Executive Summary
- Closing event of the KI.NRW flagship ZERTIFIZIERTE KI on 7 December 2026 at the Deutsches Museum Bonn.
- Project partners present test criteria, a unified procedure for specifying AI test objects, and prototype testing tools for models and data.
- Talks and panels cover technical implementation of the EU AI Act, standardization, legal issues, innovation management and testing of autonomous systems.
- Participation is free of charge, places are limited; registration via the event page is recommended.
What happened?
On 7 December 2026 the closing event of the KI.NRW flagship project ZERTIFIZIERTE KI takes place at the Deutsches Museum in Bonn. Under the motto “Building trustworthy AI – From AI Act to Technical Implementation,” the project partners — including Fraunhofer IAIS, University of Bonn, RWTH Aachen, DIN and University of Cologne — present the project results and demonstrate testing tools in action. Project lead Fabian Malms (Fraunhofer IAIS) explains in a practical presentation the path to demonstrable conformity of an AI system.
The event includes talks and panels on technical, legal and normative aspects; a panel on “Trustworthy AI in an era of autonomous systems” features participation by Dr. Christian Temath (KI.NRW), Prof. Dr. Stefan Wrobel (Fraunhofer IAIS), Prof. Dr. Dr. Frauke Rostalski (University of Cologne) and Prof. Dr. Torsten-Oliver Salge (RWTH Aachen). The event begins at 10:00 (admission from 09:00). Participation is free of charge, places are limited; information and registration are available via the event page.
Why does it matter?
Facts: With the EU AI Act and initial drafts of harmonized standards, guardrails for the deployment of AI systems are in place. The ZERTIFIZIERTE KI project has translated trustworthiness dimensions into concrete test criteria, developed a unified procedure for specifying AI test objects, and created prototype testing tools for models and data.
Context: These results address a central practical question: how can regulatory requirements be implemented technically and made verifiable? Prototype testing tools and standardized specification approaches can ease the transfer between legal requirements and technical testing processes. At the same time, the project contributions show ways in which standardization bodies, testing institutions and research can collaborate to develop a robust testing ecosystem.
What does this mean for mid-sized companies?
Facts: The event is aimed at companies and organizations that develop, deploy or are responsible for AI systems, as well as at testing and certification bodies, standardization, research and policymakers. Project partners demonstrate testing approaches and tools.
Implications: For decision-makers in mid-sized companies three aspects are particularly relevant. First, the presented test criteria and tools provide an orientation base for compliance and risk management in the context of the AI Act. Second, unified specification procedures facilitate communication with testing institutions and service providers when procuring or internally assessing AI components. Third, exchange with research and standardization bodies opens up risk- and process-knowledge that can be useful for procurement, evaluation and evidence collection.
Limitations: The presented testing tools are prototypical; their transfer into stable certification processes will need further development. In addition, event places are limited, so not all interested parties can attend in person.
Related: AI Readiness Check
Recommendation from Future AI Solutions
Evidence-based recommendation: Since the project outputs include concrete test criteria, specification approaches and prototype testing tools and the event offers practice-oriented demonstrations, Future AI Solutions recommends the following steps:
- Register for the event if you carry compliance or testing responsibility for AI systems, to gain direct insight into testing approaches and tools.
- Review internally which AI systems in your company might fall under the requirements of the EU AI Act and compare them with the test criteria presented in the project.
- Use the presented specification approaches as a basis to formulate requirements for external providers and service vendors more precisely.
- Plan pilot tests with prototype testing tools or seek exchange with testing and certification bodies and research partners to evaluate practical suitability for your systems.
- Monitor the development of harmonized standards and the testing ecosystem; a stepwise integration into existing quality and risk processes is advisable.
These recommendations are based on the published results and offerings of the ZERTIFIZIERTE KI project and aim to give mid-sized company decision-makers pragmatic options for compliance, procurement and risk management.