KIRR

At a time when artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are revolutionizing the economy, Baden-Württemberg is facing a key challenge: companies must not only use AI strategically, but also ensure that it is legally compliant in order to exploit the full potential of this key technology.
AI technologies offer enormous opportunities, but their application must always comply with regulations such as the AI Act or the Machinery Ordinance. The complex regulations often pose a major challenge for small and medium-sized companies in particular.

The "KIRR Real - Real-world laboratory for legally compliant AI and robotics" project by Fraunhofer IPA and ARENA2036 aims to facilitate the safety-certified application of AI. The project is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism of the State of Baden-Württemberg. The aim is to create a real-world laboratory in which expertise is built up through practical use cases in order to efficiently design the legally compliant development and testing of AI systems. The focus is on the use of AI in production. Companies are supported by "Legal Quick Checks" to quickly and reliably ensure that their systems comply with legal requirements. This ensures that Baden-Württemberg's economy is not slowed down by legal hurdles, but that its competitiveness can be further strengthened and expanded in an increasingly digital and automated world.

Companies from Baden-Württemberg can submit use cases on an ongoing basis, which will be examined as part of the Legal Quick Checks. The selection takes place on two key dates per year, the first is January 31, 2025, the second at the end of July 2025. The use cases are evaluated according to the benefits for other companies, public impact and feasibility. These criteria are primarily intended to ensure the public benefit of the selected use cases. A steering committee made up of members of the IPA, ARENA2036, WM BW and potentially other associated partners will decide on the selection of use cases. A maximum of one use case is permitted per company, whereby a maximum of one quick check on the Machinery Ordinance and one quick check on the AI Act can be carried out. The Machinery Ordinance is ideally checked before development, as design changes may be necessary; the AI Act is ideally checked after development, as pure software adaptations are usually necessary.
External partners such as law firms (for the AI Act) or stakeholders such as employers' liability insurance associations and TÜV (for the Machinery Ordinance) are involved as required for legal and overarching assessments.

Further information on the KIRR Real project can be found here.