TEAM-X is a network consisting of consortium and cooperation partners from various fields of expertise. It develops technical solutions such as the cloud edge approach of the TEAM-X data ecosystem and investigates their ethical, legal, and social implications. TEAM-X has been working for a period of three years since January 1, 2022, to strengthen the ability and self-determination of the population in dealing with their health and care data, as well as the digital competence and innovation of the health and care industry.
Consortium partners:
Bayern Innovativ acts specifically at the interfaces between a wide range of sectors and technologies. In addition to its own clusters of energy technology, automotive, new materials and mechatronics & automation, its activities focus on the topics of health/medical technology, textiles, cultural and creative industries, and digitalisation. “CrossClustering” with other Bavarian clusters and networking with other key players in Bavaria’s innovation landscape is also very important. The “ThinkNet Bayern” operated by Bayern Innovativ links experts and their knowledge with modern innovation management methods. The goal is an ecosystem with dynamic networks for an accelerated innovation process. The company, which is funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, sees itself as a knowledge manager, impulse generator, and accelerator for innovations.
In the DACH region, “C&S Computer und Software GmbH” is active in the areas of assistance for the elderly, disabled, youth welfare and open social work. Since 1983, C&S has carried out more than 6,000 installations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This makes the company one of the most market-relevant companies in the German-speaking region. As a research-based SME, C&S is primarily concerned with social innovations. Current projects include questions about blockchain technology, the connection to the telematics infrastructure as well as the Internet of Things in the field of social science and its improved and more efficient use for client care.
The two contact persons of the TEAM-X consortium partner are the ecsec managing directors Tina Hühnlein and Dr. Detlef Hühnlein. Tina Hühnlein also acts as contact person for the press.
ecsec GmbH, based in Michelau, Germany, is a specialized provider of solutions in the field of information and communication technology security, security management, smart card technology, identity management, internet security and electronic signatures. With years of international experience, ecsec supports renowned customers. The company has already received several awards for its work.
The Chair of Manufacturing Automation (FAPS, Prof. Dr. Jörg Franke) coordinates the project FAU-wide and participates especially in the technical work packages with a focus on the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Gaia-X ecosystem. The Chair of Machine Learning and Data Analytics (MAD, Prof. Dr. Björn Eskofier) works in the topics of artificial intelligence (AI) and user acceptance. The Chair of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, Economic and Medical Criminal Law (STR3, Prof. Dr. Christian Jäger) paves the way so that the results produced in the project adequately address all relevant legal issues.
Prof. Dr. Björn Eskofier represents the consortium as spokesperson. Eskofier has relevant publications in the fields of medical technology, digital health and AI-based assistance systems. He is also head of the Central Institute for Medical Technology in Erlangen and spokesperson for the Department of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering at Friedrich Alexander University. Since March 2017, his Heisenberg Professorship has been funded by the DFG (German Research Foundation). Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg is the third largest university in Bavaria with around 40,000 students.
In addition, it contributes its expertise in the conception and implementation of analyses for technical quality management.
Contact Christian Weigand, Head of MHL at Fraunhofer Institute IIS, coordinates the work of the consortium partner and is a member of the TEAM-X steering committee.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS conducts cutting-edge international research in the field of microelectronic and information technology system solutions and services. As part of Fraunhofer IIS, the Mobile Health Lab focuses on the development of telemedical solutions for digital health applications as well as standardized communication of medical data within federated data ecosystems. Data protection, patient empowerment, and interoperability with various digital health services are central to this work.
Under the credo “Identity Valley. It’s all about trust.”, the organization is working to shape a value-based, dignified, and responsible interaction between people and machines. The Digital Responsibility Goals are a guide for responsibly shaping the digital future. Jutta Juliane Meier is founder and executive director of the organization and contact person of the consortium partner.
In 2020, the non-profit organization Identity Valley was founded in Munich. It unites entrepreneurs, politicians, scientists, and citizens in Europe. Identity Valley’s goal is a value-based, dignified, and responsible interaction of all actors in the age of digitalization. The focus is on the protection of identity. The initiative has been based in Unkel am Rhein since January 2022.
NeuroSys is paying particular attention to the interfaces to digital care models. They will be implemented at the end of the project for the GaiaOne area. Subsequently, Neurosys will participate in the interconnection of GaiaOne and GaiaCloud. This will enable all processes on the patient’s end device, including the storage and synchronization of all end devices with each other. Involved are Martin Mayr, managing director of NeuroSys, as well as employees Stefan Ringbauer, Lukas Poustka, both computer scientists, and project manager Benjamin Hock.
NeuroSys GmbH has been developing innovative doctor-patient systems since 2015, and a digital health application (DiGA) since 2020. With its applications, the company realizes numerous successful research studies with large pharmaceutical companies as well as government-funded studies and projects.
The main contact persons are Stella Carolina Müller and Julia Haske. They are responsible for coordination and project management. Dr. Sebastian Eckl is involved in the implementation from the point of view as a physician and managing director of a DiGA manufacturer (digital health application). Andreas Humer-Hager is responsible for press relations. Developers and UI/UX designers as well as care managers for patient support are expected to join as the project progresses.
The start-up ProCarement GmbH, founded in October 2019, establishes an integrated, digitally supported care system based on digital technologies. The focus is on integrating the individual needs of patients into care. This improves the quality of care – while at the same time optimizing costs in the healthcare system.
Algorithms can be checked themselves or externally before they are used. Data is only shared if there is explicit authorization. Otherwise, they remain on the user’s own devices. The software allows users to use any number of their own devices in parallel. This makes users independent of operating system and hardware manufacturers. Multiple copies can be operated simultaneously and the degree of failover can be freely defined.
