The panel discussed where data science needs to go if its results are to be trusted in settings where decisions carry consequences – in industry, administration and critical infrastructures.

SherpAI builds a learning data quality layer for enterprise systems. The software integrates into ERP and CRM systems, identifies faulty data structures, corrects them in context and completes missing information – an area where research artefacts developed at this chair move directly into practice.

They had come to present the SUPERvisor Award 2026 to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marcus Grum – the Graduate School’s award for excellent academic supervision of doctoral researchers. Neither the date nor the place had been announced. The surprise was part of the plan.

GITEX AI Europe brings together AI providers, industrial users and investors from across Europe. For us, the fair was an opportunity to discuss our research artefacts with practitioners who operate AI systems every day – and who feel their energy bill.

The decision follows positive external reviews, the report of the evaluation committee and the vote of the extended faculty council of 24 June 2026. It concludes the evaluation of the junior professorship for Business Information Systems, especially AI-based Application Systems, which was established at the University of Potsdam in January 2024.