The half-day event, organized by the Center for European Research in Trusted Artificial Intelligence (CERTAIN), focused on cross-sector dialogue among research, industry, and politics. Keynotes and panel discussions addressed AI governance, the evaluation and certification of AI systems, and the practical implementation of regulatory requirements, particularly the European AI Act.
A clear signal was also sent from the political level. Jürgen Barke, Minister for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digital Affairs, and Energy of the Saarland, emphasized the importance of the event for the research and innovation location:
"Trustworthy AI is a decisive factor for the future of our research location. Trusted AI Day shows how companies, research institutions, and partners from other countries are working together in Saarland to develop responsible AI solutions. This collaboration aims to develop viable solutions that benefit everyone jointly."
The discussions made it clear that trustworthy artificial intelligence goes far beyond technical issues. Sustainable and socially accepted AI systems can only be created through the interaction of practical application, regulation, scientific excellence, and ethical responsibility.
Prof. Dr. Philipp Slusallek, site director of DFKI Saarbrücken and scientific director of CERTAIN, also emphasized the strategic importance of this approach:
“Trust is the key currency for the successful use of artificial intelligence in Europe. With CERTAIN and Trusted AI Day, we are creating a platform for combining technological excellence with legal, ethical, and social requirements—thus laying the foundation for sovereign and competitive AI in Europe.”
This perspective was also reflected in the event's keynote speeches. Antoine Gautier, co-founder of QuantPi, a Saarland-based startup specializing in functional and security analysis of AI applications, highlighted the role of robust testing and verification procedures in the responsible use of AI systems in practice. Matthias Heck from the German Federal Office for Information Security emphasized the importance of government guidelines for secure, transparent, and traceable AI. Raouf Kerkouche from the French research institute Inria added an international dimension by highlighting the growing challenges for data protection and privacy in the age of large language models. Taken together, these contributions make clear thatificial intelligence can only be successfully implemented through close collaboration among trustworthy art regulation, technical quality assurance, and international cooperation.
In addition to providing professional inspiration, the 2nd Trusted AI Day offered a wide range of networking opportunities. Discussions on the sidelines of the event led to new collaborations and deepened existing partnerships. Particular emphasis was placed on the role of CERTAIN as a connecting element between excellent research, industrial practice, and political framework conditions.
With the 2nd Trusted AI Day, CERTAIN is building on the success of the first edition and consistently continuing the dialogue that has begun. The event made it clear that Saarbrücken and Saarland are playing an active role in shaping trustworthy AI in Europe – as a place where research, business, and politics work together on sustainable and responsible AI systems.
Further information on CERTAIN and upcoming activities can be found at: