Kai Petersen

Kai Petersen serves as Professor of Software Engineering at Flensburg University of Applied Sciences within the Faculty of Business, Department of Business Management / Business Informatics. He teaches in the Business Informatics program, provides academic advising, and maintains office C 206 with contact number 0461/805-1470. Petersen leads multiple research initiatives including FLAIR (Flensburg Artificial Intelligence Research), the Software Factory, and TechStartUp@HS-Flensburg (TeStUp).

His research program centers on empirical approaches to software engineering with specialization in Agile Methods, Software Metrics, Software Security, and increasingly the integration of Artificial Intelligence. Petersen has pioneered work in Value-based Software Engineering and systematic mapping studies, bridging theoretical frameworks with practical industry applications through extensive corporate collaborations.

Analysis of Petersen's recent publications reveals an evolving research trajectory from traditional software engineering methodologies toward AI-integrated approaches. His 2025 work on LLM-based systematic mapping studies represents cutting-edge exploration of AI in academic research processes, while his 2023 publications maintain strong connections to practical applications in public sector BI systems, regression testing decision support, and value-focused development frameworks.

Petersen's scientific contributions have received significant international recognition:

• Listed among top 2% most influential scientists worldwide (1960-2019 study)
• Ranked among top 10 software engineering scientists globally and #1 in Germany (2010-2017)
• Recognized as top 100 Swedish scientist in technology/mathematics by Fokus magazine
• Three highly impactful Journal of Systems and Software publications
• Most cited work has accumulated 375 citations with significant industry adoption

Petersen attributes his research success to strategic collaborations with industry partners that enable real-world testing of methodologies. His TechStartUp@HS-Flensburg initiative demonstrates commitment to translating academic research into practical applications, while his leadership in FLAIR positions him at the forefront of AI integration in software engineering. Student projects under his guidance frequently contribute directly to his research outputs, creating a productive academic-industry-student ecosystem.

As contact person for FLAIR and leader of the Software Factory, Petersen actively shapes the university's research direction in AI applications, data science, and modern software development practices, ensuring his work maintains strong relevance to both academic discourse and industry needs.