Polarise becomes an official sponsor of Fortuna Düsseldorf

The AI start-up Polarise is relocating its headquarters from Paderborn to the state capital Düsseldorf and is joining forces with the football club under a shared guiding principle: “Access for all”. The sponsorship runs initially until 2029.

Düsseldorf, 27 July 2026. Fortuna Düsseldorf has gained a new partner from its own city in the company of Polarise. Following its move from Paderborn to the state capital Düsseldorf, the provider of sovereign AI infrastructure is now acting as a sponsor of the Bundesliga football club – initially with a commitment running until 2029. Both sides share the conviction that access to something of social significance should not depend on financial means or concentrations of power.

A Shared Guiding Principle: Access for All

Fortuna Düsseldorf has already put this philosophy into practice with its ‘Fortuna for All’ (Fortuna für Alle) programme. Behind it lies the simple, yet not self-evident, idea that ‘football’ – as a unifying force – should be accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of income, background or social status. For Polarise, this concept of inclusion serves as the starting point for applying the principle to artificial intelligence. For in this field, a similar question arises, one with enormous economic and strategic implications: who has access to advanced AI – and who controls it?

A European Alternative

As large AI models and infrastructures are increasingly dominated by a handful of global providers, Polarise is providing a European alternative. The company offers organisations the entire AI stack from a single source: from infrastructure based on its own data centres in Germany and Europe – such as the AI Factory in Munich – through training, right through to inference operations using open-source models from its own cloud. The declared goal is to deliver AI in a way that is controllable, economically viable and compliant with regulations. For Polarise, ‘for all’ therefore means: simple and cost-effective access to responsible AI, without becoming dependent on a handful of global providers.

Regional Focus and AI Sovereignty

The debate surrounding autonomous AI has gained significant momentum, particularly in Europe. Companies are faced with the question of how they can utilise AI without compromising strategic control or sensitive data. At the same time, there is a growing awareness that future technologies must also be firmly rooted in the region – with physical locations, clear lines of responsibility and a sustainable infrastructure that can be relied upon. Polarise and Fortuna Düsseldorf are also deeply connected through this regional focus.

Putting the Partnership into Practice

In practice, the partnership will initially be visible through Polarise’s presence at the stadium and through joint initiatives. This is not just about brand visibility, but about raising awareness of the issue of AI sovereignty amongst a wider audience. Joint events and content are intended to demonstrate what it means to use AI responsibly – for businesses, for the region and for a digital future that is not determined solely by a handful of global players.

Leadership Perspectives

Michel Boutouil, CEO of Polarise, describes the collaboration as follows:

I was born and raised in the area around Düsseldorf and am therefore proud and grateful to be able to help shape such a partnership. Applied to us, Fortuna’s guiding principle of ‘access for all’ means: to design AI in such a way that it can be used confidently, securely and with complete peace of mind – for all organizations that want true European control and technological independence. Fortuna is currently providing a wonderful example of what ‘access for all’ can mean in terms of football. With Polarise, we want to show what ‘access for all’ means in the world of AI: confident, powerful and designed for a self-determined future.

Alexander Jobst, Chairman of the Board at Fortuna Düsseldorf, explains:

We are delighted to welcome Polarise as a new partner of Fortuna. Polarise stands for innovation, entrepreneurial courage and a clear vision for the future. We are particularly excited about the company’s clear commitment to Düsseldorf and its desire to provide Fortuna with long-term support on its path back to success. Together, we aim to provide fresh momentum and raise awareness for topics of the future.

About Polarise

Polarise is one of the few German end-to-end providers of an AI cloud and develops and operates its sustainable, highly efficient AI factories (known as ‘AI Factories’) at prime locations in Germany and Europe. Through its cloud platform, Polarise offers access to sovereign AI computing power that can be easily integrated and utilized by businesses and organizations.

For further information, visit https://polarise.eu

Press Contact

Marc Gazivoda Chief Marketing Officer press@polarise.eu