"Made in Germany" – Thanks to AI, a new opportunity for the industrial location of Germany

The world and, within it, Germany stand at an epochal turning point.

The introduction of AI, and especially AI agents, will change economic and working life to an unprecedented extent. For decades, the Federal Republic was considered a leader in the competition of economies with regard to spirit of innovation, quality, and precision. Here, other countries have caught up, and some have even surpassed Germany. The reasons are multifaceted, but one crucial question shapes the discussion: Can we still convey the quality label that "Made in Germany" once stood for and still partially stands for, in a digitized economy that hardly recognizes national borders?

One thing is for sure: We should definitely try. Germany's industrial DNA—our outstanding knowledge of processes, standards, and methods—remains unique. However, it is no longer the main criterion, as digitalization has reshuffled the cards. From our perspective, it now takes a symbiosis of traditionally highly valued engineering skills and cutting-edge IT expertise—not least in the field of artificial intelligence and its ability to autonomously control complex systems and seamlessly connect them.

HGK Shipping as a Pioneer for Innovative Industry Solutions

An outstanding example of how AI accompanies this transformation is the strategic partnership between HGK Shipping, Europe's largest inland shipping company and always a pioneer for innovative industry solutions, and neuland.ai. As one of the leading German AI technology companies, we at HGK Shipping will launch a secure and scalable corporate AI based on the neuland.ai HUB platform within this cooperation starting in November.

"The introduction of our own AI solution is a crucial milestone on our journey to becoming a digital shipping company. We are particularly pleased that we were able to partner with neuland.ai from Cologne, a strong regional partner - a testament to the innovative power of the Rhineland economy."

Steffen Bauer, CEO of HGK AG

With the aim of critically assessing existing processes thanks to the new technology, HGK Shipping shows how an innovatively thinking company from a traditional industry is harnessing the opportunities of digital transformation. The goal is to adapt or completely restructure the processes in a step-by-step approach, yielding clear efficiency gains for both internal and external processes. This way, previously untapped potentials can be realized. A better data foundation optimizes the decision-making processes of the responsible parties and employees at HGK Shipping.

"By using AI, we want to intelligently network internal processes, accelerate data-driven decision-making, and enable new services for our customers."

Kevin Stepan, Head of IT Business Partner Management at HGK Shipping

Karl-Heinz Land, CEO and Founder of neuland.ai, emphasizes the importance of the platform:

"We are supporting HGK Shipping in becoming an AI-first company that not only optimizes customer service but also enhances employee satisfaction. Our goal is to consistently analyze processes and improve them with modern AI solutions—always focusing on the people who are better supported in their work through these technologies." The central AI platform not only promotes automation and data-driven decision-making but also adheres to the highest standards in terms of security and governance. The focus is on empowering companies to retain control over their data while also leveraging the advantages of the latest AI technologies.

Reviving "Made in Germany" through Agentic AI

Germany has the opportunity to reconfigure its industrial DNA through the targeted use of AI and increasingly Agentic AI. Platforms such as the neuland.ai HUB, which not only enable the secure use of artificial intelligence but also pave the way for data-sovereign structures, can provide very valuable impulses for this. Partnerships like the one with HGK Shipping exemplify a foresight revival of our country's once outstanding reputation. "Made in Germany" can thus once again become a global symbol for creativity, quality, and precision. The collaboration described here sends a clear signal in this direction.