The inaugural meeting of the newly established research institute "Health, Ageing and Technology" (GAT) at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences took place at the beginning of November this year.
The aim of the interdisciplinary institute is to develop scientific findings and transfer them into practice at the interface of individual and social ageing processes to care structures in healthcare and nursing as well as technical and social innovations to support older people, their relatives and nursing and medical staff.

The Institute builds on successful cross-faculty research collaborations, such as the VATI project - "Trust in assistance technologies for the inclusion of older people", funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), in the course of which the older population in the district of Görlitz is surveyed on previous experiences with technical aids to support independent living, barriers to the use of such technologies and wishes for future development, and an online technology navigator is developed for comprehensive and neutral advice on the availability of technical assistance systems in the region.

The Institute was established by the Rectorate of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in consultation with the Senate and the University Council on 20 June 2016 as a central scientific institution. Around 25 professors and employees of the university took part in the constituent meeting in Görlitz at the beginning of November, including the university management represented by the Rector, the Vice-Rector for Research and the Chancellor. After being welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Andreas Hoff, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Prof. Dr. Jörg Lässig, and the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Management and Cultural Studies, Prof. Dr. Yve Stöbel-Richter, Prof. Dr. Hoff presented the aims of the new institute.

The institute's main areas of activity include research in the subject areas mentioned at the beginning, analysis of the current situation and the generation of fields of action, as well as cooperation with relevant practice partners. The Institute's interdisciplinary approach also includes the transfer of knowledge to and from partners in business, politics, administration and civil society in Germany and abroad. Following the adoption of the Institute's regulations, the election of the Institute Director took place. Prof. Dr. Hoff was unanimously elected Director of the Institute; Prof. Dr. Stöbel-Richter and Prof. Dr. Lässig were also unanimously elected Deputy Director.

Ten university lecturers and five employees from four faculties (Social Sciences, Management and Cultural Studies, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Economics) decided to become members of GAT during the constituent meeting. The Institute "Health, Ageing and Technology" welcomes cooperation with colleagues from all faculties and institutes of the university as well as with interested practice partners from Upper Lusatia and beyond and is always open to discussions with interested persons. For example, close cooperation in research between the two institutes was agreed with the Director of the Institute of Process Engineering, Process Automation and Metrology (IPM), Prof. Dr. Alexander Kratzsch.

The first research proposals have now been submitted, including a multidisciplinary project proposal to research the potential of "Artificial intelligence as a key technology in care" and a proposal on the use of assistive technologies to improve the compatibility of care and work. Further research proposals are currently in preparation.