Questions and answers

• Which topics do I need to address in my project?

  Your AI project for the common good must directly cover at least one of the subject areas of the three federal ministries, the BMAS, the BMFSFJ the BMUV. The fields of action are the following:

  Topics of the BMAS (Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs)

  • Occupational health and safety
  • Work culture
  • Labour market
  • Work organisation
  • Transparency and explainability of AI applications
  • Social partnership and participation
  • Continuing education

  Topics of the BMUV (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection)

  • Environmental protection
  • Nature and species conservation
  • Climate protection
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Circular economy
  • Resource conservation
  • Sustainable digitalisation

  Topics of the BMFSFJ (Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth)

  • Democracy and diversity, prevention of antisemitism, racism, discrimination and extremism
  • Engagement and digital participation
  • Digital sovereignty and youth and media protection
  • Access to consulting, services and benefits
  • Dementia and care in old age, demographic change
  • (Economic) equality
  • Compatibility of family and career
• What does "AI for the common good“ mean?

  Chatbots, voice assistants or smart home are examples of AI technologies that are being used more widely in society. They are becoming increasingly prominent in our everyday lives. Most of the time, the development of AI-based technologies is driven by economic interests. AI for the common good, on the other hand, is oriented towards values that are important for the general public. It enables intelligent solutions for societal challenges. The Civic Coding initiative strengthens a sustainable, social and participatory development and use of AI.

• Which topics are relevant for the common good?

  There are issues relevant to the common good in almost every area of social life, be it the world of work or social issues like equality, transparency and participation. In addition, the focus on the common good ranges from environmental protection and sustainability to equal rights for marginalised groups and the reduction of prejudice.

• What does 30 hours of one-to-one online expert advice and hands-on support mean?

  The 30 hours of one-to-one online expert advice and hands-on support include a variety of activities aimed at providing comprehensive support for your project. This includes not only direct advice and support in online appointments with the consultants, but also time for preparation, follow-up, research and other supporting activities such as hands-on support in the implementation of technical solutions. In the initial meeting, we will work together to find out which support services best meet your needs.

• When can I apply?

  You can apply for project consulting from May 12 until September 1. However, as we can only advise a limited number of projects per month, it makes sense to apply as early as possible. If our capacities for this month are already reached, we will schedule you directly for the following month. The consultation should be completed within a period of 12 weeks.

• Can I apply even if I only have an idea in mind as a project?

  In principle, our consulting is open to AI projects at all stages of development:

  • Idea generation
    You have a concrete idea for a new product (including applications or processes) or a new service that can solve specific challenges and problems for as many people as possible.
  • Concept development
    You are developing a concept for your product or service and defining the key features. You are also developing a concrete implementation plan.
  • Prototyping and testing
    You are creating a first prototype of your product or service to make your idea tangible for first users/stakeholders. You are testing this prototype to ensure that it meets the needs of users/stakeholders.
  • Implementation and launch
    You are currently implementing an initial version of your product or service that meets at least the minimum user requirements, or are already making it available to a wider group of users.
  • Further development & scaling
    You are in the process of developing your product or service to cover more functions, a wider audience or more applications.

  Our consulting services are primarily aimed at projects that have reached a certain level of maturity. This means, for example, that you have already considered how your project addresses a societal problem, what resources you need, and who you are working with to implement it.

  In our Civic Coding community you will find projects at all these development stages. Register now and post your first project idea!

• Can I also apply if I was already part of the Civic Coding project consultation in 2024?

  Yes, if your project has developed significantly in the meantime and you apply to us with a new consulting need, you are welcome to reapply to the project consulting.

• Can I still apply even if my project has already obtained other funding?

  Yes, AI projects for the common good that will receive or have already received other funding can also apply to the project consulting programme. The only exception: Simultaneous consulting by the Civic Coding project consulting service and the Civic Data Lab data consultation hour is only possible if the objectives of the consultation are different.

• What is expected of me in project consulting?

  Project consulting is a free service to advance your AI project and work with you to find solutions to your problems. The success of the consultation therefore depends largely on your commitment. Therefore, make sure you book an appointment early and reliably, prepare yourself well for the consulting appointments and think in advance about what specific questions and consulting needs you have. Our aim is to ensure productive and effective collaboration during the consultation phase. This works best if there is not too much time between the consultation appointments so that we can focus on your challenges together.

• Does project consulting also include financial funding?

  The Civic Coding project consulting does not offer financial support. Instead, we offer hands-on support from a team of interdisciplinary experts from zukunft zwei and N3XTCODER in the areas of AI, data organisation and strategy.

• Can I apply more than once if I have different projects for the common good?

  Yes, we assess each project independently, so you can apply more than once if you have different projects.

• Do I keep the rights to my project or idea when applying?

  Yes, you retain all rights to your project or idea.