When it comes to user acceptance, safety plays a key role in the development of autonomous vehicles. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) further increases the requirements for ensuring the safety of autonomous driving functions. This is precisely where the Safe AI Engineering research project, launched on March 1, comes in: Greater safety and better integration of AI are the focus of the project, which involves 24 partners from industry and science. During the three-year project, practical methods will be developed to ensure the safety of an AI function throughout its entire life cycle.

The aim of the project is to develop a methodology for the holistic validation of AI functions in automated driving – from planning, development, testing, application, and monitoring to continuous improvement. An accompanying safety certificate is therefore of particular importance. To this end, a practical approach is being developed to further strengthen the German automotive industry’s international leadership role in safe autonomous driving.

Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), the Safe AI Engineering project is a logical next step toward autonomous mobility—driven by strong partners from industry and research in Germany. The project partners are providing existing vehicles, data, and hardware developed in previous research projects. Safe AI Engineering is thus making a decisive contribution to the safe, scalable, and sustainable integration of AI into automated mobility systems.

EICT has been commissioned by the partners to manage the project and disseminate the results during the three-year project period. This includes, not least, the planning, preparation, and implementation of the two-day kick-off event on March 20 and 21, 2025, at the consortium leader Luxoft in Böblingen.

March 20 marked the start of two inspiring days filled with exciting presentations and intensive discussions. A total of 24 project partners gathered at Luxoft in Böblingen under the leadership of Ulrich Wurstbauer (Luxoft) and Frank Köster (DLR) to officially launch the Safe AI Engineering research project and dive into the subprojects together.

The second day was all about going into greater depth: in various workshops, the subprojects were further developed, next steps were planned, tasks were coordinated, and organizational issues were discussed—all with the aim of ensuring a smooth and successful project launch.

It was a productive start with all participants in interactive sessions with valuable input and a great team spirit throughout the two days!