Cebit 2018: Saarbrücken start-up offers data analysis with scientific expertise

Data science consulting with scientific expertise is offered by D:AI:MOND founders Thilo Krüger, Professor Verena Wolf, Professor Jens Dittrich and Endre Palatinus (from left to right). Image: © Uwe Bellhäuser

Digital data is considered the “new oil” in business and industry as it promises the same profits as the oil business. An entire industry is already based on “data science” and computational methods that promise even better analysis to outperform competitors and to find future business opportunities. So that the “new oil” does not turn out to be a false promise for customers, four renowned computer science experts of Saarland University are now founding the consulting firm “D:AI:MOND”. Their “Data Science Consulting” is based on the latest research findings. In this way, the scientists want to provide their customers with sound advice.

“Big Data”, the analysis of huge amounts of data, “Artificial Intelligence” and “Deep Learning” are the processes that are currently causing a sensation in the economy. “The confusion in the industry regarding all these trendy terms is unfortunately very large,” explains Jens Dittrich, professor of computer science in the field of databases, data management and big data at Saarland University. “As a researcher, we can clear this fog,” Dittrich is convinced. Hence, together with his colleague Verena Wolf, a professor of computer science with a focus on modeling and simulation, and the two computer science experts Endre Palatinus and Thilo Krüger, he is founding the start-up “D:AI:MOND”.

A big problem, according to Dittrich, is that some companies misjudge the data analysis process. He compares their approach with the construction of a penthouse on the tenth floor, without planning the floors below or even the foundation. “Another pattern we see is that some companies believe it will be a very large building, so first they buy a costly special excavator. Only then is the building planned and they realize that even a simple excavator would have been enough.”

In addition, says Dittrich, data analysis requires much more than just evaluation. Collecting the right data, cleaning and merging the data are just as important as removing errors, maintaining the data, setting up a scalable data architecture, and defining the characteristics critical to analysis, Dittrich explains.

His start-up D:AI:MOND is supported by the on-campus IT Incubator, an institution of Saarland University and Max Planck Innovation GmbH. During the so-called incubation phase, researchers and students receive help there to develop their ideas entrepreneurially.

Further information:
http://daimond.ai

Press photos: www.uni-saarland.de/pressefotos

Questions can be directed to:
Professor Verena Wolf
Modeling and Simulation
Saarland Informatics Campus E1.3
Saarland University
E-mail: verena@daimond.ai
Phone: +49 681 302-5636

Professor Jens Dittrich
Big Data Analytics Group
Saarland Informatics Campus E1.1
Saarland University
E-mail: jens@daimond.ai
Phone: +49 681 302-70141

Editor:
Gordon Bolduan
Science Communication
Competence Center Computer Science Saarland
Saarland Informatics Campus E1.7
Saarland University
E-mail: bolduan@mmci.uni-saarland.de