Focus Topic 2026
AI in the Service of the Common Good
What possibilities does artificial intelligence offer – and what will AI challenge fundamentally? In 2026, we are placing particular focus on the questions surrounding this technological transformation.
In recent weeks, several prominent players in the tech industry have publicly warned of profound AI disruption. They speak of a technological upheaval that could change our society and working world at an unprecedented pace.
For us at the Robert Bosch Stiftung, one thing is clear: These developments deserve our utmost attention. Not out of alarmism, but because technological transformation always affects people, institutions, and social cohesion. Robert Bosch was convinced that progress must serve the common good. This conviction is both our guiding compass and our mission.
17 Mn.Funding for AI
Artificial intelligence offers enormous opportunities: It can contribute to more equitable participation, make public services more efficient and user-friendly, and enable new forms of learning. At the same time, it is clear that for everyone to benefit from this potential, we need transparency, responsibility, and the courage to actively shape the technology, not just stand on the sidelines.
But are we ourselves ready to change? If AI triggers epochal disruption and transformation, then we will also have to change. What are we willing to lose in order to gain something different, something new?
This is precisely where our focus this year on “AI and technology” comes in. Together with our partners from civil society, politics, administration, and the technology industry, we want to understand, shape, and make an impact. In 2026, we will provide 17 million euros in funding for projects that focus on human dignity and strengthen the social benefits of AI. In addition, we will take an active role in public discourse on the opportunities and risks of technological change.
Shaping AI Responsibly
We are already investing in projects that demonstrate the social value digital technologies can create. At the Bosch Health Campus, for example, an interactive showroom gives visitors direct access to digital health solutions — helping to reduce reservations about new applications.
We are also shaping developments in the education sector: together with Stanford University, our “M.E.T.A.” program trains facilitators who support teachers in integrating artificial intelligence into their classrooms.
At the European level, we are engaged through the European AI & Society Fund, which strengthens civil society organizations advocating for human-centered, public‑interest approaches to AI.
Looking Back: 124 Million Euros Invested in Health
195 Mn.in total Funding
In 2025, we invested a total of around 195 million euros in our core funding areas: health, education, and global issues. The largest share went to the field of health, with approximately 124 million euros flowing into this sector — most notably into the Bosch Health Campus (BHC).
Bringing together the Robert Bosch Hospital, several research institutes, an education center, and an integrated funding division under one roof, the Campus serves as the foundation’s central hub for all health-related activities. It spans clinical care, medical research, and the development of digital innovations. One such innovation is the “Sundi” chatbot, which is designed to help citizens strengthen their health literacy.
Commitment to Strengthening Democracy
With its own institutions such as the Bosch Health Campus, newly developed projects, and nearly 400 active partnerships worldwide, the Foundation was broadly positioned in 2025. It operated in more than 30 countries and launched over 300 new initiatives. One key priority of the past year: strengthening democracy.
In the field of education, the Foundation placed a special focus on civic and democracy education. For the first time, the German School Award honored schools that are leading the way with compelling approaches to democracy education.
In the area of Global Issues, the spotlight was on social cohesion. The Foundation’s Diversity Barometer revealed a clear decline in public support for societal diversity — a warning sign of rising tensions. This is precisely where the Foundation concentrated its efforts: through local dialogue formats such as the “Allzeitorte,” it brings people from different backgrounds into conversation in their everyday environments — strengthening mutual understanding and fostering a vibrant democratic culture at the local level.
Continued support for Ukraine
As part of its Ukraine funding, the Foundation supported – among other things – the “Restart” initiative in 2025. Knowing that reconstruction cannot wait for a peace agreement, “Restart” is already developing concrete plans for a modern and resilient reconstruction in Ukrainian cities such as Voznesensk. By combining urban planning, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion, the initiative not only builds infrastructure, but also social resilience and hope.