Generations of PhD students have passed through SAP’s HANA Campus, located at company headquarters in Germany. Arne Schwarz, who runs the campus, has been there every step of the way.

For more than 20 years, the HANA Campus has been home to PhD students applying research to SAP HANA and, more recently, other technologies.

As demands on technologies change — the first customers for SAP HANA went live in 2010, seven years after the HANA Campus welcomed its first PhD student — so has its name.

“What name should I give it?” muses Schwarz, explaining how prevailing technologies and circumstances have forced name changes over the years, including “The Campus,” “The Research Campus,” “The HANA Research Campus,” “The Student Campus,” or even “The HANA Database and Analytics Campus.”

But while its name may change, its mission remains the same: to help satisfy the demand for high-tech research, primarily for SAP HANA but also for SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP Business Data Cloud (SAP BDC), Global Cloud Infrastructure Services, and SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP).

What makes the HANA Campus unique?

To date, the HANA Campus has been home to more than 40 PhD students, mostly matriculated at universities in Germany, who have successfully defended their dissertations grounded in research at SAP. Or, to put it another way, PhD students have collectively contributed decades of applied research focused primarily on SAP HANA.

Bringing academic innovation into the product comes in different flavors at SAP. On the one hand, PhD students can be recruited directly to SAP and tasked with researching a predefined topic. On the other, SAP funds university chairs, such as the recent Hasso Plattner Endowed Chair in Artificial Intelligence, and research projects with academia.

PhD students arrive at the HANA Campus via SAP-funded research projects with academia. The campus is unique, according to Schwarz, due to “the sheer mass of research projects executed over the years and the fact that the dedicated space in Walldorf acts as a safe haven for PhD students.”

Students assigned to the HANA Campus work on-site at SAP, get a feel for life at the company, and have direct access to development teams and test environments. The contract for the research projects with academia also frees PhD students from university teaching obligations. It is also important to note that PhD students do not belong to a specific development team, avoiding the risk of their research being deprioritized in the face of operational pressures. At the HANA Campus, PhD students can focus all their efforts on their research and studies.

It all began with a knowledge gap

Bringing academic expertise in-house for HANA started back in 2003, Schwarz explains, in the era of TREX, a search engine in SAP NetWeaver. TREX was the forerunner of SAP Business Warehouse Accelerator, which ultimately led to the SAP HANA database. Engineering teams were under intense pressure to quickly build and deliver the emerging technology of in-memory database.

However, Schwarz explains, a knowledge gap was threatening to slow everything down: there were only two or three engineers who had the knowledge to drive the technology forward, but they didn’t have the bandwidth to do so. With an ever-increasing number of teams requiring specialist knowledge, the threat of a slowdown in development was becoming more real by the day.

As luck would have it, Wolfgang Lehner, professor at the Technical University (TU) Dresden, was also researching the same technology. A mutually beneficial partnership was born: SAP offered a cutting-edge research opportunity for students, and Professor Lehner’s students could bridge the knowledge gap with academic expertise. The potential obstacle was overcome, and research projects with academia and PhD students continue to augment the technological knowledge and expertise that powers SAP HANA and other SAP technologies to this day. 

Since that first research project with TU Dresden, the HANA Campus has collaborated with many more universities. “Collaborations with the universities are always limited to the timeframe set out in the original research contract,” Schwarz says, clarifying that the driver for selecting a university is the fit of current research topics to SAP’s technological requirements and not past collaborations.

Talent pipeline and “a foothold in academia”

The HANA Campus is a “win-win” for both SAP’s talent pipeline and PhD students.

Many students choose to stay at SAP once they have defended their thesis and been awarded their PhD. The teams know the value of their PhD research and the PhD graduates know what life is like at SAP.

Even those PhD graduates who do not stay at SAP remain, for the most part, in data management and analytics development; they either join other companies or take a postdoc position. Their ties to the company “give SAP a foothold in academia as well as advocates and a more direct route to research projects,” Schwarz confirms.

Through Schwarz, the HANA Campus also supports SAP’s participation at academic conferences, another tool to strengthen academic connections, PhD student recruiting, and SAP’s technological reputation. In June of this year, HANA Campus provided a venue for a workshop at the SIGMOD/PODS International Conference on Management of Data. Sponsoring and participating in these conferences, Schwarz says, “is pivotal to getting access to the inner circle of academia, strengthens SAP academic connections and reputation, and allows SAP to share and augment research findings with other experts from academia.”

Find out more

Twenty-two years in and 40 dissertations later, SAP’s HANA Campus continues to be home to the next generation, welcoming two more PhD students later this year to deepen research around SAP HANA as well as SAP BTP and SAP BDC.

A vast collection of publicly available scientific publications about SAP HANA Database and Analytics, dating from 2006 to the present day, is available on GitHub here.

