Aleksandra Gnach is beaming. More than 200 participants followed Digital Futures Lab’s online launch on July 1. „We did not expect that many people. This goes to show just how present digitalization is in the minds of ZHAW members“, says the Lab’s Community Manager happily. Participants learned about the idea of the community as well as membership benefits. Moreover, they enjoyed an input presentation about science communication by Beat Glogger, the founder of higgs.ch.

Digital Futures Lab is an offer of ZHAW digital, ZHAW’s digitalization initiative. The idea behind it: to bring together members of the ZHAW who are already achieving great things in the field of digitalization and to create framework conditions that turn innovation, brought about by the exchange in the community, into reality. Community members enjoy various benefits such as financial support for their projects, saying goodbye to administrative tasks regarding project databases or support for public relations. Every year, particularly outstanding projects are awarded with the Digital Shaper Award to spur innovation. In the future, members will also have access to a matchmaking platform which connects the right experts at the ZHAW thanks to artificial intelligence.

Why not digitize the maternity ward?

Currently, several members of the ZHAW are already doing research in projects that are funded with money from ZHAW digital. Alexander Post is attempting to develop a “label” for the finance market so pension funds, banks and asset managers invest more sustainably. Michael Gemperle is studying midwives’ and gynecologists’ use of digital technologies. Josef Spillern is researching “Smart Cities and Regions Services Enablement” and is aiming to generate knowledge relevant to society regarding basic technologies.

“The range of projects submitted is extremely wide”, states Daniel Baumann happily. ZHAW digital’s Managing Director is convinced of the community’s success. All members of ZHAW can become part of this community, either by applying themselves or by nominating a colleague. All further information about the Digital Futures Lab can be found here.