We are a research-driven hub for applied AI that aims to enable the efficient and agile development and implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) assets across the whole Helmholtz Association, Germany’s largest research organisation. Helmholtz AI (which is short for Helmholtz Artificial Intelligence Cooperation unit) is structured as a hub-and-spoke model with six units across the Helmholtz Association. Our headquarter is hosted by the Helmholtz Zentrum München (HMGU) and we have local units at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Representing the six research fields of the Helmholtz Association, our units host Research Groups and consultant teams. They are at the heart of our activities and ensure wide dissemination of methods as well as broad uptake of data-based research questions in applied AI. Launched in March 2019 and led by Professor Fabian Theis (Helmholtz Zentrum München), our ambition is to tackle the major challenges and pressing issues facing society and develop sustainable solutions for tomorrow and beyond with newly developed AI/ML-based tools, offering democratized access to them in an open and dynamic community.