BRIDGE Begleitvorhaben startet im Rahmen der Fördermaßnahme „Digital GreenTech"
BRIDGE wird in den nächsten drei Jahren die Hightech Agenda Deutschland vorantreiben, indem es die sichere und verantwortungsvolle Überführung von Forschungsergebnissen in anspruchsvolle Umweltanwendungen basierend auf Robotik und KI unterstützt.
Karlsruhe/Tübingen/Berlin, 24 November 2025
BRIDGE—the accompanying project for robotics, information law, dissemination, green tech, and ethics—marks the launch of a nationwide scientific project under the “Digital GreenTech – Environmental Technology Meets Robotics” funding initiative of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). Over the next three years, BRIDGE will advance Germany’s high-tech agenda by supporting the safe and responsible translation of research results into sophisticated environmental applications based on robotics and AI.
As the consortium leader, the FZI Research Center for Information Technology is responsible for coordination and contributes its proven expertise in AI, robotics, and information law—including legal analyses and practical implementation guidance. The project partner is the International Center for Ethics in the Sciences (IZEW) at the University of Tübingen, which identifies ethical dimensions and challenges for intelligent robotics in the environmental sector and develops proposals for effectively addressing them in technology development projects. DIZ | Digitales Innovationszentrum GmbH is acting as a subcontractor with a focus on networking, science communication, and systematic knowledge transfer to the professional community. With a total budget of approximately €750,000, BRIDGE is scheduled to run for 36 months and is funded by the BMFTR.
Germany must meet its climate targets while simultaneously safeguarding its competitiveness. Robotics in environmental technology serves as a powerful economic lever in this regard: Automated, sensor-based processes in recycling, water and waste management, and emissions monitoring reduce costs, improve quality, and decrease dependencies. “Made in Germany” solutions strengthen key markets and exports, create skilled jobs in operations, maintenance, data analysis, and compliance, and solidify the industrial base. Those who implement safe, responsible robotics in accordance with standards reduce market risks and scale up faster—fully in line with Germany’s High-Tech Agenda. For this to succeed, clear guidelines are needed: practical guidance on product safety and liability, data protection-compliant use of environmental, operational, and personal data, as well as robust IT security—supplemented by transparent, fair decision-making processes and responsible human-machine roles. BRIDGE supports the 16 research projects in the funding initiative with legal and ethical points to consider, accompanying analyses, transfer formats, and contributions to standardization, so that innovation can be put into practice faster, more safely, and on a broader scale. The collaborative projects are focused in particular on the following areas: forestry and agriculture, environmental and facility monitoring, maintenance and repair, and the circular economy.
Three tasks – one goal: Making a difference in practice
- Enable & Support: Legal and ethical guidance, status seminars, and specialized workshops support the R&D projects in this funding program to ensure safe, standards-compliant development.
- Analysis & Guidance: In-depth studies on product safety, liability, data protection, and IT security, as well as on sustainability in the research process, transparency, and accountability, provide reliable guidelines.
- Transfer & Standards: Publications, digital dialogue formats, and target-group-specific guidelines; the findings are incorporated into standardization activities.
BRIDGE aims to establish Germany as a leading market for trustworthy robotics in the environmental sector—characterized by scientific excellence, industrial applicability, and social responsibility. The close integration of technology, law, ethics, and technology transfer ensures a rapid path to impact—from laboratory results to scalable, industry-ready applications in the circular economy, resource efficiency, and emissions reduction.
About the Partners
- FZI Research Center for Information Technology (Consortium Leader) – A leading institution in AI, robotics, and information law with many years of experience in secure, standards-compliant technology development.
- IZEW – International Center for Ethics in the Sciences, University of Tübingen (Collaborative Project) – Interdisciplinary research on environmental, technological, security, and educational ethics.
- DIZ | Digital Innovation Center GmbH (subcontractor) – A neutral innovation agency for stakeholder management, knowledge transfer, and communication, connecting startups, research, small and medium-sized enterprises, and the public sector within national and European ecosystems.
Consortium Lead, Legal Subproject | FZI Research Center for Information Technology
Maria Rill
Haid-und-Neu-Str. 10–14, 76131 Karlsruhe
rill@fzi.de
Ethics Subproject | IZEW, University of Tübingen
Dr. Simon David Hirsbrunner
Wilhelmstr. 56, 72074 Tübingen
simon.hirsbrunner@uni-tuebingen.de
Project Communication BRIDGE | DIZ Digital Innovation Center GmbH
Alexandra Krumm
Haid-und-Neu-Str. 18, 76131 Karlsruhe
marketing@diz-bw.de