Excellence Strategy from the German federal and state governments

The planned Cluster of Excellence RAI under the leadership of the Technical University of Darmstadt is dedicated to the development of a new generation of AI systems based on the rational use of resources, data protection and continuous improvement. With four research areas, multidisciplinary teams are working on shaping the future of AI. Over the past decade, deep learning has enabled significant advances in artificial intelligence. Nevertheless, current AI systems have weaknesses, including a lack of logical reasoning, difficulties in dealing with new situations and the need for continuous adaptation. Last but not least, current AI systems require extensive resources. The Cluster of Excellence project “Reasonable Artificial Intelligence” therefore aims to develop the next generation of AI, “Reasonable Artificial Intelligence” (RAI).

In this project, scientists from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research and TU Darmstadt are researching intelligent biomaterials that will enable innovations in medicine such as tissue repair or the development of artificial organs. “CoM2Life” aims to develop a fundamentally new generation of soft biomaterials that are able to enter into permanent and reciprocal communication with biological systems such as cells and tissues by integrating the principles of living systems. The researchers are following an approach that combines the chemistry-centered design of biomaterials with the design of regulatory circuits in synthetic biology. This enables the development of intelligent biomaterials that are capable of selectively detecting signals from their environment, processing them internally and then controlling actuators and effectors as required.