As a global leader in the food industry, BRF is renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation. Recently, the food giant won the SAP Innovation Award in the category Cloud ERP Champion and Industry Leader with its supply chain management solution based on SAP Integrated Business Planning (SAP IBP).

By using AI and advanced analytics, BRF managed to improve forecast accuracy, optimized inventory, and fine-tuned planning. Collaborative forecasting and real-time data alignment now increase operational efficiency, enabling BRF to manage its extensive operations in over 127 countries and adapt quickly to changes in these markets. 

Project outcomes that scale

With 44 production units, 103 distribution centers delivering more than 500 million deliveries per month to more than 415,000 customers, representing 5 million tons of food produced per year, the scale of the achieved improvements is immense.

“BRF is transforming efficiency and productivity standards in the production chain, developing solutions that make processes more agile, simple, and efficient,” said Gilberto Andretta, executive technology manager at BRF. “We are one of the leading SAP IBP organizations achieving daily demand planning and sensing, statistical modeling, forecast accuracy and embedded analytics, time-series analysis, and exception management, which is integral for our more than 400 planners.”

By using SAP IBP, the process of accurately accessing and analyzing demand and forecast data is 33 percent faster.

Award-winning solution

For BRF, seeking innovative solutions is essential to advancing digital transformation and driving growth. The company considers the use of AI as fundamental to overcoming supply chain management challenges.

“The transformation of BRF’s supply chain through SAP solutions has made it easier to integrate processes, predict future trends, and respond quickly to market needs,” said Miriam Hahn, customer success manager for SAP Brazil, who is working with BRF on its supply chain journey. “This journey highlights the strong partnership between SAP and BRF.”

Using SAP Integrated Business Planning for Supply Chain, BRF can now analyze vast data sets, improve forecast accuracy, monitor order trends, and enable proactive decision-making.

Ensuring that forecasts and delivery deadlines are accurate requires detailed and flexible planning, enabling a quick response to changes, increasing operational efficiency and accuracy. Additionally, consolidating real-time information, aligning financial and operational planning, and improving interdepartmental collaboration are fundamental steps for BRF’s operation.

Use of artificial intelligence

BRF is a recognized early adopter of SAP Business AI and SAP’s AI copilot Joule. By integrating AI-driven insights, the food giant can accurately forecast demand, optimize inventory levels, and ensure timely delivery of products. This advanced technology helps BRF anticipate market trends, adjust production schedules, and reduce waste — ultimately leading to improved efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Within SAP IBP, BRF is utilizing demand planning and sensing, statistical modeling, forecast accuracy and embedded analytics, time-series analysis, and exception management. Examples where AI is improving the business include:

• AI algorithms combine traditional time-series forecasting, regression and predictive modeling, and machine learning to produce more precise daily forecasts.
• Used for master data analytics, AI intelligence improves data quality, enhances the planning processes, and supports better decision-making.

More to come

BRF is among the first customers to successfully incorporate SAP IBP with Joule to leverage the SAP Help Portal and a chatbot to assist BRF employees.

Currently, BRF is deploying a “brownfield” SAP S/4HANA Cloud implementation upgrade of the existing SAP ECC system based on its successful established SAP environment. The company is in the process of incorporating SAP S/4HANA Cloud features and capabilities, while retaining much of the existing infrastructure and core data services. In addition to SAP S/4HANA and the cloud-based SAP Ariba solution for procurement, BRF is also running SAP SuccessFactors software for human capital management (HCM).

“BRF is an early adopter for many of SAP’s AI services and our strategic partner in the region,” said Caio Granzotto, account director for BRF at SAP Brazil. “As a next step, they plan to use SAP IBP’s AI assistant to improve supply chain processes and simplify the work of their planners. The company is also considering order-based planning using additional AI algorithms.”

This month, we marked a defining milestone not just for SAP in India, but for the company globally. With the inauguration of SAP Labs India Innovation Park, we have added a new chapter to our 27-year journey in India — a journey shaped by innovation, guided by purpose, and powered by the incredible potential of India’s talent.

Strategically located near the Bengaluru International Airport, this is now one of SAP’s largest campuses worldwide, designed to house more than 15,000 professionals. But this is more than just a campus; it’s a statement of intent — a €194 million investment into the future of innovation.

As SAP’s largest R&D hub outside Germany, India plays a pivotal role in how SAP innovates, builds, and scales enterprise technology for our global customers. From pioneering AI solutions and next-gen applications to delivering mission-critical services at scale, teams in India sit at the very heart of SAP’s transformation agenda.

This new campus — our second in Bengaluru — is a space designed to match that ambition.

At the inauguration ceremony, held August 5, I was joined by SAP Executive Board Member Thomas Saueressig; SAP Supervisory Board Member Gerhard Oswald; Clas Neumann, head of the SAP Labs Network; Karnataka Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah; Government of India IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw; Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge; and German Ambassador to India Dr. Philipp Ackermann, along with other key stakeholders from the region. 

