Germany – Research and development services and related consultancy services – Arbeitskräftepotenziale durch Digitalisierung und KI inklusiv nutzen

The acquisition and rapid development of a digitally competent workforce, which contributes to a productive and competitive economy despite demographic change and skills shortages, is in the strategic interest of the Federal Government. For the competitiveness of companies, securing the skilled workforce is crucial. In view of an aging society, there is an urgent need for action to keep employees in companies for as long as possible under good and healthy working conditions, to tap into unused domestic potential, and to make the world of work more inclusive and diverse. Digital technologies and, in particular, Artificial Intelligence (AI) offer the opportunity to keep people with age-related, cognitive, or mental impairments in the labor market longer and healthier or to integrate them and to create an age- and disability-friendly work environment. The research contract to be awarded (performance period: 2027–2028) aims to identify the possibilities and needs of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and employees with disabilities for the use of technological support in the company and thus to tap into the labor potential with the help of digitalization and AI. Since there is no systematic and comprehensive representation of this, practical and scientifically sound research is needed to determine how SMEs can support employees with disabilities in the company through the use of new technologies (e.g. AI). A contribution should also be made to securing the experience of employees and strengthening existing (consulting) structures by supporting supervisory institutions (e.g. Inclusion Offices, Chambers of Industry and Commerce, Economic Peak Associations) in advising SMEs on questions of digital transformation. The research contract will be advertised as a Competitive Dialogue with a pre-tender competition on a Europe-wide basis. The services can be provided by a consortium. To achieve the set goals, the following work packages must be completed by the contractors implementing the research project. The exact design should be explained by the bidders as part of the Competitive Dialogue: 1. Basic research and needs analysis: o Conducting an empirical-exploratory study to identify and systematically present the needs of SMEs and their employees with disabilities. o Creating an overview of suitable technological and AI-based solutions. o Assessing the suitability of AI technologies for specific fields of work; if unsuitable, the need for alternative solutions should be identified. 2. Implementation strategies and implementation: o Developing implementation proposals and assistance for the implementation and long-term use of the identified technologies. o Identifying and creating target-group-appropriate information materials and channels. o Incorporating feedback and evaluation through a co-creative approach. 3. Review and adjustment: o Reviewing and testing the developed information materials and channels and their refinement and adaptation. o Checking the effectiveness of the (AI) support instruments. 4. Dissemination including a broad-based support offer: o Continuous dissemination to strengthen the external impact of the project goals and results. Targets of the research contract: Research institutions, universities and research institutions. Subject matter and targets of the research measure: SMEs and supervisory institutions, which are to be involved accordingly in the project implementation. Perspectives of affected employees, organizations and associations of self-representation, advice and self-help for and by people with disabilities must also be taken into account.