Research with a clear profile
From large-scale language models to medical applications and sustainable energy solutions, Bonn scientists contribute expertise from a wide range of disciplines to the Lamarr Institute. Key research areas include hybrid machine learning, natural language processing, life sciences, and the trustworthy design of AI.
The institute follows its own distinctive approach, called “triangular AI.” This model combines data, knowledge, and context to create intelligent systems that are resource-efficient while delivering robust, explainable, and reliable results.
Federal and state funding is opening up new opportunities. Emerging from the ML2R Competence Center, the Lamarr Institute has received institutional funding since 2022. By 2028, around 126 million euros will be invested in professorships, research teams, and early-career programs at its participating locations. More professorships, more projects, more space for ideas: Bonn is becoming an even more visible hub within the international research network.
AI plays a major role in research at our university
“AI plays a major role in research at our university,” explains Prof. Dr. Christian Bauckhage, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Bonn and Co-Director of the Lamarr Institute. “AI has long been firmly embedded in our Clusters of Excellence, such as PhenoRob. There, we are developing automated systems for agriculture that fertilize more intelligently, harvest more efficiently, and optimize irrigation. In physics, AI helps to analyze huge volumes of data—for example, when processing images from the James Webb Telescope. One thing is clear: anyone aiming to conduct research at the highest international level can no longer do without AI. Without AI systems, many discoveries would simply not be possible.”
Gateway to society and careers
The Lamarr Institute also serves as a gateway for students and young researchers. New courses, hands-on research projects, and direct contact with partners from science and industry create excellent career opportunities. Society also benefits: research findings should not remain confined to the laboratory but should have a practical impact in hospitals, factories, and energy management. Bonn is not only advancing knowledge but also bringing innovation into everyday life.
Why “Lamarr”?
The institute is named after Hedy Lamarr (1914–2000), a woman who exemplifies creativity, courage, and technical brilliance. She was not only a Hollywood actress but also a gifted inventor. Together with composer George Antheil, she developed a method for secure radio transmission during the Second World War—a technology that later laid the foundations for WLAN, Bluetooth, and GPS.
Naming the institute after her is a deliberate statement: a tribute to pioneering spirit, to women in science, and to the fusion of vision and technology.
A strong network for the future
With the Lamarr Institute, the University of Bonn is reinforcing its role as a University of Excellence and as a driving force for responsible innovation. Embedded in an international network, the institute provides ideal conditions for world-class research and the training of young talent. In this way, Bonn is not only a place where AI is developed but also a place from which new ideas flow into science, business, and society
... to press release of the University of Bonn: