The first cohort of the new WATER AI certificate program has officially started.Over two semesters, students from different disciplines will explore how artificial intelligence can help address challenges related to water and infrastructure. At a kick-off event at Wilopark in Dortmund on October 27, students met representatives from academia and industry and gained first insights into the interdisciplinary program. Among the participants were Prof. Dr. Manfred Bayer, Rector of TU Dortmund University, and Oliver Hermes, President & Global CEO of the Wilo Group.
The WATER AI program brings together perspectives from Computer Science, Spatial Planning, and Architecture & Civil Engineering with practice-oriented mentoring by the Wilo Group. The program also covers climate resilience and sustainable urban development.
Connecting AI Research with Water and Infrastructure
The certificate program is a joint initiative involving TU Dortmund University, the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, and the water technology group Wilo. It combines academic teaching across disciplinary boundaries with expertise from the water sector.
WATER AI connects the Lamarr Institute’s expertise in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence with domain knowledge from planning, engineering, and the water sector in an interdisciplinary educational setting. Students develop technical expertise through real-world applications, exploring how AI can help address societal and technological challenges related to water and infrastructure.
The course was developed within the cooperation between TU Dortmund University and Wilo that was launched earlier this year as part of the Wilo Global WATER AI Academy. The partnership brings together the university’s research and teaching expertise with Wilo’s experience in AI-embedded water technology.
From Knowledge to Impact
The Wilo Global WATER AI Academy is an international platform for innovation, education, and collaboration between science and industry at the intersection of water and artificial intelligence. It is building an international network of universities, research institutions, companies, and other partners to develop skills and translate knowledge into practical solutions for water technology.
WATER AI is one of the first educational initiatives resulting from the collaboration. The mentoring component gives students opportunities to engage with practical questions from the water sector and complements the academic modules offered by the participating faculties.
With the start of the first cohort, the cooperation now moves from concept to practice: students from different academic backgrounds will work across disciplinary boundaries and explore how AI, planning, engineering, and water expertise can be combined to address complex challenges in sustainable infrastructure.