From Research to Application: CODE Provides New Impulses at the Airbus AI Days 2026

14 October 2026

How can cutting-edge AI research be transformed into technology that delivers tangible benefits under real-world, safety- and security-critical conditions? This question was at the heart of the second Airbus AI Days, held on October 6 and 7, 2026, at Airbus Defence and Space in Immenstaad on Lake Constance. As a cooperation partner, the University of the Bundeswehr Munich organized the scientific program on the first day of the event, bringing the latest research perspectives into the dialogue with application-oriented research and development at Airbus. Professors affiliated with the Research Institute CODE played a key role in the program.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly evolving from an experimental technology into a core component of complex technical and operational systems. As a result, the focus of research is also shifting: The value of AI is determined not only by the performance of individual models, but also by their robustness, explainability, and secure integration into decision-making processes and workflows. Particularly in the security and defence sector, this requires technological, organizational, and human factors to be considered together.

The Airbus AI Days provided a platform for discussing these challenges from the different perspectives of academia, industry, and the Bundeswehr. The afternoon program organized by the University of the Bundeswehr Munich on October 6 deliberately bridged the gap between scientific foundations and new methodological approaches on the one hand and questions arising from industrial research and development on the other.

Data, Decisions, and People

The research presentations by the University of the Bundeswehr Munich covered a broad spectrum, ranging from data-driven knowledge discovery and mathematical optimization to novel learning methods and the human-centered design of AI-supported processes.

Prof. Dr. Michaela Geierhos, Technical Director of the Research Institute CODE and Professor of Data Science, demonstrated in her presentation, “From Data to Knowledge: Applied AI for Resilient and Intelligent Systems,” how decision-relevant knowledge can be derived from heterogeneous, incomplete, and uncertain data. Rather than treating AI as an isolated technology, she focused on the conditions under which data-driven methods can contribute to resilient and trustworthy intelligent systems.

^{Prof. Dr. Michaela Geierhos (Photo: Airbus Defence and Space)}

Juniorprof. Dr. Maximilian Moll, Junior Professor of Operations Research – Prescriptive Analytics in the Department of Computer Science, turned his attention to the next stage of data-driven decision support. In his presentation, “From Operations Research and Prescriptive Analytics to Reinforcement Learning and Quantum Optimization,” he connected classical mathematical optimization with learning-based and adaptive methods. In a second presentation, “Quantum AI: Between Hype, Hope, and Actual Results,” he offered a critical assessment of the potential of quantum-enhanced AI, contrasting scientifically validated findings with some of the far-reaching expectations surrounding the technology.

^{Juniorprof. Dr. Maximilian Moll (Photo: Airbus Defence and Space)}

Prof. Dr. Christoph Peters, Chair of Information Systems, particularly Digital Process Management, in the Department of Business and Organizational Sciences, emphasized that successful AI is not solely a matter of data and algorithms. His presentation, “Designing and Managing Future-Ready Processes Through AI and Human-Centered Approaches,” focused in particular on the interplay among technology, processes, and people. In doing so, he addressed a key requirement for transferring AI from research and development into practical use: Technological innovation must be meaningfully usable by people and capable of being integrated into processes and organizations.

^{Prof. Dr. Christoph Peters (Photo: Airbus Defence and Space)}

Academia and Industry in Dialogue

The scientific program was initiated and coordinated by Prof. Dr. Stefan Pickl, Professor of Operations Research at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich and an associate member of the Research Institute CODE. He moderated the research session and brought together the various academic perspectives with questions and insights from industrial practice.

This role continued during the concluding panel discussion. Together with representatives from the Bundeswehr and industry, Pickl discussed the future use of AI and how research findings can be translated into concrete applications both more quickly and responsibly. The panel concluded an afternoon deliberately centered on dialogue among fundamental research, applied research, and industrial development. This connection is especially important for advancing safety- and security-critical AI systems. Requirements derived from real-world use cases can be incorporated into scientific research at an early stage. At the same time, new research methods and findings can expand the range of potential technological solutions before they are transformed into concrete products and capabilities.

^{Prof. Dr. Stefan Pickl (Photo: Airbus Defence and Space)}

Different Disciplines – One Shared Goal

From data analysis and decision optimization to human-centered applications: It is only through the interaction of different AI research disciplines that the foundations for resilient, operationally viable intelligent systems can be created. For the Research Institute CODE, this interdisciplinary approach also exemplifies its mission to combine scientific excellence with the challenges of security and defence. The research fields represented at the AI Days extend beyond traditional cybersecurity and demonstrate the growing importance of data science, AI, operations research, and quantum technologies for digital readiness and operational effectiveness.

Research Transfer as a Collaborative Process

The cooperation between the University of the Bundeswehr Munich and Airbus Defence and Space provides an important framework for this work. The two institutions further strengthened their research partnership on April 22, 2025. The AI Days demonstrate how this cooperation can be brought to life through concrete scientific dialogue.

Its particular value lies in the combination of complementary perspectives: The university contributes new methods, scientific findings, and long-term research questions, while industrial research and development tests these approaches against technological requirements, integration challenges, and concrete use cases. This dialogue, in turn, can give rise to new research questions.

The participation of CODE and the University of the Bundeswehr Munich in the Airbus AI Days therefore represents an approach to research transfer that goes beyond the mere dissemination of scientific findings. Research and industrial development are brought together at an early stage to jointly advance technologies, evaluate scientific approaches under realistic application conditions, and accelerate the path from new insights to usable AI capabilities.

^{Teaser: Provided new impulses at the Airbus AI Days 2026: Prof. Dr. Michaela Geierhos, Prof. Dr. Stefan Pickl, Prof. Dr. Maximilian Moll und Prof. Dr. Christoph Peters (f.l.t.r.)(Photo: Airbus Defence and Space).}