IGF Research Association

We are a recognised research association within the framework of Industrial Collective Research (IGF), a funding programme of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) that is unique in Europe. 

The aim of the IGF is to give small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access to pre-competitive, practical research, even if they do not have their own R&D department. As a member of the KI Park, companies have the opportunity to contribute their own project ideas, participate in funded research projects and benefit from research results at an early stage. 

The topics are cross-industry and open - from generative AI, intelligent human-machine interaction and data-driven production processes to AI & energy efficiency, data governance and trustworthy AI. The research results are available to all project participants on an equal footing and thus promote the technological progress of entire industries. Companies help to shape the research via project-accompanying committees and ensure that it remains application-oriented. In this way, the IGF not only strengthens the innovative capacity of individual SMEs, but also actively contributes to the innovative sovereignty of German SMEs.