Science Sparks Startups 2024 – Artificial Intelligence Edition

Science Sparks Startups

Artificial Intelligence Edition

Conference | Heidelberg

June 20th, 2024

Heidelberg is a hub of artificial intelligence innovation. Research groups, start-ups and established companies are pushing the technology forward every day. Their work touches everything from life sciences to manufacturing. From basic research to tooling.

Spend a day with us. Discover the latest developments in AI. Strengthen your connections and make new ones. If you’re fascinated by artificial intelligence and excited about influencing the future, join us. Let’s shape what’s next together.

Learn more Get tickets

Science Partners

Heidelberg Startup Partners is a joint initiative of the following scientific, educational, and tech transfer organizations.

The Conference

Science Sparks Startups has two key ingredients: Show and Talk! Short lightning talks to get everyone inspired about new ideas. Long coffee breaks to ask questions, discuss, and get to know each other.

Lightning Talks
(15 mins)

Learn what others in Heidelberg (and beyond) are working on. Expect talks about state of the art machine learning applications as well as the necessary tooling and infrastructure. These are expected to be rather technical talks but with applications and demos in mind.

Initiative Pitches
(2 mins)

There are plenty of great artificial intelligence initiatives in Heidelberg (and beyond): Meetups, accelerators, research communities, educational programs, art. Get to know their purpose and the people behind the initiatives. These will be short pitches.

Great coffee, food,
and networking

This will be the time for questions and networking. Sessions will never be longer than 45 minutes with at least 30 minutes of breaks. This is the time to approach speakers, ask questions, schedule a meeting, and of course enjoy some great coffee and food together.

If you’d like to contribute with a lightning talk or a initiative pitch, please get in touch.

The Schedule

09:00h – Doors Open

Grab your badge, get a cup of artisan coffee and start networking.

10:00h – Session I

Welcome and Introduction
Albrecht Metter: UX for AI – Crafting Seamless Interaction Paradigms.
Olga Mordvinova: Implementing AI in industry successfully

10:45h – Networking Coffee

11:15h – Session II

Initiative Pitches
Karsten Krispin: Real-World Data: Optional or Essential for AI Model Training?
Carsten Rother: Generative AI in Computer Vision

12:00h – Lunch Break

Share some great food and discuss your thoughts on what you’ve heard

13:00h – Session III

Philipp Wise: Status of Surgical AI Research.
Lars Riedemann: Thinking Small, Acting Local: The Rise of Small and Local Language Models in Medicine.
Alexander Hendorf: Data Quality Assurance: Foundations for Reliable AI Systems.

13:45h – Networking Coffee

14:15h – Session IV

Katharine Jarmul: Practical Data Privacy with Examples from her Book.
Michael Gertz: Knowledge Management using Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG).
Roberto Bifulco: What AI Agents Can and Cannot Do, and How to Find Out.

15:00h – Networking Coffee

15:30h – Session V

Frank Rust: Finding a needle in a haystack – Learnings using RAG for company data
Konrad Heimpel: Bridging the Gap: Optimizing Real-World Operations with Latest AI.
Niklas Holzwarth: Photoacoustic imaging and the various unresolved challenges on the path to clinical applicability

16:15h – Networking

Enjoy some snacks and after-work drinks together

After our Science Sparks Startups | AI Edition conference the KI-Garage Demo Day will take place at the same location. Participants of the Science Sparks Startups | AI Edition are cordially invited to join the demo day as well and spend the evening at the BDC. However, this is an independent events with limited seating. An additional registration is necessary for KI-Garage Demo Day!

Speakers – Lightning Talks (15 mins)

Albrecht Metter

CEO
Ameria

"UX for AI – Crafting Seamless Interaction Paradigms."

Michael Gertz

Head of Data Science Group
Heidelberg University

"Knowledge Management using Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)."

Konrad Heimpel

VP Product
Paretos

"Bridging the Gap: Optimizing Real-World Operations with Latest AI."

Philipp Wise

Research Physician
Synexus

"Status of Surgical AI Research"

Lars Riedemann

Neurologist
University Hospital Heidelberg

"Thinking Small, Acting Local: The Rise of Small and Local Language Models in Medicine."

