Research
Northern Germany Plans Competence Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
The Universities of Lübeck, Kiel, Hamburg, and Bremen, with support from the federal states of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Bremen, are submitting an application for funding to the tune of ten million euros.
A research consortium led by the UniTransferKlinik Lübeck is applying for funding to build an AI competence centre for medicine. The application is part of the “Artificial Intelligence as a Driver for Economically-Relevant Ecosystems” competition of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). The project and the application for funding were presented in Kiel on the 15 August 2019 by the Universities of Lübeck, Kiel, Hamburg, and Bremen as well as the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) with support from the state governments of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Bremen. The consortium, which consists of four universities, two research institutions, twelve companies, and two hospitals from Northern Germany, is applying for roughly 10 million euros in research funds.
The “AI-Space for Intelligent Health Systems” (KI-SIGS) concept aims to address structural changes in the economy, labour market, and society caused by digitalisation. The increasing digitalisation in health science, medicine, and medical technology is leading to a rapid increase in large, heterogenic, complex, and partially unstructured data in all life science areas. This data offers great potential for intelligent health systems and adaptive, self-learning AI technologies.
“With KI-SIGS we want to align the outstanding Northern German ecosystem for health technology with AI. The platform will offer a place for exchange and services in order to integrate AI in medicine effectively into medical care. To this end, we have a comprehensive research programme with nine initial projects for innovation and application that cover a vast amount of the health system,” explains Prof. Stefan Fischer, the University of Lübeck’s Vice President for Transfer and Digitisation.
For the University of Kiel, Prof. Dirk Nowotka, head of the Reliable Systems working group, points out: “The innovation projects promise technological advancements in different areas of health. I am convinced that KI-SIGS will also have a positive effect on the development of artificial intelligence in healthcare during the project runtime. With our expertise as a university, we want to support this process not only technologically, but also sociologically and ethically.”
The University of Hamburg is responsible for the research and development of medical information systems in the project. “For example, we plan on developing and testing new kinds of intelligent robots and virtual agents for rehabilitation purposes together with therapists and patients. Furthermore, we will work on topics such as data protection, data security, and personal privacy, which are of utmost importance especially for sensitive medical data,” explains Professor Frank Steinicke, responsible for the research on human-computer-interaction at the Department of Informatics at the University of Hamburg.
Christian Pfromm, Chief Digital Officer of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, stresses the relevance of AI for society: Artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in the digitalisation of different aspects of life. In our work, we always concentrate on applications that are socially responsible and beneficial for citizens.”
Dr. Eva Gümbel, State Councillor for Science, Research and Equality of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, is focused on finding answers on how artificial intelligence can improve health technology: “Together with our partner states in Northern Germany, we are taking the next step – with the goal to create a competence centre that functions as a forward-thinking link between science and the economy in the area of artificial intelligence. I would like to say thank you to all participating institutions and representatives from the partner states for their dedication!”
The state of Schleswig-Holstein also emphasises the international aspect of the project: “Our aspiration is to be first class on a global level in the area of the health economy. “The conditions offered by the partnering institutions from science, industry, and hospitals – supported by the governments of three states – are outstanding and promise a push in innovation for the entire German economy,” says Dirk Schroedter, State Secretary and Head of the State Chancellery of the state government of Schleswig-Holstein. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Dr Oliver Grundei, adds: “This project sends out an important signal with regard to science and research in Schleswig-Holstein. It offers new perspectives for both interdisciplinary cooperation and possible collaboration with economic stakeholders and across state borders.”
Finally, Kristina Vogt, Senator for Economic Affairs, Labour and Europe of the Free and Hanseatic City of Bremen, adds: “Bremen is glad to be involved in such an influential alliance and to have the chance to take part in the growth of the health industry, and thus to improve research into artificial intelligence in Northern Germany.”
The research proposal for the creation of a North German competence centre in medicine (KI-SIGS) will be officially handed in on 16 August 2019. Funding amounts to around 10 million euros over a period of three years.
The consortium at a glance:
Leading partner: UniTransferKlinik GmbH, Lübeck
Universities: University of Bremen (UB), University of Hamburg (UHH), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel (CAU), University of Lübeck (UzL)
Research institutions: German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, Bremen (DFKI), Fraunhofer MEVIS, Bremen (MEVIS)
Companies: Cellmatiq (Hamburg), Dräger (Lübeck), Gesundheit Nord (Bremen), Hugo Rost (Kiel), Image Information Systems (Rostock), mbits (Heidelberg), Philips (Hamburg), apoQIar (Hamburg), Söring (Hamburg), Advanced Bionics (Hanover), Stryker (Kiel), szenaris (Bremen)
Hospitals: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH)
Quotes from partners and state governments:
Prof. Dr. Stefan Fischer, the University of Lübeck’s Vice President for Transfer and Digitisation: “With KI-SIGS we want to align the outstanding Northern German ecosystem for health technology with AI. The platform will offer a place for exchange and services in order to integrate AI in medicine effectively into medical care. We also have a comprehensive research programme with nine initial projects for innovation and application that cover a vast amount of the health system.”