Contact persons are Milena Limpert, Program Office, who is responsible for the content work of Refinio for TEAM-X, and Armin Bleise, CFO Refinio, who takes care of the formal aspects.
The focus is on suitable processes and software modules for creating secure infrastructures that comply with data protection law when handling highly sensitive health data. In addition to technical components, legal and ethical aspects as well as other relevant sub-areas are to be included. The processes and concepts are to be seamlessly integrated into existing concepts, e.g. those of the Medical Informatics Initiative, and ensure Gaia-X conformity. The contact person is Dr. Daniel Stromer, collaboration manager at Siemens Healthineers responsible for digital and interdisciplinary topics.
Siemens Healthineers enables healthcare providers to optimize patient service. This is realized by expanding precision medicine, transforming service delivery, improving patient satisfaction and digitizing healthcare. The solutions deployed aim to improve clinical, operational and financial outcomes. More than 600,000 globally distributed systems form the basis against which Siemens Healthineers develops new solutions. Data points, combined with other available sources, are processed into valuable information to support and optimize diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
Through the TEAM-X incubator program, a novel platform for health-related value-added service concepts integrated into the University Hospital Erlangen is established. This bridges the translation gap from innovative, digital value-added service concepts arising from care to a minimal viable prototype that can be evaluated in application.
An interdisciplinary project team is involved in the collaboration with TEAM-X. The experts come from the Women’s Clinic, Palliative Medicine, the Medical Center for Information and Communication Technology, and the Institute of Radiology. PD Dr. med. Sebastian Bickelhaupt, Senior Physician and Clinician Scientist in Radiology, is the coordinator of the TEAM-X consortium partner.
Erlangen University Hospital comprises 50 clinics, independent departments and institutes in all areas of modern medicine. Patient care, research and teaching are interlinked at the most modern level, and the latest treatment methods are available to patients.
9,438 employees in interdisciplinary teams and comprehensive quality assurance systems ensure optimal patient care.
Sebastian Bickelhaupt, MD, Senior Physician and Clinician Scientist in the Department of Radiology at Erlangen University Hospital, is the coordinator of the TEAM-X consortium partner.
Subcontractors and associated partners:
For the best possible collaborations, the Digital Health Hub brings together competencies from science and business. Technologies and networks with internationally leading research institutions and medical technology companies are thus raised to the next level and supported locally. The sponsors of the Digital Health Hub – the ZOLLHOF in Nuremberg, the medical technology cluster Medical Valley and the Health Hackers Erlangen – provide a diverse range of services: In addition to organizing various digitization measures, the ecosystem is primarily dedicated to promoting young talent. By stimulating the growth market of health, the hub aims to improve the quality of healthcare with the competencies of its network.
In particular, the regional proximity of clinical care of the highest level at the University Hospital Erlangen, recognized research and science at the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and the Medical Valley EMN and Siemens Healthineers as a leading company in the medical technology industry in the greater Nuremberg/Erlangen area offer us unique conditions for cooperation here in order to help shape the digital transformation.
With the founding of the Digital Health Innovation Platform (d.hip) as a cooperative association of industry, university medicine and research, the above-mentioned institutions have therefore jointly set themselves the goal of actively advancing the digitalization of medicine and healthcare. d.hip is intended to serve as a platform for the transdisciplinary development of new products and solutions. At the same time, it should enable the participants to create suitable framework conditions for practical research and development and more speed in the innovation cycle.
Planned and continuous implementation on all relevant communication channels creates a sustainable relationship for the dialog groups – and a basis for a healthy ecosystem for people and data in the care and healthcare industry. The contact person is Managing Director Dr. Maria Schoiswohl. She has been running the company in the second generation since 2020.
Kommhaus operates as a consulting agency for organizational development, communication and value science. The portfolio of the Bad Aussee-based company includes identiting and brand management, strategy consulting, employer branding, brand and corporate communications, corporate publishing, content management and social media. Special attention in communications work is paid to the combination of legislative and executive competence in brands and organizations.
In addition, Medical Valley provides its expertise in the development of the business model. Anna Werner, member of the management board of Medical Valley EMN e. V., is responsible for the project.
Medical Valley EMN e. V. is a leading international cluster in the field of healthcare management. Highly specialized research institutions, internationally leading as well as emerging companies are active here. They cooperate closely with world-renowned health research institutions to find solutions to the challenges of health care today and tomorrow. Medical Valley was named a national Leading-Edge Cluster by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in 2010. In 2017, the Federal Ministry of Economics followed up with the designation as one of twelve national “Digital Hubs”. Medical Valley EMN e. V. has been acting as a cluster management organization since 2007. It currently crosslinks around 240 members from business, science, healthcare, networks and politics.
The purpose of the foundation is interdisciplinary basic research on all aspects of human thinking. Of particular interest is the question of how the human brain deals with the rapidly growing complexity of our age and to support it in this process with the development of innovative methods and tools. To promote cognitive excellence, the foundation developed, among other things, the Magister Cogitationis Artium (MCA). The application of the results of the Parmenides Foundation’s basic research will be implemented in the four areas of medicine and healthcare, education and science, strategy and finance, and democracy and governance, which are linked by a high need for innovation and the potential for large humanitarian returns.
For the TEAM-X project, the Parmenides Foundation will conduct a comprehensive study to analyze the philosophical and ethical aspects of the project and validate the implementation of normative criteria in its execution. The use of digital tools in medical practice should strengthen authorship in the sense of controlling one’s own actions and ensuring individual and cooperative coherence. This applies to both medical staff and patients.
The scientific leadership in the TEAM-X project is assumed by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Julian Nida-Rümelin, former Minister of State, Chairman of the Parmenides Foundation. Carsten Freitäger is the contact person for TEAM-X responsible for finances and administration.
