The digital transformation is significantly changing the university and research landscape. As tools, technological innovations offer researchers not only the potential to make their own work even more efficient and effective, but also new opportunities. Many departments at TU Dresden are supporting these projects and working together to further develop them. In addition, digitalization in its many facets and reciprocal influences is itself the subject of research. As part of the Excellence Strategy, TU Dresden bundles a large part of its research and service activities in the field of digitalization in the Center for Interdisciplinary Digital Sciences (CIDS), exemplified by the activities in the following institutions and initiatives:

Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (SCADS.AI)

SCADS.AI Dresden/Leipzig is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Free State of Saxony as one of the national AI centers. The establishment of additional AI Chairs is intended to further strengthen AI research at both locations. In basic research into AI methods, the center strives to close the gap between the efficient use of mass data, advanced AI methods and knowledge management. In addition to pioneering methods of machine learning and artificial intelligence, research topics on trust, privacy protection, transparency, minority protection and traceability of AI-driven decisions are also at the center of attention.

National High-Performance Computing (NHR)

The Center for Information Services and High-Performance Computing (ZIH) is one of the centers for National High-Performance Computing (NHR) in the NHR network established in 2021. As one of nine NHR centers, it is the operator of high-performance computing systems and offers a coordinated consulting service on methodological competence in scientific high-performance computing. The aim is to provide scientists at German universities with the computing capacity they need for their research and to strengthen their skills in the efficient use of this resource.

Contact point for research data management (FDM)

In 2017, TU Dresden and SLUB jointly established the Research Data Contact Point. The SLUB and the ZIH work together across organizations to offer interdisciplinary services in the field of RDM. Every scientist at TU Dresden is advised and supported here in the professional handling of research data. In fall 2021, the team was strengthened by an employee in order to also be able to support DRESDEN-concept member institutions with questions about RDM.

Synergy of Systems (SynoSys)

Synergy of Systems (SynoSys), which was founded as part of the Excellence Strategy, uses digital methods to investigate complex phenomena at the interfaces between biomedicine, social sciences and life sciences. The researchers focus on the fields of network science, data science, digital science and citizen science. SynoSys is not only a think tank but also a "link tank" that teaches young scientists about complexity research and science without disciplinary boundaries. As a department of the Center for Interdisciplinary Digital Sciences (CIDS) , SynoSys is a node in the network of transdisciplinary research.

National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI)

In November 2018, the Federal and State governments decided to set up a National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI ). The NFDI aims to systematically index, secure and make accessible data from science and research and to network it internationally. TU Dresden plays an important role in this and is involved in 14 of the 27 currently funded NFDI consortia (as of 11/22). It is the leading coordinator of NFDI4Earth and Base4NFDI. TU Dresden has been a member of the non-profit NFDI e.V. since 2021 and is represented there by the CDIO.

Saxon State and University Library Dresden (SLUB)

As one of the most capable academic libraries in Germany, the SLUB is a central partner for the information structure of TU Dresden. The library has been able to acquire extensive third-party funding projects, particularly in digitization and for infrastructure and software development, making it an important innovation and coordination center in the European library sector.