NVIDIA plans investments in four German startups as Merz urges wider AI use
At a Berlin summit, NVIDIA also signed a declaration with Germany’s government to advance industrial AI models. It did not disclose the size of the planned startup investments.
NVIDIA announced planned investments in four German startups at the Invest in Germany Summit in Berlin on October 19, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged businesses to adopt AI. The company also signed a declaration with the German government to pursue industrial AI models, linking its startup plans to a wider push to bring the technology into German industry.
The four companies are Agile Robots, Avelios Medical, Mirelo and Reflex Aerospace. NVIDIA did not disclose how much it plans to invest in them, CNBC reported. The plans form part of a nearly $10 billion commitment by NVIDIA to companies, universities and research institutions across Europe, according to CNBC and the company.
What the four German startups do
NVIDIA described Munich-based Agile Robots as a maker of AI-powered robots for manufacturing, logistics and healthcare. It said Avelios Medical, also based in Munich, develops hospital software intended to bring AI into clinical and administrative workflows. Mirelo develops AI models that generate audio for video, while Reflex Aerospace designs and builds satellites.
The range of businesses shows where NVIDIA plans to place the investments, from factory robotics and hospital systems to media tools and satellites. NVIDIA identified the investments as planned; CNBC reported that the company gave no amounts for the individual deals.
Germany’s industrial AI declaration
NVIDIA said Merz, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space, and the company signed a joint declaration of intent at the summit. According to NVIDIA, it sets out work on an initiative to advance AI models for physical AI. The company said the declaration expands its collaboration with the federal government and the Industry 4.0 Platform, which brings together representatives of politics, industry, research and trade associations.
Merz urged German businesses, particularly small and medium-sized firms, to ‘open your doors for AI to make use of your data,’ CNBC reported. NVIDIA quoted him describing an ambition for Germany to be among the world’s most advanced places to work with AI and integrate it into industry.
The summit announcements extended beyond the four startup plans. CNBC reported that Siemens announced AI solutions developed with NVIDIA at its factory in Erlangen. Siemens said the technologies could reduce engineering work involved in preparing production by up to 85% and that AI-powered production planning could cut costs by as much as 20%. Those figures were presented as potential gains from the technology.
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Sources and context
- ‘Open your doors for AI’: German chancellor urges businesses to embrace AI as Nvidia announces new investmentsCNBC
- Germany Wants to Lead the World in Industrial AI: How NVIDIA Will HelpNVIDIA Blog
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.