New AI research centre: Early warning system for epidemics

"In future, this will enable us to analyse epidemics more comprehensively, for example, or to further develop early warning systems."

^{Prof. Dr. Lothar H. Wieler | RKI chief (In an interview with the Tagesspiegel Background)}

According to a resolution passed by the Bundestag in autumn 2020, approximately 100 new positions are to be created at the ZKI-PH. Cooperation with the neighbouring TH Wildau is planned. This is intended to draw on their expertise in the areas of computer science and applied biosciences. Cooperation with other institutions, including the HPI in Potsdam, the Zuse Institute and the Fraunhofer HHI in Berlin, is planned.

The Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research (ZKI-PH) of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) was inaugurated in Wildau. The new institute will use artificial intelligence (AI) methods to combine the RKI's expertise in researching infectious and non-communicable diseases. Complex and large data sources are to be made usable at the ZKI-PH. The researchers will be able to better assess pathogens by combining biological analyses with the results of high-resolution laboratory-analytical molecular techniques and bioinformatics.