Where innovation meets purpose

Each square foot of the innovation park has been crafted with intent. At the core of the design is a belief that innovation thrives in environments that foster trust, collaboration, and well-being. From our fully autonomous S.Market, an AI-powered micro-market showcasing SAP retail solutions in real time, to India’s second SAP Experience Center location, where customers can engage with live enterprise scenarios, this campus is a living laboratory of SAP technology in action.

“This campus is a strategic asset in SAP’s global portfolio, enabling us to lead with innovation and purpose,” Saueressig, said. “It is a global innovation hub that will help our customers move from insight to action with enterprise-grade AI, data, and application created right here in India.”  

Equally, this campus reflects SAP’s deep commitment to sustainability and inclusion. A 2.5-acre eco-pond for rainwater harvesting, solar infrastructure, and smart waste management all help reduce our environmental footprint. Inclusive design features such as tactile pathways, braille signage, auditory cues, gender-neutral restrooms, and wellness-focused spaces — from sensory rooms to nap pods — ensure individuals are empowered to thrive.

Accelerating talent and research partnerships

As we celebrated the launch of this new campus, we also reaffirmed our commitment to shaping the future workforce and research ecosystem.

We announced the AI Career Accelerator program in partnership with EduBridge, aimed at training more than 400 students from underserved communities for AI roles. We expanded our academic collaborations with institutions like Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, IIT Madras, and the Technical University of Munich to focus on applied research across quantum computing, health tech, and physical AI.

These partnerships are not just about knowledge transfer; they are about co-creating the future of enterprise technology by fusing academic rigor with real-world impact.

India’s role in SAP’s global innovation engine

India’s technology story is unlike any other — it is not only about scale; it’s about transformation. From government digital initiatives to startup ecosystems and from deep-tech research to the democratization of digital skills, India continues to redefine what is possible.

At SAP, we have had the privilege of witnessing — and contributing to — this journey over nearly three decades. Today, more than 17,000 SAP employees in India drive innovation across product engineering, customer services, and cloud delivery. Together, they form a backbone of our global strategy.

The SAP Labs India Innovation Park stands as a symbol of this shared journey, a space where we will imagine what’s next, build with purpose, and innovate for impact. It is a physical manifestation of our belief in India’s role as a global innovation epicenter.

As we look ahead, our focus remains clear: to deliver breakthrough technologies that help the world run better and improve people’s lives. And we are proud to do it — with India at the heart of it all.

Sindhu Gangadharan is managing director of SAP Labs India and head of Customer Innovation Services at SAP.

Images courtesy of SAP Labs India.

To date, the SAP Business AI catalog on the SAP Discovery Center site (AI catalog) offers descriptions for more than 240 AI use cases, including Joule capabilities and Joule Agents, categorized by business area.

Further, the AI catalog offers detailed business benefits and estimated business value for customers, as well as helpful resources like step-by-step product documentation and demos.

“Since its launch 10 months ago, the AI catalog has been visited heavily by customers and partners,” explained Holger Neuert, chief product manager for the AI catalog. “Users spend a significant amount of time browsing the documented AI use cases, and return to the AI catalog on a regular basis researching AI features, Joule Agents, and [related] assets.”

Showing customers the business value of AI

The AI catalog offers a great source of information as it combines solution details and potential business benefits.

SAP Customer Success manager Nick Pearce uses the AI catalog to access important documentation, value information, and pricing — in combination with the AI estimator — for customers.

“By providing fast access to potential business value statements, such as 70 percent faster job application processing with AI applicant screening, I can have value-based discussions with my SAP SuccessFactors customers about prioritizing where to start their AI journey,” Pearce shared.

“The AI catalog and estimator on SAP Discovery Center is a true game changer and the go-to resource for discovering SAP’s latest AI innovations across every industry and business function,” said Richard Grandpierre, head of SAP Business AI Product Management. “This powerful platform highlights business value and delivers transformative results at scale.”

Michael Glueck, global head of Value Advisory at SAP, explained that the value estimates used in the AI catalog are based on SAP’s industry expertise and are backed by benchmarking data and third-party research as well as early customer feedback on each AI use case.

“By looking at benefits in terms of both efficiency, direct impact, and effectiveness, indirect and causal-related impact, we provide a holistic view of the value a specific use case within SAP Business AI can deliver to our customers,” Glueck said.

Innovation is critical — but without the right foundation, it can quickly lead to complexity and cost. SAP’s clean core strategy helps customers build and extend their SAP S/4HANA Cloud systems in a way that is stable, agile, and innovation-ready.

The goal is simple: keep the core clean, standard, and upgrade-stable while still enabling business-specific differentiation where it counts.

