Prof. Sonntag is establishing the new research area as part of the "Applied Artificial Intelligence" endowed professorship at the Department of Computing Science at the University of Oldenburg, which he has held since November 2020. The professorship is funded for five years by a foundation consisting of CEWE, EWE AG, BÜFA GmbH & Co KG, the OLB Foundation, Dr. Caroline Neumüller, Alexander Neumüller, the business association DER KLEINE KREIS e.V. and the Stiftung der Metallindustrie im Nord-Westen.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Hans Michael Piper, President of the University of Oldenburg, commented: "Expertise in the fields of digitalisation and artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important, especially in our region. We welcome the new DFKI research department and look forward to conducting joint research on this important topic." The spokesperson for the donors, CEWE CEO Dr. Christian Friege, adds: „It is a great asset for our region's economy if the research expertise in Oldenburg is expanded and we help shape local, national and European innovations in artificial intelligence.”