of OFFIS Oldenburg, who heads the ‘Innovation, Business Models and Processes’ working group at Plattform Lernende Systeme. She outlined the economic potential of agentic and generative AI for Germany. Despite significant growth opportunities and an estimated market potential running into the billions, Germany continues to lag behind its international competitors in terms of private AI investment and the establishment of new AI companies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular play a key role: although SMEs account for almost half of Germany’s economic output, only a relatively small number of companies have so far utilised AI applications on a large scale.

Discussions therefore focused on ways to accelerate the transfer of AI into the economy. In addition to access to infrastructure and computing power, regional innovation networks, examples of best practice and close collaboration between research and application were identified as particularly crucial. The members of the steering committee spoke in favour of making greater use of regional ecosystems and further developing the AI roadmap of Plattform Lernende Systeme. To this end, the platform will carry out further analyses of success factors in key industries.

Cybersecurity and AI: New risks posed by agentic AI systems

In his keynote address, Prof. Dr Ahmad-Reza Sadeghi of TU Darmstadt, a member of the ‘IT Security, Privacy, Legal and Ethical Framework’ working group at Plattform Lernende Systeme, highlighted the growing importance of cybersecurity in the age of AI. Whilst AI significantly expands the possibilities for defence against cyberattacks, it simultaneously opens up new attack vectors. In particular, agentic AI systems could, in future, automate and scale threats on a previously unknown scale. At the same time, questions regarding the security, robustness and control of AI systems are becoming increasingly important, as these systems are being integrated ever more deeply into critical infrastructure.

In the ensuing discussion, the need to address the risks posed by agentic AI systems more clearly and to give greater consideration to new attack scenarios in research and communication was emphasised. The members of the Steering Committee also highlighted the importance of qualified specialists in order to develop and evaluate AI systems securely.

The steering committee acts as the management body, determining the content and strategic direction of Plattform Lernende Systeme and providing impetus for its work. Its members from academia and industry represent important topics, disciplines, sectors and companies of various sizes in the field of artificial intelligence. They were appointed by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

Weitere Informationen:

Petra Brücklmeier
Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Lernende Systeme – Die Plattform für Künstliche Intelligenz
M.: +49 151/62757960
presse@plattform-lernende-systeme.de