The Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) strengthens its international expertise in computer science. Prof. Dr. Walid Maalej begins his role as W3 Professor and Chair of Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence at the joint Digital Engineering Faculty of HPI and the University of Potsdam.
With Prof. Dr. Maalej, the institute gains a globally renowned scientist. Prof. Dr. Maalej was most recently a professor at the University of Hamburg, where he shaped the field of Software Engineering and led the entire Department of Computer Science. Prior to that, he conducted research and taught at the Technical University of Munich, Singapore Management University, and the University of Bari. Prof. Dr. Walid Maalej's work has been honored with four Most Influential Paper Awards, several Best Paper awards, and his appointment as an ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Distinguished Speaker — an award given to internationally recognized leading researchers whose work has a global impact. His area of focus at HPI will be on human-centered software development with and for AI.
Prof. Dr. Walid Maalej: "With my work at HPI, I am committed to drive the development of trustworthy, human-centered software with AI, combining research, teaching, and technology transfer. The goal is to develop technologies that support people, foster critical thinking, and create societal value. At the same time, I want to promote the education of the next generation of computer scientists and thus strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty."
In addition to his academic work, Prof. Dr. Maalej brings extensive experience in technology transfer. He has led over 100 cooperation projects with the industry, is actively involved in supporting startups, and serves as Chairman of the Board of the Hamburg Tech Transfer Institute (HITeC). He will also bring this perspective to HPI, aiming to transfer research results more quickly and effectively into the economy and society.
With the appointment of Prof. Dr. Walid Maalej, the Hasso Plattner Institute sends a clear signal for excellent, responsible AI research and for computer science that puts people at the center.
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