2 Oct 2025
As of October 1, LMU’s University Leadership has appointed two new officers for key cross-cutting fields in order to strengthen the university’s strategic profile in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and in international relations with Asia.
LMU Chief AI Officer | © LMU/Jan Greune
LMU’s new Chief AI Officer is Professor Björn Ommer, one of LMU’s Chairs of Artificial Intelligence and Head of the Computer Vision & Learning Group.
Ommer is recognized internationally as one of the leading researchers in AI and is known for his interdisciplinary approach linking computer science with the humanities and the life sciences. With his appointment, LMU will further consolidate and expand its research and transfer activities in this pivotal field. The aim is to harness the potential of AI responsibly across science, society, and the economy, and to establish LMU – together with TUM and non-university partners – as Europe’s leading hub for cutting-edge AI research.
LMU Officer for Science and Research Policy Relations with Asia | © LMU
Professor Hans van Ess, Chair of Sinology and former Vice President for Research, has been appointed LMU Officer for Science and Research Policy Relations with Asia.
Van Ess is regarded as one of the foremost experts on Chinese intellectual and cultural history and has been active for many years in high-level science policy bodies. In his new role, he will play a key part in supporting University Leadership in strategically expanding LMU’s international relations with Asia, in order to elevate cooperation with universities, funding agencies, and policymakers across the region to a new level.
The targeted strengthening and strategic positioning of LMU’s expertise in AI and its academic relations with Asia are central pillars of the university’s future strategy, enabling LMU to provide socially relevant answers to complex challenges and to safeguard its long-term competitiveness.
"With Björn Ommer, we welcome one of the most innovative minds in the field of Artificial Intelligence as Chief AI Officer. He will sharpen our university’s profile in a key domain of the future and further amplify its international radiance. At the same time, with Hans van Ess we rely on an internationally renowned bridge-builder between Europe and Asia, who will position LMU in a world that is becoming ever more multipolar“, says Professor Matthias Tschöp, President of LMU Munich.