Turning AI theory into real-world impact: Prof. Hendro Wicaksono guides research group to top publications and business opportunities

Over the past five years, Constructor University's Data-Driven Industrial Systems research group has established itself as a leader in causal artificial intelligence and responsible AI, not through abstract theory but with practical solutions to solve real-world problems in industry and society. Led by Professor Dr. -Ing Hendro Wicaksono, the group has published dozens of research articles in top-ranked journals, launched industry partnerships, and founded several startups in the past year alone, motivated by a simple but potent vision to maximize the impact of their work. 

The numbers tell a compelling story of research excellence. In the past year, the group has published four articles in journals ranked in the top 1% of CiteScore rankings, and five more published in top 3% journals. Their most recent research, published May 2026 in the International Journal of Production Research, demonstrates how causal AI can help small and medium-sized manufacturers optimize energy use and cost planning through data-driven insights rather than guesswork.

Unlike traditional machine learning that identifies correlations, Prof. Wicaksono's group focuses their efforts on causal relationships: understanding not just what is happening but why it happens, and which actions are most likely to produce the desired outcome.

"The goal is not AI for AI's sake, but AI that helps people make better decisions in industry, infrastructure, sustainability and society," explained Prof. Wicaksono. "When we understand why something happens and how certain we are about it, we can act with much greater confidence and responsibility."

Real-world applications across industries

The group has used this approach to deliver tangible research value across multiple sectors, from identifying and prioritizing automotive supply chain risks for a major German manufacturer to optimizing bike-sharing infrastructure in Budapest. These studies were conducted under Prof. Wicaksono’s leadership in collaboration with PhD researchers Tamas Fekete and Ishansh Gupta, alongside Bachelor’s and Master’s students Girum Mengistu and Isabella Marquez Petrone.

In addition to their research, Prof. Wicaksono and his team actively deliver value through industry partnerships and entrepreneurialism. In June, Prof. Wicaksono and industry partner Neovation GmbH were awarded €560,000 in federal funding to develop NeoHub, an AI-powered platform that will intelligently match German businesses with research institutions to form optimal R&D partnerships, a critical challenge in Germany's innovation ecosystem.

They have also launched several associated startups, including four in the past year alone, with ventures spanning spaces from climate technology to medical devices and business intelligence. Prof. Wicaksono’s outstanding contribution to supporting student entrepreneurship even received city-wide recognition this year when he was awarded the 2026 PROFPRENEUR Award at the Bremen Startup Summit in June.

Beyond research: inspiring the next generations

Prof. Wicaksono’s collaborative and empowering approach lies at the heart of the group’s success. Through clear research direction, active mentorship and opportunities to work across academic fields and levels, he empowers his PhD researchers, Master's and Bachelor’s students to tackle complex challenges to their fullest ability. The result is a hotbed of high-quality research outcomes and innovations that has also earned Prof. Wicaksono multiple recognitions as one of Constructor University’s Teachers of the Year.  

"When I supervise PhD students, we always start by discussing how their projects will be impactful and useful," explained Prof. Wicaksono. “I believe in prioritizing impact in everything we do. It’s the guiding philosophy of this group. Everyone who joins does so with the mentality of doing research toward developing real-world products and solutions."

Currently, the group consists of six post-doctoral researchers, alongside 17 PhD students and research associates, all working on projects funded by various sources, including the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Ministry for Digital and Transport, private sector partners, various scholarships and other funding awards.

As active members of their academic community, the group contributes to numerous collaborative initiatives locally and beyond, such as Logdynamics—the  scientific steering committee of Bremen's research clusters in dynamic of logistics—and the Bremen SmartPort Transfer community. Prof. Wicaksono showcased his growing international profile in 2023, when he and PhD researcher Ishansh Gupta were invited to speak at the Causal AI Conference in New York alongside Nobel laureate Guido Imbens.

Looking ahead, Prof. Wicaksono is confident he and his group will continue their upward trajectory, and views each new success as a new opportunity to inspire excellence. “Every time we win an award, publish new research or launch a new venture, It’s a sign that what we’re doing is impactful, and that’s something I want to pass on to my students. It motivates me to continue investing in them and inspiring them to live their lives with impact,” he said.