On Friday, 13 March 2026, the Centre for Assistive Technologies (ZAT) Rhine-Ruhr and innovation2business.nrw invite you to a free specialist event on the technologies of tomorrow. From 10:00 to 17:30, visitors can expect a varied programme of lectures, workshops, an exhibition and individual advice in the J-Building (Obergath 79) on the Krefeld South Campus of Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR).
The programme will focus on current developments in applied research - in particular on human-technology interaction, cognitive assistive technologies in everyday life and innovative solutions for care, health and social participation. The event is aimed at professionals, entrepreneurs, institutions from the Health Care sector and interested members of the public who would like to find out about new approaches and talk to experts. The event is free of charge. Registration is requested by 9 March 2026: https: //mf.ide3.de/view.php?id=187261
The event will be chaired by Professor Dr Bernhard Breil, Dean of the Faculty of Health Care at HSNR. The specialist presentations include "More technology, fewer nursing staff - solution or capitulation?" at 10:40 a.m. by Enrico Löhrke, Managing Director of inHaus GmbH from Duisburg. At 14:15, Professor Dr Christian Ressel from Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences will speak on the topic of "From idea to acceptance - developing AI-based assistive systems for people with cognitive impairments".
The lecture programme will be complemented by interactive workshops such as "Smart night watch - more security, fewer personnel", "Artificial intelligence in care" and "Who bears the responsibility? Ethics in the development of digital assistance technology". An accompanying exhibition will present innovative projects and technologies from applied research and provide an opportunity for direct dialogue with developers. Among others, Professor Andrea Wanninger and Daria Giesbert will be presenting their hair care technology HairProtectColour. The hair dye is based on multifunctional lignin particles and enables temporary colour modification with a simultaneous care effect. There will also be the opportunity to colour strands of hair demonstratively on site.
Hubert Otten (Competence Centre eHealth), who will be presenting the EPWUF-KI project with his team. This is an innovative, AI-supported system solution to support the treatment of diabetic foot syndrome and to improve diagnostics, therapy support and care processes.
About ZAT: The aim of the Centre for Assistive Technologies Rhine-Ruhr (ZAT) project is to build a sustainable ecosystem for assistive technologies. The focus is on optimising research, teaching education and transfer as well as developing AI-supported, pro-adaptive solutions that automatically adapt assistance to individual needs and changing life situations. People with neurodegenerative diseases in particular benefit from these approaches. The project, which is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia with 2.7 million euros, is being implemented jointly by HSNR, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences and the University of Duisburg-Essen and will run until the end of October 2026.