Prof. Dr. Dirk Nowotka, head of the Reliable Systems working group at the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel: “The KI-SIGS competence network for artificial intelligence in medicine will see the creation of a unique association of universities, hospitals and companies. Nine selected innovation projects promise technological advancements in different areas of health. Furthermore, the KI-SIGS platform will lay the groundwork for further technological innovation in medical companies based in Northern Germany, and in healthcare. I am convinced that KI-SIGS will also have a positive effect on the development of artificial intelligence in healthcare during the project runtime.”
Prof. Dr. Frank Steinicke, responsible for the research on human-computer-interaction at the Department of Informatics at the University of Hamburg: “The University of Hamburg is an essential partner in the Northern German consortium and, in the form of informatics and the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, is represented in several areas of the project. The participating scientists from the University of Hamburg will, in particular, conduct research and development in the area of intelligent assistance systems for healthcare. For example, we plan on developing and testing new kinds of intelligent robots and virtual agents for rehabilitation purposes together with therapists and patients. Furthermore, we will work on topics such as data protection, data security, and personal privacy, which are of utmost importance, especially for sensitive medical data.”
Dirk Schrödter, State Secretary and Head of the State Chancellery of the state government of Schleswig-Holstein: “We want to greatly advance the position of Northern Germany when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence. Our aspiration is to be first class on a global level in the area of the health economy. This can be best achieved in partnership with others, specifically by pooling the individual strengths in our federal state in a competence consortium. The conditions offered by the partnering institutions from science, industry, and hospitals – supported by the governments of three states – are outstanding and promise a push in innovation for the entire German economy. Full speed ahead with KI-SIGS!”
Dr. Oliver Grundei, Schleswig-Holstein State Secretary of Science: “This project sends out an important signal with regard to science and research in Schleswig-Holstein. It offers new perspectives for both interdisciplinary cooperation and possible collaboration with economic stakeholders and across state borders.”
Dr. Eva Gümbel, State Councillor for Science, Research and Equality of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: “We want to find viable answers to the question of how artificial intelligence can improve healthcare technology. Together with our partner states in Northern Germany, we are taking the next step – with the goal to create a competence centre that functions as a forward-thinking link between science and the economy in the area of artificial intelligence. I would like to say thank you to all participating institutions and representatives from the partner states for their dedication!”
Christian Pfromm, Chief Digital Officer of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: Artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in the digitalisation of different aspects of life. In our work, we always concentrate on applications that are socially responsible and beneficial for citizens. With KI-SIGS and in close cooperation with the partners from science and the health economy, we are in a position to develop a competence centre of national importance, which can also serve as a model for other areas of application.”
Kristina Vogt,Senator for Economic Affairs, Labour and Europe of the Free and Hanseatic City of Bremen: “The importance of AI for the entire economy, science, and society will grow exponentially in the next few years. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a key technology. Bremen is glad to be involved in such an influential alliance and to have the chance to take part in the growth of the health industry, and thus to improve research into artificial intelligence in Northern Germany. Only via alliances and networks that cross regional state boundaries can small local companies such as szenaris link up with large companies and be able to tap new markets. For the DFKI it becomes possible to expand and develop its project activity in the health industry. The Fraunhofer MEVIS will work even more closely with universities, hospitals, and companies in Northern Germany.”
Prof. Dr. Claudia Schmidtke, Member of the Bundestag and Federal Government Commissioner for Patients' Affairs: “Medicine is the crowning discipline when it comes to artificial intelligence, as it saves human lives. Nevertheless, it does not yet play the role that it could in our health system. Politics needs to show commitment if we want to continue to be a global elite player in medicine. In this respect, three things are important to me as a scientist and doctor. Firstly: We need targeted funding and excellent infrastructure. Secondly: We need seamless transfer from research into standard care. To this end, we have just achieved a first milestone in the form of a draft proposal for the Digital Healthcare Act. Thirdly: Artificial intelligence requires enormous quantities of data. Artificial intelligence also produces large data quantities. How can we deal with that? Political and economic representatives must develop ethical guidelines. This is particularly important to me as the sole Northern German member of the Enquete Commission. I fully support the idea of a competence centre here in Northern Germany that pools knowledge gained from artificial intelligence.
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