Funding strengthens AI sovereignty in SMEs: Hainzelman receives support from the State of Schleswig-Holstein
A typical scene from the SME world: in the IT department of a manufacturing company, essential expert knowledge about complex, historically grown systems is often fragmented and undocumented — which, combined with demographic change, can lead to a looming loss of knowledge. This significantly increases the onboarding and research effort for new and existing employees and creates bottlenecks through dependence on a few specialists. AI is meant to help — but without handing data outside the company and without becoming dependent on a single vendor.
This is exactly where the products built on the Hainzelman Platform come in. Many companies start small, for example by making internal documentation usable with the “Hainzelman Knowledge Explorer” — a ready-to-use app that automatically delivers understandable summaries and creates FAQs. In a next step, distributed expert knowledge can be made discoverable in a structured way, e.g. through AI-supported expert interviews — traceable and visible only to authorised users. The AI agents handle the groundwork in the background — like quiet helpers: reliable, unobtrusive and under clear access rules. Later, a scalable workflow engine automates entire process chains and connects existing systems, even across departmental boundaries. The data stays in EU data centres or on your own premises, and the solution grows with your requirements.
“Many SMEs see the AI wave rolling towards them and worry about losing control over their data and processes. We hand them the wheel. Our platform is not an opaque AI monolith but a transparent toolbox with which companies build their own secure AI solutions — step by step and with full control. We also publish parts of our platform under an open-source licence.”Robin Müller, Managing Director of Hainzelman GmbH
The State of Schleswig-Holstein is now funding the further expansion of the Hainzelman Platform with around 270,000 euros. Minister for Digitalisation Dirk Schrödter handed the funding decision to the Hainzelman team today (19 December) and learned about the platform’s state of development.
“Hainzelman is a prime example of AI know-how and application-oriented innovation made in Schleswig-Holstein. The flexible platform enables especially the many small and medium-sized enterprises in the state to become more competitive quickly and in a user-friendly way. With our AI strategy and the close network of business, science and administration at the digital hub of Schleswig-Holstein, we support companies on their path into the digital future.”Dirk Schrödter, Minister for Digitalisation of the State of Schleswig-Holstein
The Hainzelman Platform is based on a modular architecture. Companies remain independent because the building blocks can be adapted — from operation (EU cloud or on-premises) to the functional components.
“We separate what must be separated: data sovereignty, operation and the building blocks of the solution. We are also committed to the open-source idea and have made important parts of our platform publicly available. This gives our customers the freedom to use the best solution today and stay flexible tomorrow — without being chained to us forever.”Collin Müller, Managing Director and Chief Product Officer of Hainzelman
Besides the “Hainzelman Knowledge Explorer” for unlocking company knowledge, Hainzelman offers ready-to-use apps for contract management with automated content and deadline overviews, apps for certification processes, as well as industry-specific solutions for regulated areas, for instance in the maritime sector. Existing and new customers receive further developments gradually as updates — without their own migration projects.
About Hainzelman
Hainzelman is a technology company from Halstenbek that develops AI products for European SMEs — practical, secure and scalable. The Hainzelman Platform combines data sovereignty, GDPR compliance and independence from individual vendors, and enables a fast start from assistant to end-to-end automation.
At a glance
- What is Hainzelman? An AI technology company that offers SMEs secure and sovereign AI solutions.
- What is the core product? The Hainzelman Platform, a modular platform for AI-supported workflows (SaaS or on-premises).
- What is the unique selling point? No lock-in effect, full data control (GDPR-compliant) and adaptability.
- Who is being funded? The State of Schleswig-Holstein is funding the build-up of the platform.
- Who is it for? For all companies that want to introduce AI securely and step by step, from simple assistants to complex process automation.
