The successful use of artificial intelligence in public administration requires a clear strategy. The Digitalization Department under the Senator for Finance and the University of Bremen developed the strategy in collaboration with the other senatorial offices, Bremerhaven’s municipal council, and the Office of the State Parliament as part of a cooperation agreement. The strategy, which the Bremen Senate adopted on August 18, 2026, was developed with academic support from the University of Bremen, drawing on its strong expertise in artificial intelligence.
Prof. Dr. Jutta Günther, President of the University of Bremen: “I am pleased that the University of Bremen, through the outstanding expertise of the Faculty of Computer Science, was involved in shaping Bremen’s AI strategy from the onset. Professor Niehaves and his team contributed not only strategic insights but also practical projects for the future. This strategy is the result of a successful collaboration between the university and the Senate. The University of Bremen is committed to the transfer of knowledge into practice – and this project exemplifies exactly that kind of participatory research design.”
Prof. Dr. Dr. Björn Niehaves, computer science professor with a focus on digitalization in public administration at the University of Bremen, provided technical guidance for developing the strategy: “Bremen has already gained valuable initial experience with AI, and it’s evident that public sector employees see the significance this topic will have for the future of public administration.”
A comprehensive assessment of Bremen’s digital transformation in public administration first identified the existing digital foundation on which the AI strategy could be built – and highlighted areas needing further development, Niehaves explained: “For this strategy, we worked with hundreds of local experts and analyzed feedback from nearly 4,000 public administration employees in Bremen. This gives the strategy an exceptionally broad foundation. One crucial aspect is that we didn’t just look at general AI applications, but also identified numerous ways to directly address specific processes and challenges within Bremen’s public administration. The result is a highly actionable AI strategy that not only provides guidance, but is designed to deliver tangible benefits for public employees, citizens, and businesses alike.”
Further Information:
https://www.senatspressestelle.bremen.de/pressemitteilungen/senat-beschliesst-ki-strategie-fuer-die-freie-hansestadt-bremen-488735?asl=bremen02.c.732.de (only available in German)
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Dr. Björn Niehaves
Faculty 03 – Mathematics & Computer Science
Head of the Digital Public research group
Phone: +49 421 218-59875
Email: niehavesprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
