KI and Digital Offensive HANDwerk.NRW (KIDiHa)

KIDiHa

The skilled crafts sector is the mainstay of our society and economy in North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany. In the Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL) region alone, there are more than 22,000 companies with a turnover of around 18 billion euros (as of the end of 2021). To ensure future-oriented development, new transformation processes are needed. This is only possible with knowledge and skills in the skilled crafts sector. New instruments and technologies also create a wide range of opportunities and will be the tools of the future. Artificial intelligence offers significant potential for the entire skilled crafts sector.

However, a wide range of analyses of the current state of digitalization in the skilled crafts show that the sector is already less well positioned in this regard than industry or the service sector. In addition, a shortage of skilled workers, traditional patterns of behavior, a high volume of orders, and bureaucratic obstacles are hindering its implementation.

Goals and Content

The “KI und Digital Offensive HANDwerk.NRW (KIDiHa)” (AI and Digital Offensive for Skilled Trades in North Rhine-Westphalia) is a consortium project of the University of Applied Sciences of the Middle Class, the Fraunhofer Institute IOSB-INA and the Paderborn-Lippe District Trades Association. Its aim is to strengthen the competitiveness and innovation potential of skilled trades businesses in North Rhine-Westphalia by integrating AI. The project is funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as an AI.NRW flagship. The aim is to survey the status quo of artificial intelligence in the skilled trades and to develop practical and customized AI solutions and approaches for skilled trade businesses of different trades and sizes. In addition, corresponding (continuing) education programs in the field are to be promoted.

Skilled crafts businesses will be involved in the process to show them that digitalization and/or artificial intelligence can be a useful, feasible, affordable and efficient tool. Individual companies will be supported throughout the entire process, from the initial needs assessment to the analysis of solution options and implementation, including an evaluation.