Why clean core matters

Over time, many ERP landscapes become weighed down by custom code, undocumented changes, and hard-to-maintain integrations. This limits flexibility, slows down upgrades, and increases the total cost of ownership.

The clean core approach addresses these challenges by promoting the use of standard processes and enabling strategic extensions for differentiation. It focuses on building resilient business processes supported by seamless integration, efficient operations, and strong data quality.

By embracing a clean core approach, customers can:

• Accelerate innovation cycles
• Minimize technical debt
• Simplify system maintenance and upgrades

Rather than limiting agility, clean core ensures that extensions are done the right way — with long-term stability, scalability, and innovation-readiness in mind.

Clean extensions: build what you need, without risk

Business differentiation often depends on tailored processes, custom applications, or personalized user experiences. SAP supports this through clean extensibility, a framework that enables innovation without compromising system integrity.

Extend SAP S/4HANA Cloud using:

• Side-by-side extensibility on SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP): creating scalable, decoupled applications that run independently from the core.
• On-stack extensibility with ABAP Cloud: tightly integrated, upgrade-stable extensions within the ERP system

Both models ensure flexibility while keeping systems clean, secure, and easier to maintain. Choose between side-by-side and on-stack extensibility based on your use case, applying an SAP BTP-first strategy.

Clean core level concept: clarity and control

To clarify extensibility decisions and simplify qualification criteria, SAP has evolved its original three-tier model into the clean core level concept, an enhanced maturity model that brings greater structure, flexibility, and transparency. It also provides a more pragmatic approach to managing custom code in SAP S/4HANA Cloud.

The new maturity model categorizes extensions into four distinct levels (A, B, C, and D) based on their architectural integrity, upgrade safety, and alignment with clean core principles. The evolved framework empowers organizations to make smarter decisions, streamline development, and continuously optimize their extensions — with more clarity, confidence, and long-term control.

Each extension is evaluated using a standardized methodology that looks at how the extension is built, how well it is decoupled from the core, and how easily it can be upgraded or maintained.

The model defines four levels of compliance:

• Level A – Extend with SAP Build: Fully compliant extensions using only publicly released and stable SAP interfaces, backed by formal stability contracts.
  • Side-by-side: Built on SAP BTP, using pro-code and low-code tools for app development and process automation.
  • On-stack: Built within SAP S/4HANA Cloud using the ABAP Cloud development model with publicly released APIs.
• Level B – Leverage classic APIs: Compliant extensions, in addition to meeting level A criteria, using also SAP’s classic APIs and technologies.  These APIs offer well-defined, documented, and generally upgrade-stable interfaces for extension use.
• Level C – Accesses internal objects: Partially compliant extensions allowing access to SAP internal objects, offering flexibility for legacy scenarios. To minimize upgrade risks, SAP plans to provide a changelog for SAP objects to help identify changes early and plan upgrades proactively.
• Level D – Not recommended extensions: Extensions not considered “clean” that use explicitly non-recommended objects or techniques; for example, explicitly non-recommended objects, modifications, write access to SAP tables, or implicit enhancements. These represent the highest risk and create significant technical debt.

By assigning each extension to a compliance level, the clean core level concept gives IT leaders, enterprise architects, and business stakeholders a shared vocabulary and visual road map for assessing their current ERP landscape. It supports transparent decision-making regarding where to invest in cleanup, modernization, or new development.

How SAP supports your journey to clean extensions

SAP offers a full set of technologies to support clean, upgrade-safe extensions and provide clean core insights:

• SAP BTP serves as the foundation for side-by-side extensions, enabling development, automation, and integration.
• SAP Build is a unified application development and process automation solution for developing apps, AI agents, and automations using pro-code, low-code, and generative AI — enabling personalization and efficiency at scale.
• ABAP Cloud, part of SAP Build, supports both on-stack and side-by-side development, enabling the enforcement of clean principles through syntax checks and lifecycle support.
• Joule, SAP’s AI copilot, boosts developer productivity by generating clean, context-aware code and streamlining workflow automation across ABAP, Java, JavaScript, and low-code tools.
• The RISE with SAP Methodology dashboard provides real-time insights into clean core adoption.
• For detailed code-level governance, the ABAP test cockpit is the key tool.

Smarter way to extend

Supported by the level concept and a powerful set of extensibility tools, SAP’s clean core strategy empowers organizations to innovate faster, increase agility, and lower total cost of ownership.

Extend what sets you apart: Decoupled extensions simplify upgrades and accelerate innovation. That’s one advantage of clean core.

Learn more at sap.com/clean-core.

Priyadarsana Panda is senior vice president and general manager of Cloud ERP Solution Area at SAP.
Steffen Pietsch is vice president and head of SAP BTP Product Management at SAP.
Rudolf Hois is senior vice president and chief product owner of Cloud ERP Private at SAP.