About HIDA

                            

In science, methods such as computational modeling, data mining and machine learning, combined with today’s computing power, open up entirely new perspectives for gaining information and knowledge.Working with these data science methods is fundamentally changing most scientists’ research: They are a key to cutting-edge research and to designing the future of our civilization, but also require special qualifications. HIDA – The Helmholtz Information & Data Science Academy – is Germany’s largest postgraduate training network in information and data science. We prepare the next generation of scientists for a data-heavy future of research.

Information & Data Science Schools

HIDA connects and serves as the roof to 6 newly founded data science research schools linked by a network of 14 national research centers and 17 top-tier universities across Germany. During the next 5 years, these data science research schools will train over 250 fully funded doctoral researchers. The doctoral researchers will deepen their knowledge in data science methods and learn to combine knowledge from the six Helmholtz research areas – energy, earth and environment, health, aeronautics, space and transport, matter, and information – with data science methods. For these purposes, all doctoral researchers receive dual supervision in data science and their scientific domain.

In addition, HIDA offers doctoral researchers and scientists attractive opportunities to obtain training and continuing education in a wide range of methods and to become part of an international data science network.

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The General Assembly of the Helmholtz Association has established the Steering Committee of the Helmholtz Information & Data Science Academy (HIDA-Steer). The following top-level researchers have been recruited for the steering, monitoring and strategic orientation of HIDA's activities:

• Sabine Attinger, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
• Stephan Frickenhaus, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)
• Veit Hagenmeyer, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
• Frank Jenko, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP)
• Uwe Konrad, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)
• Klaus Maier-Hein, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
• Alice McHardy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)
• Uwe Ohler, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC)
• Nina Rohringer, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
• Achim Streit, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
• Wolfgang Wiechert, Forschungszentrum Jülich
• Xiaoxiang Zhu, German Aerospace Center (DLR)

HIDA was developed by the Helmholtz Incubator Information and Data Science, which was founded in 2016. The Incubator is a body of 38 expert scientists from each of the Helmholtz Centers and industry experts. The Incubator created the Information and Data Science Framework – a number of platforms (including HIDSS and HIDA among others) that set Helmholtz up for the data-heavy future of science. The Information and Data Science Framework is the sum of all platforms (including HIDSS and HIDA among others).

Today, science and research generate enormous amounts of data, opening entirely new perspectives for acquiring information and gaining insights. Processing and analyzing these complex and expanding amounts of data is one of the biggest challenges facing the entire scientific system. Helmholtz is in a fantastic position to master this challenge with its expertise in big data analytics, supercomputing, the entire data life cycle, software development, artificial intelligence, and robotics. What’s more, interdisciplinary collaborations between each of these fields offer great opportunities to analyze complex systems.

The Incubator consists of scientists from all of the Helmholtz Centers, supported by industry R&D experts. The Incubator has the goal to stimulate regular interaction between creative minds throughout the Association, inspiring innovative, interdisciplinary networks and approaches, and identifying trends and disruptive pilot projects. The Incubator also plans and supports long-term efforts and value-adding activities and platforms, and puts into practice the Helmholtz digitalization strategy.

The Incubator has initiated an Association-wide digitalization process. Helmholtz’ top management therefore decided to establish platforms in five fields that are of special strategic importance to the entire Association. Together, these platforms constitute the Helmholtz Information & Data Science Framework, with funding of 41 million euros annually.

In addition to HIDA, the Incubator has initiated four other platforms:

• HAICU – Helmholtz Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Unit
• HIP – Helmholtz Imaging Platform
• HMC – Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration Platform
• HIFIS – Helmholtz Infrastructure for Federated ICT Services

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The Berlin HIDA office is part of the Helmholtz Head Office in Berlin-Mitte. It is a space for an education and training program and conferences on Information and Data Science. The HIDA office supports all questions regarding basic and continuing Information & Data Science training.

Urban, open, and accessible – the Berlin HIDA office facilitates exchange and networking regarding Information & Data Science throughout Helmholtz.

 Get to HIDA-Office Berlin (pdf in German)

Are you interested in HIDA activities? Get in touch with us.

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