iL‒CURRENT
January 29, 2024
Living Lab: Platform
for Experts and Citizens
The meeting of the Do Tank Network for Wearable Technologies at iL's premises garnered significant interest. The City of Heidelberg's Office for Economic Development and Science, as the initiator, inspired over 20 external participants to visit Bahnstadt and engage in an afternoon filled with numerous ideas and impulses. The network's objective is twofold: firstly, to serve as a regional platform for the development of appealing projects within the broad field of wearable technologies, and secondly, to promote the establishment of a pop-up Living Lab/Real-world Laboratory in Heidelberg's city center during the summer, bringing together renowned partners.
“This is a high-quality initiative offering diverse and promising networking opportunities. Therefore, iL gladly assumed the role of host, especially as it aligns with the reorientation of our platform concept and technology transfer efforts,” states Dr. Tanja Benedict, iL Authorized Signatory and a participant in the network from its inception.
Four Summer Events
At the second meeting of the Do Tank Network, comprising universities, their clinics, schools, research institutions, companies, and start-ups, Dr. Claudia Sandoval-López and Daniel Bumiller from the Office for Economic Development and Science presented the upcoming "Summer of Wearable Technologies" project, which encompasses a total of four events in the scientifically and medically oriented university city of Heidelberg: These include the Wearable Technologies Conference, focusing on robotics and exoskeletons, on June 11; the IEEE BIOROB 2024 Conference for Biorobotics and Biomechatronics (September 1-4); SHIFT Medical (September 18-20) for Extended Reality (XR) in health and medicine; and a multi-month pop-up Living Lab, located in the city center and specifically targeting broad segments of the population. An exciting comprehensive package.
Stronger Together: iL Platform Manager Maren Heusser (from left to right), Daniel Bumiller, iL Authorized Signatory Dr. Tanja Benedict, and Dr. Claudia Sandoval-López, like her colleague Bumiller from the City of Heidelberg's Office for Economic Development and Science. Image: InnovationLab
A Real-world Laboratory as the Centerpiece
In short: The Living Lab/Real-world Laboratory will serve as the centerpiece and unifying element of the Summer of Wearable Technologies from June to September. It will be a platform for experts, researchers, companies, and citizens. This Real-world Laboratory will feature interactive demonstrations, Design Thinking workshops, and hackathons on wearable technologies and other related fields. Additionally, the Living Lab will offer wearables for purchase and include a café, inviting visitors to linger.
It is particularly important to the organizers, who are currently in the final stages of negotiations regarding the venue, to engage various target groups as a networking platform, complementing the conference program, and to captivate them with tangible applications from the diverse fields of health, medicine, and life sciences.
Aligns with the MITTENDRINSTADT initiative.
“This is the opportune moment for a real-world laboratory,” states Claudia Sandoval-López, convinced by the concept. “We aim to make technology transfer topics in the field of wearables accessible and tangible. This creates spaces for citizens and consumers.” The ideation phase is expected to be completed by March. “While it is a test of a pop-up concept, ultimately, our clear objective is to establish a permanent Living Lab,” Daniel Bumiller asserts. He refers to “urban effects” that align perfectly with the “MITTENDRINSTADT” project, which in turn is funded by a 5 million Euro grant program. Of this, 3.75 million Euros originate from the federal funding program “Sustainable Inner Cities and Centers” by the Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building. Fully immersed rather than just participating – right in the heart of MITTENDRINSTADT, Heidelberg is enhancing its quality of stay, attractiveness, and experiential value, which is not solely sustained by its historic Old Town.
In his presentation, Dr. Johannes Zimmermann (iL) highlighted the three-year project “PreMoo – Small Patients, Great Need,” supported by the BMBF. Image: InnovationLab
Key Insights from Johannes Zimmermann and Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa
The program in the iL conference room was concluded with two lightning talks by Dr. Johannes Zimmermann (InnovationLab) and Professor Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Zimmermann, a former doctoral student of Hernandez-Sosa, focused his keynote presentation on the topic “PreMoo – Small Patients, Great Need.” This three-year project, supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) since June 2021, addresses the early detection of electrolyte imbalances in premature infants. The young patients are monitored using a non-invasive methodology and continuous surveillance. The objective is to develop an integrated, wearable sensor solution for detecting electrolyte levels in the sweat of premature infants. The role of iL GmbH in this endeavor is the process development for the commercial production of printed electrolyte sensors.
Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa, who has been researching printed electronics at iL for KIT for over ten years, presented on “Inkjet-Printed Thin-Film Sensors for Wearables.” Through experiments with inkjet printers, solar, and weather simulators, reference values for light or humidity sensors can be established. The sensors utilized are flexible and deformable, essentially a mere whisper, described as “a small island with a rigid substrate in a stretchable environment.” This piqued the participants’ curiosity, and discussions about potential collaborations quickly ensued. “I am 100 percent ready for it,” Hernandez-Sosa stated with a grin. Both presentations were followed by a concluding tour of the adjacent iL cleanroom in Hall L.
Lightning Talk by KIT Professor Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa on “Inkjet-Printed Thin-Film Sensors for Wearables.” Image: InnovationLab
Next Meeting at UMM Mannheim
The next, and thus third, meeting of the Do Tank Network for Wearable Technologies in February has already been scheduled. Following iL GmbH, the INSPIRE Living Lab at University Medicine Mannheim (UMM) will assume the role of host.
There is much to be done – particularly regarding the vibrant “Summer of Wearable Technologies.” Individuals interested in initiating activities, becoming part of the Do Tank Network, or exhibiting their products in the Living Lab are encouraged to contact the Office for Economic Development and Science of the City of Heidelberg directly (E-mail: claudia.sandoval-lopez@heidelberg.de).
Author Joachim Klaehn
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