More practical experience at universities – Avantgarde engages in the FSAE

The future of software and AI engineering is not shaped by companies alone, but begins much earlier in education. This is precisely why Avantgarde Business Solutions is actively involved in the Software & AI Engineering Association Ruhrgebiet e.V. (FSAE).
The association’s goal is to more closely connect academic education with real-world practice and to give students early access to real challenges from business and technology. The FSAE brings academia and industry together in a targeted way, creating a platform for exchange, knowledge transfer, and joint development. The association is led by Prof. Dr. Thorsten Berger and Prof. Dr. Yannick Noller from Ruhr University Bochum, both well‑recognized experts in software and AI engineering. Together with additional universities and corporate partners, this forms a strong regional network for research, teaching, and innovation in the Ruhr area.

For Avantgarde, joining the FSAE is a logical and consistent step. As a company with a strong focus on ERP, Modern Work, artificial intelligence, and production‑ready automation, we know that strong solutions emerge where theory and practice come together early on. The FSAE is one of several academic cooperations through which we actively support the education of tomorrow’s experts and enable them to gain realistic insights into modern software and AI projects.

Actively supporting talent

This engagement goes far beyond knowledge transfer – it is about real‑world application. Through the FSAE, students gain opportunities to acquire hands‑on experience, whether as working students, interns, or through bachelor’s and master’s theses. At the same time, companies benefit from direct access to highly motivated young talent, current research results, and new impulses from academia.
Our own product development also benefits significantly. As a committed member of the association, we actively drive research initiatives forward. Insights from academic work flow directly into our solutions – including the continued development of the Avantgarde Co‑Pilot, which clearly benefits from these collaborations.

WIN–WIN–WIN

For students: working on real, relevant use cases.
For our customers: innovative, well‑founded, and future‑proof solutions.
What advantages does FSAE membership offer to Avantgarde?
Direct exchange with leading researchers in software and AI engineering, access to current research outcomes, regular meetups, workshops, and lectures, as well as early contact with qualified students who get to know Avantgarde as an attractive employer. The FSAE creates exactly the environment required for sustainable innovation.
Our conclusion: Future‑ready AI and software solutions emerge where education, research, and practice go hand in hand. Together, we are strengthening software and AI engineering in the Ruhr region – and we are looking forward to an exciting and innovative 2026.