Dortmund/Berlin, December 2025 – Prof. Dr. Petra Wiederkehr, Principal Investigator at the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, has been elected to the German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) for her pioneering work on digitalization and optimization of manufacturing processes. Her admission to Germany’s leading National Academy for Science and Engineering recognizes Wiederkehr’s interdisciplinary research, which combines artificial intelligence with industrial production and thus makes a key contribution to resilient, data-driven value chains.
In her role as Professor of Virtual Machining at TU Dortmund University, Wiederkehr develops innovative approaches that use digital simulations and adaptive algorithms to make manufacturing processes more efficient, robust, and sustainable—a key area for the future of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing.
The German Academy of Science and Engineering advises policymakers and society on issues relating to technology and innovation policy based on independent, fact-based expertise. As a national academy, acatech brings together technical and scientific excellence from research, industry, and public institutions to address future-oriented technological challenges—from digitalization and energy to mobility and health—and to provide evidence-based recommendations for action.
With his appointment to acatech, Prof. Wiederkehr becomes part of an interdisciplinary network of outstanding scientists who combine technical excellence with social responsibility—a significant milestone for the Lamarr Institute and the visibility of AI research in Germany.