Strengthening Medical Research in Saxony with AI – New Network Brings Together Data for Artificial Intelligence
Press | 24 April 2025 | Universität Leipzig
Building a new network and creating a secure research environment for Artificial Intelligence in medicine: this is the ambitious goal being pursued by researchers in Saxony over the next three years. The project “KIMed – Network for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine” is led by Leipzig University, Dresden University of Technology and Mittweida University of Applied Sciences and is funded with €3.6 million by the Free State of Saxony and the European Regional Development Fund.
Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are rapidly transforming medicine. They open up new opportunities for diagnostics, therapy and research. Powerful algorithms for image analysis, language processing and biosignal diagnostics enable the efficient use of medical data. At the same time, the use of AI in medicine requires secure and trustworthy data infrastructures to process sensitive information in compliance with data protection requirements.
Saxony’s Minister of Science, Sebastian Gemkow, says: “AI-based applications are already revolutionising diagnostics, personalised therapy and prevention. We are currently witnessing how algorithms can detect diseases earlier in medical imaging procedures or develop individualised treatment strategies. However, every AI system is only as good as the data resources it can access. The KIMed network aims to achieve more through cross-institutional collaboration and to establish a unique and secure research data infrastructure that will, in the future, be available for every conceivable medical use case and help unlock even better treatment options through AI.”
The new KIMed network brings together data-providing institutions, technical partners and users, such as clinical researchers, in order to further strengthen medical and scientific activities in the field of Artificial Intelligence in Saxony. “By bringing together expertise and resources, we aim to create a strong infrastructure for AI applications in medicine that provides members of the new network with opportunities for knowledge exchange, advisory services and training. Developments in this field are progressing so rapidly that we need shared solutions,” says Prof. Dr Ingo Bechmann, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Leipzig University.
As part of the project, a concept for a(Secure Processing Environment) will be developed that meets the highest standards of data protection and data security. “The research environment is intended to create a trustworthy space for AI-supported research projects involving sensitive health data. In the long term, this could contribute to more efficient patient care and improved quality of treatment,” says Dr Matthias Nüchter, KIMed Project Lead at the Faculty of Medicine.
In addition, a directory of relevant network partners, medical data sources, algorithms and AI tools will be established to facilitate access to important resources. Large datasets from existing research projects will be connected and prepared for the training of powerful AI models. Through the design of demonstrator use cases, the project will showcase how AI algorithms can be used within the protected environment.
In addition to Saxony’s research institutions, KIMed will include the university hospitals in Leipzig and Dresden, regional healthcare providers and partners from the IT sector. It is one of seven projects selected under the SMWK's EFRE/JTF-funding programme within the call “Research Networks at Public Research Institutions”.
