Digital Technology for Business and Industry

Data are the raw material of the digital future – and artificial intelligence (AI) is the motor. We want to make Germany a European leader in innovation. So we are creating an environment in which data can be used effectively, securely and responsibly.

Digital technologies and AI offer enormous potential to improve services, create new jobs and gain an edge over the international competition. We want to harness this potential for modern business and industry and a future-oriented society. Our aim is clear: we want Germany to become a European leader in AI. We are helping by building up centres of excellence for AI research and improving framework conditions.

We will implement the EU’s AI Act to encourage innovation without fragmented market supervision by creating a supportive AI supervisory authority that promotes innovation instead of hindering it. As the central point of contact, it will offer clear and understandable rules and be ready to help businesses and research institutions.

Government will also be a leader in using AI, for example in automatically producing notifications or providing services. Businesses too need secure spaces for experimentation where new AI applications can be tested under realistic conditions.

We want to make it easier to use data in Germany more securely and more responsibly. We are establishing a legal right to access open data and are creating data trust offices to facilitate exchange between public administration, academia and business and industry. This boosts data-driven innovation and makes the data economy a stronger motor for growth.

Data protection law is being thoroughly overhauled to end excessive regulation and replace the patchwork of different rules in every federal state with clear and uniform rules that are effective in practice. Our aim is to make things easier, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups and volunteers. The BMDS is moving these reforms forward within the Federal Government. We are creating exceptions for low-risk data processing and reducing unnecessary requirements for documentation and reporting. We are reducing requirements for consent without weakening protections for personal data.

We don’t view AI and digital technologies as risks, but rather as opportunities for prosperity, growth and societal progress. That is why the BMDS will actively communicate the advantages offered by AI and the data economy – for new jobs, better services and the ability to compete globally.