TU Hamburg - E-21

Institute for Data Science Foundations

Gruppenfoto des Teams der TUHH Hamburg E21 Institute for Data Science Foundations with Nihat Ay, Manfred Eppe, Pradeep Banerjee, Adwait Datar, Utsa Chattopadhyay, Jan Dohmen, Alexander Klemps, Carlotta Langer, Frank Röder, Jesse van Oostrum

Data is generated constantly and everywhere. The Institute for Data Science Foundations is concerned with the data-driven extraction of causal, as opposed to merely associational, knowledge. One can think here, for example, of a stream of raw sense data that humans organise by assigning meaning to it; the automated process follows this natural model. Of course, this is only an example.

The Institute for Data Science Foundations was founded in April 2021 as part of TU Hamburg's growth strategy and is located in the Hamburg Innovation Port (HIP). Its work rests on two pillars: mathematical theory development and experimental work in a robotics lab, both integrated within information geometry.

Mathematical theory development

The institute develops mathematical theory to understand complex systems. Information theory and geometry are brought together in information geometry, providing a unified framework for studying how learning systems approach their targets. Here, geometry measures the distance from the learning goal, rather than describing the shape of a body in space.

Experimental work in the virtual robotics lab

The institute's experimental pillar deliberately avoids physical hardware. Virtual robots save time and money and allow agents that need not be robots at all, such as muscle models. This approach enables rapid iteration and testing of embodied intelligence without the overhead of equipment maintenance.

News

13.08.26
by Johannes Müller, Institute of Mathematics at TU Berlin - on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 11:00 am - in room 5.002, HIPone, Blohmstr. 15, 21079 Hamburg.
30.07.26
by Stefan Bornholdt, Bremen University of Theoretical Physics - on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 11:00 am - in room 5.002, HIPone, Blohmstr. 15, 21079 Hamburg.
21.07.26
We are pleased that Prof. Mikhail Prokopenko from the University of Sydney will be our guest for one month.
20.07.26
by Mikhail Prokopenko - on Thursday, 23rd of July, 2026 at 11:00 am - in room 5.002, HIPone, Blohmstr. 15, 21079 Hamburg.
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14.07.26
The Institute for Data Science Foundations is pleased to welcome Prof. Dr. Akio Fujiwara from the University of Osaka as a visiting researcher for about six months.
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21.05.26
The entire course in just 3 weeks