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Climate action and environmental protection enabled by digital technologies

Through its GreenTech innovation competition, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action supports projects on sustainable digital technologies. 21 of these innovative research projects have now been showcased in a shared publication.

The ESCADE project wants to make data centres more energy-efficient by using neuromorphous chip technologies. These imitate the way the human brain processes data and are able to offer a stable level of processing power at the same time as a much reduced consumption of energy. This has a significant positive impact on the sustainability performance of AI applications used in data centres.

The Green Streaming project wants to make video streaming more sustainable. Each part of the process, from production to the actual streaming process, is optimised. AI and a digital twin are to be used to assess the level of energy efficiency and bring down CO₂ emissions. Terminal equipment is to be fitted with a green streaming mode, in which the energy consumption is displayed and savings potential highlighted – without a negative impact on video quality.

^{Technology programme is to strengthen Germany’s position as a high tech hub}

The SAAT project focuses on sustainable mixed crops farming so as to drastically reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. An AI-assisted planning tool is to calculate the optimal distribution of crops across the land in question, whereas a robotics-based sorting module automates the harvest. Once the test period is completed, farming businesses could use these tools to increase their efficiency and simultaneously benefit the climate and biodiversity thanks to a lower use of chemicals.

It was with projects like this one in mind that the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action launched its GreenTech Innovation Competition technology programme in 2023. Its objective is to foster the development and application of digital technologies for the green transition in business. The competition helps secure a strong standing for Germany and Europe as high tech hubs for digital green tech solutions.

It centres on knowledge transfer between science, business and SMEs. A total of 21 projects involving 120 partners benefit from the programme, for which some €75 million are available up to 2026. More information about the 21 projects and the technology programme can be found here.