“A strong regional ecosystem acts like a fast track.”

87 percent of global trade runs on SAP systems – a figure that shows how deeply the European software company is integrated into global economic processes. But SAP is not only shaping existing structures; it is also working intensively on an AI-driven future. Iris Seute knows this transformation firsthand: she works for SAP in the capital region and is well connected in Berlin's AI ecosystem – between research institutions, startups, and established players. 

In this interview, she explains why Berlin is indispensable for SAP as an AI location, how collaboration between different players really works, and what it takes for AI startups in Germany to not only get off the ground but also scale up. She talks about courage and risk-taking, the role of the #ai_berlin hub, and how technology can create social value – responsibly and in a people-centered way.

Hello Ms. Seute, what would our lives be like if SAP didn't exist? 

I would say it would be pretty bleak... and we would be hungry too! Seriously, though, it would have far-reaching consequences for the economy, technology, and even the everyday lives of many people. SAP has achieved something that many companies have failed to do in the past: managing large, globally active companies with uniform, integrated systems. According to SAP, its customers generate 87% of global commerce via SAP systems, which means that SAP software is used in most companies worldwide and influences all our lives in line with the company's goal: “Help the world run better and improve people's lives.”

SAP is a launch partner of the #ai_berlin hub. What strategic reasons were decisive for SAP in supporting this initiative – and how do you think the hub can serve as a platform to further advance SAP's goals and activities in Berlin? 

As Europe's largest software company, we at SAP are also working on numerous new AI solutions, which we can test and evaluate directly with customers here on site – and which we use every day in our Experience Center to inspire customers, partners, startups, students, and players from politics and business and engage in an exchange with this ecosystem that is not only one-sided, but from which we also benefit. The more we and our colleagues from the ecosystem learn about what already exists and what is needed, the faster and better we can take the next steps.  

A strong regional ecosystem acts like a fast track because, as in a good neighborhood, people help each other and thus make faster and better progress. We have such a strong partner ecosystem that for every 1 Euro in revenue we generate, our partners generate 5 Euros in revenue – we benefit greatly from our partners because we cannot build all the solutions ourselves. 

You work closely with research institutions such as the Hasso Plattner Institute in the capital region, operate your own Experience Center, and your Chief AI and Technology Officer, Dr. Philipp Herzig, is based here. What makes the capital region particularly attractive for SAP as a location for innovation and AI? 

We have strategic and close partnerships with the four major and numerous smaller universities, above all the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam, which enjoy an excellent reputation and are actively researching AI fields. We are driving innovation forward in collaborative projects with them in a way that would not be possible in other regions. Here, too, you are a product of your environment – and as part of an agile and innovative ecosystem, you are virtually forced to go along with it and lead the way as a thought leader and innovator.  

Berlin is such a “neighborhood,” such an ecosystem. It is not without reason that our Chief AI and Technology Officer Philipp Herzig is based here in Berlin and nowhere else. With Berlin Partner, we have the perfect institution here to stimulate and bring together this neighborhood, facilitate collaboration and joint engagement, and bring the ecosystem together. 

You have emphasized in the past how much SAP benefits from its partner ecosystem. How does this collaboration work in practice in the field of AI? And what role do Berlin-based startups play, for example in joint projects or product integrations? 

We at SAP are deeply interconnected with the research institutions I mentioned earlier and are conducting numerous joint projects, particularly with the Hasso Plattner Institute, including work on knowledge graphs and foundation models. We also maintain close collaboration with the Technical University of Munich and work internationally with partners such as Stanford University. Even though we have excellent researchers within SAP, there are still so many open questions in the field of AI that the scientific and academic perspective is essential in helping us move forward and sharpening our focus. It enables us to look at topics from a broader angle—for example, how AI is reshaping software development processes and making them more efficient. 

The results of these collaborations also support our own internal transformation, because they help us make better decisions and bring all our employees along on the journey. A good example is the “Cognitive Load of Software Developers” research project carried out jointly by SAP Berlin and the Hasso Plattner Institute. Working closely with universities and research institutions keeps us at the cutting edge, allows us to translate new insights directly into product innovations, and ultimately enables us to deliver rapid, tangible value to our customers. At the same time, these partnerships help us position SAP as an attractive employer—one that can draw the best and brightest talent straight from academia. 

In addition, we collaborate with many startups that integrate their solutions into our products, enhancing them without requiring us to develop every feature ourselves. One example is Maya Data Privacy, a company specializing in data anonymization for AI applications, a crucial and sensitive topic for a company like SAP. By working with such specialized partners, we can cover essential areas like data protection effectively and confidently, while focusing our own efforts where they create the most impact. 

In 2023, SAP invested in AI companies such as Aleph Alpha, Anthropic, and Cohere to build up more AI and cloud expertise. How are you shaping this transformation at your Berlin site, and what opportunities do you see for collaboration with the regional AI ecosystem? 

Here, we are driving forward the development of AI, the cloud, and quantum computing, among other things. With the #ai_berlin hub, we have a platform for close collaboration with startups, research institutions, and universities. We see great opportunities here to jointly promote the regional AI ecosystem internationally and raise its profile. 

Almost a third of all German AI startups are based in Berlin. In your opinion, what does it take for these companies not only to be established here, but also to scale up and remain here in the long term?  

Compared to the US, for example, we establish far fewer startups in Germany and are much more hesitant to do so – in the US, people are much more willing to “fail early.” In Germany, people are always much more risk-averse, and thanks to bureaucracy, fewer companies are founded. The hurdles and expenses are immense here, and you hear the word “but” far too often, even in connection with AI in general – there is much more public discussion about the risks than about the opportunities. SAP contributes to this by providing live inspiration here at our location and showing how far we have already come, not only through our CTO on site, but also through our Experience Center and the showcases and knowledge that we bring to the ecosystem both at our location and through showcases, keynotes, and other contributions. 

And as for the potential of the #ai_berlin hub: it is precisely this clustering of different companies, institutions, civil society, and political actors that creates more exchange, more courage, and the opportunity to change and improve things. 

What motivates you personally when you think about the future of AI in Berlin – and what specific goal would you like to achieve in the coming years?  

We naturally want to play a key role in advancing SAP’s AI strategy from Berlin. When I think about the future of AI in this city, what motivates me personally is the opportunity to truly put technology at the service of society. Berlin brings together a unique mix of research institutions, a vibrant creative scene, startups, established companies, and political as well as public stakeholders. This density of perspectives creates an environment where AI can be developed not only efficiently but also responsibly, boldly, and in a genuinely people-centered way. What drives me is the vision of building an ecosystem in Berlin where AI not only improves products but also enables new forms of collaboration, education, and participation – a place where innovation is as much cultural as it is technical, and where SAP plays an active role in shaping that future. 

In practical terms, this means empowering people in companies and public institutions to use AI with confidence and competence. It also means advancing projects that link technological progress with clear social value, whether in education, public administration, or sustainable urban development. And above all, it means building strong bridges between research, politics, and business so that good ideas don’t remain stuck in laboratories or concept papers, but actually make their way into everyday life.

Thank you very much for talking to us. 

Note: The interview was conducted in German and translated into English.