Olga Mordvinova

Founder and CEO
incontext.technology

"Implementing AI in industry successfully"

Carsten Rother

Head of Computer Vision and Learning Lab
Heidelberg University

"Generative AI in Computer Vision"

Roberto Bifulco

Group Leader Intelligent Software Solutions
NEC Laboratories Europe

"What AI Agents Can and Cannot Do, and How to Find Out."

Katharine Jarmul

Author
"Practical Data Privacy"

"Practical Data Privacy"

Frank Rust

Founder and CEO
neunzehn

"Finding a needle in a haystack - Learnings using RAG for company data"

Alexander Hendorf

Founder and CEO
Pioneers Hub

"Data Quality Assurance: Foundations for Reliable AI Systems."

Karsten Krispin

Founder and CEO
rabbitAI

"Real-World Data: Optional or Essential for AI Model Training?"

Niklas Holzwarth

Researcher
German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)

"Photoacoustic imaging and the various unresolved challenges on the path to clinical applicability"

Speakers – Initiative Pitches (2 mins)

Cansu Cak

Program Lead
KI-Garage Baden-Württemberg

Alexander Hendorf

Initiator
PyData Südwest

Stefanie Baade

Deputy Managing Director
KI Bundesverband

Muammer (Mumi) Yüksel

Initiator
AI Monday Heidelberg-Mannheim

Anna Romey

Initiator
AI Dialogue Heidelberg

Paul Becker

Program Lead
AI Lab Heidelberg

Swati Chandna

Initiator
Data & Coffee

Sebastian Warkentin

Managing Director
Digitalagentur Heidelberg

Fabian Mulder

Initiator
Heidelberg Biotech Simulator

Tickets and Registration

Early Bird Participant

Full Conference Access until 4:30 pm
Artisan Coffee
Light Lunch
Drinks
Networking Snacks

Available until June, 13th 2024!

EUR 49,-

Regular Participant

Full Conference Access until 4:30 pm
Artisan Coffee
Light Lunch
Drinks
Networking Snacks

Available from June, 14th 2024!

EUR 99,-

Attention

At 4:30 pm – after the Science Sparks Startups Conference – there will be the Demo Day of the KI-Garage Accelerator Program.

Science Sparks Startups Participants are welcome to register for the Demo Day as well – however a separate registration with limited seating is necessary!

Science Sparks Startups | AI Edition is sold out!

The Venue

Science Sparks Startups | Artificial Intelligence Edition will take place at Business Development Center Heidelberg. It is conveniently located within walking distance of Heidelberg Main Station. Located at the entry of Heidelberg Innovation Park and equipped with top of the line conference equipment it has been home to various demo days, pitch events and other conferences.

Business Development Center Heidelberg
Carl-Friedrich-Gauß-Ring 5
69124 Heidelberg

Business Development Center Heidelberg on Google Maps
360° virtual tour of the Business Development Center

BeforeAfter

Network Partners

Company Partners

Contact

Melissa Jung

Conference Manager
Technologiepark Heidelberg GmbH

E-Mail: melissa.jung@heidelberg.de

Thomas Prexl

Managing Director
Heidelberg Startup Partners e.V.

E-Mail: thomas.prexl@heidelberg.de

Raoul Haschke

Managing Director
Heidelberg Startup Partners e.V.

E-Mail: raoul.haschke@uni-heidelberg.de

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is this an academic conference?

No. This conference is designed as middle ground between an academic conference and a business conference. We’re eager to learn about new approaches – and their applications. If you’re background is in science, focus on a high-level overview of what you’re doing. Don’t forget to include potential applications or a demo.

There will be no formal call for papers, no peer review, and no conference proceedings.

Will I/my audience understand the talks?

We’re expecting an audience that has general knowledge about machine learning.

For orientation: Most participants will know that GPT stands for General Purpose Transformers and have a basic understanding of how a transformer model works. Some will know less, some will have worked at the forefront of LLM-training.

If you’re a presenter: If in doubt, err on the side of simplicity.

If you’re a guest and unsure if this is the right event for you: If you’re eager to learn, join us.