Campus leader proposes new university as blueprint for German development
The Hasso-Plattner Institute (HPI) is set to expand its presence in Potsdam, with plans to establish a new campus that will significantly boost international AI research and modernize the German higher education landscape. This development forms part of the University of Potsdam's new campus on Brauhausberg hill, designed to attract researchers and students worldwide and foster cutting-edge research and education in artificial intelligence and related fields.
The expansion, funded by an unprecedented donation from software billionaire Hasso Plattner, co-founder of SAP, aims to position Potsdam as a leading center for AI research, drawing global scholars and facilitating international collaborations. The new campus, due for completion by 2035, will accommodate 6,000 students and will serve as a potential nationwide model for higher education.
The University of Potsdam President, Oliver Günther, believes that the new campus project has significant implications for the higher education landscape of Germany. By adding a new campus dedicated to interactive learning and advanced research, the University of Potsdam and HPI contribute to modernizing and expanding Germany’s academic infrastructure. This will help train a highly skilled workforce specialized in AI, data analytics, and digital transformation, addressing both national and European needs for innovation-driven education.
Located at the Potsdam Science Park, the new HPI campus will collaborate closely with startups, companies, and research institutes focusing on sustainable and resource-efficient technologies. This synergy is anticipated to drive green innovation alongside AI advancements, enhancing the overall knowledge economy of the region.
The initiative emphasizes interactive learning, likely incorporating advanced digital tools and collaborative formats tailored to the evolving demands of AI education. The new campus will feature open teaching and learning spaces, prioritizing natural light in its design, and will strive to create a highly innovative learning environment.
In addition, the old plenary hall in the former parliament building will be restored and repurposed as an auditorium for the new campus. The Law and Social Sciences departments of the University of Potsdam will move from Campus Griebnitzsee to the new campus near the main train station.
University of Potsdam President Oliver Günther hopes that the new campus project will inspire others to engage similarly. He aims to complete the new campus project within the next ten years at the latest, with the goal of strengthening Germany's position in international artificial intelligence (AI) research and transforming Potsdam into a global hub for talent and innovation.
- The new HPI campus, focusing on artificial intelligence and related fields, will be funded by a donation from software billionaire Hasso Plattner, and will aim to draw global scholars and facilitate international collaborations in finance, technology, and education-and-self-development.
- With the new campus dedicated to interactive learning and advanced research, the University of Potsdam and HPI will contribute to the expansion and modernization of Germany’s academic infrastructure, fostering a highly skilled workforce specialized in areas such as AI, data analytics, digital transformation, sustainable technologies, and education-and-self-development.
