Baden-Württemberg strengthens European innovation projects with BEGIN funding

Von Alexander Schneider

Baden-Württemberg strengthens European innovation projects with BEGIN funding

The Ministry of Science Baden-Württemberg recently launched the new "Begin" funding program to strengthen the position of the country in major European projects and initiatives. Two projects have now been selected for the additional state funding: the "Kit ChipDesign House" of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the "Heal" association at Heidelberg University, which deals with the health-oriented transformation of agricultural and nutritional systems.

With a total of over 1.8 million euros, these projects should not only advance the research landscape in Baden-Württemberg, but also contribute to solving current challenges and develop innovative solutions for the future. The funding aims to increase the Europe-wide and international visibility of Baden-Württemberg research.

A focus is on microchip research, with around one million euros investing in the "Kit ChipDesign House". This project is intended to establish chip design as a key competence and strengthen training and further education in this area. In view of the European Chips Act, which promotes semiconductor development and production in Europe to secure competitiveness, microchips are essential for the digital transformation of the economy.

The "Heal" composite project, on the other hand, focuses on the health-oriented transformation of agricultural and nutrition systems. Partners from various areas such as health, politics, agricultural studies, computer science and data analysis work together to develop innovative concepts.

The promotion of the BEGIN initiative will in future be promoted European research applications and strengthened the position of state universities in the competition for research funding. The joint efforts contribute to positioning Baden-Württemberg as the leading location for innovation and research in Europe.