SAP and Fresenius are joining forces to develop a sovereign AI platform specifically designed for the healthcare sector. This initiative aims to bring secure data processing capabilities directly into clinical settings, addressing a critical need for robust data governance that is often a challenge with public cloud solutions. The collaboration is focused on creating a “controlled environment” where AI models can operate without jeopardizing data sovereignty, a paramount concern in medical data handling.
The project’s core objective is to establish an open and integrated ecosystem that empowers hospitals to leverage AI in a secure manner. Instead of pursuing isolated AI experiments, the companies envision building a foundational digital infrastructure for a sovereign and AI-enhanced healthcare system.
Michael Sen, CEO of Fresenius, highlighted the strategic importance of this partnership, stating, “Together with SAP, we can accelerate the digital transformation of the German and European healthcare systems and enable a sovereign European solution that is so important in today’s global landscape. We are making data and AI everyday companions that are secure, simple and scalable for doctors and hospital teams. This creates more room for what truly matters: caring for patients.”
Technologically, the platform will be built upon SAP Business AI and the SAP Business Data Cloud. These components will form a compliant and sovereign foundation for deploying AI models within healthcare. This infrastructure is engineered to manage health data responsibly, a prerequisite for scaling automated processes in patient care and a key differentiator for such sensitive data.
Addressing the persistent issue of data fragmentation in healthcare, the partnership will implement SAP’s “AnyEMR” strategy. This approach is designed to facilitate the integration of diverse hospital information systems (HIS). By adhering to open industry standards like HL7 FHIR, the platform will enable seamless connectivity between HIS, electronic medical records (EMRs), and other critical medical applications. This interoperability is expected to empower Fresenius to develop AI-driven solutions that enhance efficiency across the entire care continuum, ultimately fostering a more connected and data-informed healthcare experience.
Both companies are committing significant investment to this venture, with plans to deploy a “mid three-digit million euro amount” in the medium term. These funds are earmarked for advancing the digital transformation of healthcare systems in Germany and Europe through AI-powered solutions. The investment strategy includes both internal technological development and joint ventures with startups and scaleups, aiming to cultivate a comprehensive suite of tools that can be integrated into the sovereign platform.
Christian Klein, CEO of SAP SE, emphasized the synergy between the two organizations: “With SAP’s leading technology and Fresenius’ deep healthcare expertise, we aim to create a sovereign, interoperable healthcare platform for Fresenius worldwide. Together, we want to set new standards for data sovereignty, security, and innovation in healthcare. Thanks to SAP, Fresenius can harness the full potential of digital and AI-supported processes and sustainably improve patient care.”
This collaboration signals a notable shift in the European healthcare AI landscape, with a pronounced focus on sovereign infrastructure. The ability to scale AI solutions effectively hinges on establishing controlled environments that meet stringent regulatory demands. Without a robust sovereign data backbone, many AI initiatives risk encountering significant hurdles due to compliance concerns, potentially stalling innovation and delaying the widespread adoption of advanced healthcare technologies.
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