The German Association of IT SMEs (Bundesverband IT-Mittelstand e.V., BITMi), together with the Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP), has launched the new research and implementation project “AI 2035 – Empowering SMEs to harness the potential of artificial intelligence.” The project is funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU). The aim of the project, which is funded through the end of June 2027, is to support small and medium-sized IT companies in Germany in utilizing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) both for digital innovations and for sustainable transformation.
“With AI 2035, we want to empower SMEs to deploy AI responsibly and with a future-oriented perspective,” explains Janek Götze, project manager at BITMi. “Our goal is for German IT companies to drive not only technological but also social innovations, thereby contributing to a sustainable digital future.”
Artificial intelligence is considered a key technology for the transformation toward a sustainable and digitalized economy. However, its potential for ecological and societal impact has so far remained largely untapped. Many companies face the challenge of strategically integrating sustainability into their innovation processes and viewing it not merely as a regulatory obligation, but as a business opportunity – and this is precisely where AI 2035 aims to provide momentum.
