Focus groups:
Helping to shape
digitalisation
Through the focus groups as central components of the association’s work, every member can help shape the content of the digitalHUB’s work. The Executive Committee uses the recommendations for action developed here to shape the content of the association’s offerings. The elected spokesperson represents the focus group on the Executive Committee. The following focus groups are already active:
Cybersecurity
The group wants to bring transparency to the topic of cybersecurity and create a corresponding awareness in companies. In doing so, corresponding event formats for the Aachen Area are to be realised. At the same time, the group offers a platform for informal exchange.
Initiator/Speaker: Dr. Walter Plesnik, Ingenieurbüro Dr. Plesnik GmbH
Representative: Frank Wiesenfeller, Geschäftsführer, netsharqs GmbH
Digital strategy
The members design strategies and tools for working in the digitalHUB. It aims to create optimal conditions for the development of successful digital business models.
Initiator/Speaker: Stefan Fritz, CANCOM synaix GmbH
Representative: Carlo Matic, interactive pioneers GmbH
Energy
The energy focus group consists of members of the Energy Informatics Foundation and members of the digitalHUB Aachen e.V. and deals with the 5Ds of the energy transition:
- Decarbonisation: How do we transform the economic and energy system in a climate-neutral and sustainable way?
- Decentralisation: How do we manage the increasing number of players and assets in the energy market?
- Digitalisation: How do we use digitalisation in the energy sector (or energy informatics) as a support tool and introduce new intelligent concepts from communication to control?
- Democratisation: How do we strengthen the participation of society in the energy transition process?
- Demographics: How can we inspire young people and specialists in the energy sector to realise these complex tasks?
Initiator/Speaker: Sebastian Reinkensmeier, Energy Informatics Foundation
Representative: Thilo Wildeshaus, Kisters AG
Ethics
The focus group Ethics is a network of people with expertise in ethical risks. They are on hand with matching persons on a topic-related basis to close the open flanks, for example in the following aspects:
Linking meaning narratives, value dimensions and product development (ethics by design), identifying and advising on ethical risks in a business idea, advising on value conflicts and decisions, accompanying requirements for personnel responsibility and in recruiting, etc.
Initiator/Speaker: Dr. Angela Reinders, BISCHÖFLICHES GENERALVIKARIAT AACHEN
Representative: Artur Janiszek, Eldertech GmbH
Health
The team is developing a regional master plan for digitalisation in health. This shows how the implementation of telemedical applications in the region can be promoted and the added value of digitalisation for medical care can be made visible, as well as how the region can be positioned as a region of innovation in the digital health industry.
Initiator/Speaker: Ulla Thönnissen, Region Aachen – Zweckverband
Representative: Prof. Dr. Dr. Michael Czaplik, Docs in Clouds TeleCare GmbH
Artificial intelligence
The AI focus group acts as a lively forum in which enthusiasts and experts actively discuss artificial intelligence. Not only is this a place to share experiences, but also to engage in intensive brainstorming, particularly with regard to the diverse application scenarios of AI, for example in automated production or customer service. The group serves as a central meeting point for all those who share a deep interest in the possibilities and developments of artificial intelligence.
Speaker: Mohamed El Jemai, cyber.ai
Representative: Florian Clemens, FIR at RWTH Aachen University
New Education
The New Education focus group is a network of interdisciplinary stakeholders and enthusiasts who want to take joint responsibility for the educational success of future generations. The aim is to drive forward projects that enable digitalised, user-centric, learning & innovation-promoting and sustainable learning and increase equal opportunities in education.
Speaker: Dr Thomas Köhler, Drees & Sommer SE
Representative: Ricardo Strauff, Simplex Education GmbH
OpenData
The focus group OpenDat deals with the potential of Open Data through a regional Open Data strategy and concrete applications. Networking of the region’s municipalities, public and private companies, universities, and cooperation with start-ups is planned.
Initiator/Speaker: Dieter Rehfeld, regioIT GmbH
Representative: Norbert Dödtmann, City of Aachen
Planning and construction – digital processes
The focus group Planning and construction is a group of the AACHEN BUILDING EXPERTS e.V. (ABE) under the umbrella of digitalHUB Aachen e.V.. The members deal with digitalisation in the field of construction, architecture and building technology. The focus is on the modernisation of construction processes, optimisation of building materials or the planning and development of digital buildings. Above all, however, it is also about networking start-ups with innovative ideas with established companies in the construction and real estate industry and promoting their cooperation.
Initiator/Speaker: Sylvia C. Schuster, Projektitekt
Representative: Goar T. Werner, AACHEN BUILDING EXPERTS e.V.
Region Aachen
It is about bringing the topic of digitalisation to the economic region of Aachen and addressing companies in rural areas in particular. Furthermore, the participants develop digital offers for regional business development. The work forms a bridge to the offers of the digitalHUB Aachen.
Initiator/Speaker: Sven Pennings, AGITmbH
Representative: Michael Franssen, Euskirchen District
Smart City
The members want to make an active contribution to a smarter city and are working on topics such as “contribution of cities to the smart city” or “real laboratory”. It is also about the implementation of business models, their prerequisites and possible applications.
Initiator/Speaker: Dieter Begaß, City of Aachen
Representative: Dr. Frank Hees, RWTH Aachen
Start-up
The participants are concerned with better networking the start-up scene and establishing a mentoring network. In this way, they continuously advance the start-up ecosystem in the Aachen Area.
Initiator/Speaker: Sven Pietsch, Innoloft GmbH
Representative: Gernot Sümmermann
Sustainability & Social Entrepreneurship
The group develops projects and collaborations within the Aachen Area and the digitalHUB that solve social and ecological problems while strengthening competitiveness. Members who deal with concrete questions on the strategic use of economic, ecological and social aspects are in the right place here.
Sprecher: Stephan Multhaupt, deep white analytics
Vertreter: Sabine Rieth, FH Aachen
