Paris/Berlin, 18 June 2026 – The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (Inria) are taking their existing partnership to the next level: today the two leading research organizations signed an agreement at  Vivatech in Paris to establish an open, binational French – German Center on Artificial Intelligence.

The formal signing ceremony took place in the presence of Dorothee Bär, German Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space, and Philippe Baptiste, French Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space. The aim of the ambitious project is to establish a powerful European AI player at the intersection of cutting-edge research, industry, and society.

Corner stone for Europe’s AI Sovereignty

The new binational center bundles the excellent research capacities of both countries to provide viable answers to the rapid global AI transformation. In the face of intense international competition, the center makes a decisive strategic contribution to Europe’s digital sovereignty. Through a permanent, institutionalized structure and the close integration of science and industry, the development of trustworthy, transparent and competitive AI technologies „Made in Europe“ is to be accelerated.

“The founding of the open, French-German Center marks a decisive milestone for the future of European AI,“ explains Prof. Dr. Antonio Krüger, CEO of DFKI. “Through the concrete integration of the excellent AI research of Germany and France, we are moving beyond mere declarations of intent to actively create a foundation for Europe’s digital sovereignty in artificial intelligence.”

Dr Bruno Sportisse, Chairman and CEO of Inria, adds: “This Franco-German Center is one answer to the AI challenge. We have to align our strategies and to deliver impactful projects if we want to play the race at the forefront of research, technology and innovation. This requires to have trustworthy partnerships, a joint long-term roadmap and the ability to leverage with our ecosystems (AI clusters): this is what we build with DFKI.”

The integrated “Project Factory”: focus on impact!

The integrated “Project Factory” at the core of the Center functions as an agile innovation engine to flexibly transform bilateral research and development projects into tangible prototypes and software solutions. Furthermore, the explicitly open concept of the new Center promotes the active participation of other academic partners from both countries.

Furthermore, companies from both countries will receive direct access to projects in order to develop innovative AI applications in key sectors such as Industry 4.0, health and mobility, and to bring them swiftly to market maturity. This research transfer is flanked by talent promotion and researcher mobility programs, which turns the Center into a highly attractive magnet for top global talent through bilateral career paths and joint summer schools. The profile is complemented by the establishment of a scientific think tank that develops well-founded recommendations for action on the social impact of AI, strengthens AI literacy among the population and advises stakeholders from politics and business on issues regarding regulation, ethics and standards.

Political Support for French German Cooperation in AI

The formal signing within the framework of Vivatech underlines the high political priority of cooperation for both governments.

Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space, declared on the occasion of the ceremony: “In today’s world, artificial intelligence (AI) is a decisive competitive factor. Hence, it was named as a key technology in the High-Tech Agenda Germany. We have to prevent Europe from being sidelined in the global AI landscape. The binational French-German Center for AI as collaboration between DFKI and INRIA will help to seize emerging opportunities and leverage the combined expertise of France and Germany to drive Europe forward. It will conduct joint research on secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence, fully aligned with European standards. This partnership exemplifies how close Franco‑German cooperation can shape a stronger, more innovative European AI ecosystem.”

Openness to Further French, German and European Partners

The binational Center is deliberately not designed as a closed system. The integrated Project Factory is open to further AI research clusters, universities and scientific organizations from Germany, France and beyond, as well as partners from industry and public administration, to weave a seamless European AI network.

Following the formal signing on  June 18 , the step-by-step establishment of the structures as well as the setting up of dedicated offices at the respective locations of DFKI and Inria in Germany and France will begin from July 2026, followed by the launch of the first operational programs in late 2026.

Press Contacts

DFKI
Andreas Schepers
Corporate Spokesperson
andreas.schepers@dfki.de

Inria
Magalie Quet
Press Officer
magalie.quet@inria.fr

About DFKI

The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) has operated as a non-profit, Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) since 1988. Today, it maintains sites in Kaiserslautern, Saarbrücken, Bremen, Niedersachsen, and Darmstadt, laboratories in Berlin, and Lübeck, as well as a branch office in Trier.

DFKI combines scientific excellence and commercially oriented value creation with social awareness and is recognized as a major “Center of Excellence” by the international scientific community. In the field of artificial intelligence, DFKI has focused on the goal of human-centric AI for more than 35 years. Research is committed to essential, future-oriented areas of application and socially relevant topics. Currently, with a staff of about 1,400 employees from more than 76 countries, DFKI is developing the innovative software technologies of tomorrow.

About Inria

Inria, the French national institute for research in digital science and technology, supports the French government in national research and innovation strategies in the digital field, acting as Digital Programs Agency. Inria leads over 300 research and innovation projects with its 3,500 scientists, engineers, and support staff, in partnership with universities and the digital ecosystem (businesses, entrepreneurs, and public stakeholders).
Together, we explore strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing, cloud technologies, digital transformation in healthcare, digital twins, and digital technologies for defence.
We develop practical solutions such as software, tech startups, partnerships with national companies, and cutting-edge training programmes.
Our goal is to drive scientific, technological, and industrial excellence to ensure France’s digital sovereignty.