"Hessen already has a diverse and vibrant AI ecosystem, with excellent universities, ambitious start-ups, established companies and committed AI initiatives that are working together to further advance 'AI made in Hessen'. With the establishment of the AI Innovation Lab, which provides powerful AI computing infrastructure, and the founding of the AI Quality & Testing Hub, which is dedicated to the important topic of AI quality, we are sustainably strengthening the Hessian AI ecosystem. Crucial to the success of AI research and application is the exchange of research ideas, research projects and application potential, and this across institutions and borders. I am therefore very pleased that hessian.AI is establishing 'The hessian AICon', a great new format for professional exchange, networking and a start-up fair - with this, hessian.AI is once again showing that it is developing into an important crystallisation point for 'AI made in Hessen' and at the same time developing international appeal."