CC-KING – Karlsruhe Competence Center for AI Engineering

The CC-KING project (Competence Center for AI Engineering) aims to link state-of-the-art AI research and established engineering disciplines. Its focus is on the practical application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), especially in industrial production and mobility domains. The centre brings together the research institutions: Fraunhofer IOSB, FZI Research Center for Information Technology and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) to foster AI engineering as a discipline. It is funded by the Ministry of Economics, Labour and Housing of the State of Baden-Württemberg.

Professionalise the use of AI/ML in companies by developing tools, processes and engineering practices for AI-systems. Build a bridge between cutting-edge AI research and established engineering domains (industrial production, mobility) to enable value-added use of AI. Support organisations and industry in deploying AI/ML systems reliably, with engineering rigor and in real-world operational contexts.

Multi-institutional collaboration: Fraunhofer IOSB, FZI, KIT collaborating under one competence centre focused on AI engineering. Target domains include industrial production and mobility, ensuring relevance to pressing industry needs. Focus on bridging research and practice; moving beyond prototypes into engineered systems for deployment. The project is ongoing (from August 2020 onwards) under this competence centre model.

Provides a structured framework for companies to adopt AI/ML not merely as research curiosity but as engineered systems, improving reliability, maintainability and value. Helps translate academic AI research into practice in industries such as manufacturing and mobility, closing the innovation-deployment gap. Elevates the notion of “AI engineering” as a discipline — promoting best practices, toolchains, methods and processes for AI in real-world systems. By focusing on value-added use, the project ultimately aims to enhance competitiveness of regional industry (Baden-Württemberg), support digital transformation and strengthen the AI ecosystem.