What is created in Heilbronn will become a model for the whole of Europe. The close
spatial networking of cutting-edge research, the unique concentration of know-how, the
combination of basic and applied research – these are all factors that make what is
happening in Heilbronn unique in its combination.
Driven by Dieter Schwarz (owner of Lidl and other companies with an annual turnover of
180 billion euros) and his foundation, which operates with Swabian precision and
Californian speed. The citizens are experiencing the transformation of their city in real
time – from the AI campus, the establishment of universities and research institutes, a
coding school to the quantum computer that will soon be located in the “I hoch drei”
building at the SLK clinics.
The focus in Heilbronn is on the areas of AI, research, cutting-edge medicine and
education. In these areas, new projects are being driven forward at a breathtaking pace
and equipped with the necessary experts and resources. Below you will find a brief
insight into some of the outstanding projects in Heilbronn:
- AI: The largest ecosystem for artificial intelligence (AI) in Europe is being created
at the Heilbronn Artificial Intelligence Innovation Park (IPAI). AI real laboratories,
data centres and work and project areas for more than 5,000 people working in
the field of AI are being built on an area of 30 hectares.
- Universities: Six of the world’s top 20 universities (University of Oxford, Stanford
University, ETH Zürich, National University of Singapore, and Nanyang
Technological University Singapore, TUM Munich) in Computer Science are now
onsite in Heilbronn. For example, ETH Zurich will establish around 20 new
professorships focusing on digital transformation and data science as part of its
partnership with the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. Heilbronn is also taking part in
the renowned MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (REAP). As
one of only seven selected regions worldwide, Heilbronn-Franconia will work
closely with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology over the next two years to
further strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem. - Science: Heilbronn is home to the most renowned research institutes and their
top scientists (Fraunhofer Institute, EMBL, Max Planck, Stanford Labs…). For
example, the Max Planck Society and the Dieter Schwarz Foundation are entering
into a pioneering partnership: With the signing of the contract on March 13, 2025,
the foundation is promoting an innovative approach by the Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research for the translation of basic research results into application.
As part of this, two new departments of the institute will be located in Heilbronn.
In addition, funding from the Dieter Schwarz Foundation will enable the Max
Planck Schools to be further developed in the long term as a joint program of
German universities and non-university research institutions. - Medicine/Healthcare: Heilbronn is building a unique healthcare system in which
prevention, cutting-edge medicine, research and AI work closely together. Within
a translational cluster of excellence, which brings together experts and
entrepreneurs from the individual sectors, groundbreaking innovations
(essentially based on data) will be developed and then turned into marketable
products and companies. Through the interaction of the 4 disciplines and with the
support of a quantum computer, customers/patients in Heilbronn and beyond can
be offered end-to-end support. Such continuous customer/patient care has
outstanding medical significance. Not only does it enable people to live longer,
healthier lives, it can also make an important contribution to preventing chronic
illnesses, which in turn relieves the burden on the healthcare system. In addition,
we have access to high-quality, longitudinal health data – the greatest treasure in
modern medicine. This health data is essential, both for basic research, but also
if we want to support healthcare and promote translational health innovation. - Education: The educational campus of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation is a place
of lifelong learning that provides a home for a wide range of educational
institutions: For example, the Academy for Innovative Education and Management
(aim), or the Coding School 42. In doing so, the campus networks and interlinks
its institutions along the entire educational biography, creating an innovative
educational site in the sense of a holistic ecosystem. The focus is always on the
individual and their best possible educational path.
All the projects and initiatives listed above are supported by the best scientists and
entrepreneurs worldwide.
