Philipp Flotho Successfully Defends Doctoral Dissertation

The Systems Neuroscience & Neurotechnology Unit (SNNU) is proud to announce that Philipp Flotho has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation. In his thesis, titled “Visual Computing for Motion Processing and Multimodal Imaging: Addressing Cross-Domain Challenges in Neuroscience Applications,” Philipp explored groundbreaking approaches at the intersection of computer vision, systems neuroscience, and bioinformatics. His research focused on advanced motion analysis in biomedical imaging, tackling complex challenges ranging from microscopic neuronal recordings to the dynamics of human facial expressions.

The defense took place on May 19th at Saarland University, where Philipp presented his findings and engaged in a stimulating scientific discussion with the examination committee, surrounded by colleagues, collaborators, friends, and family. Throughout his doctoral studies, Philipp has been an indispensable member of our unit. Beyond his scientific excellence, he contributed significantly through interdisciplinary collaboration and the mentoring of junior researchers. We sincerely congratulate Dr. Flotho on this outstanding academic milestone and wish him continued success in his future scientific and professional endeavors.

CDNS @ Europe Day 2026

The Center for Digital Neurotechnologies Saar (CDNS) participated in Europe Day 2026, showcasing innovative research and technology projects alongside numerous regional and international initiatives.

Under the motto “How Europe supports Saarland”, the event highlighted how European funding drives regional development, innovation, and sustainable transformation. CDNS contributed by presenting cutting-edge approaches in digital neurotechnologies and interdisciplinary research.

Innovative Projects on Display

One of the featured initiatives was Multi Immerse, presented in collaboration with project partners DFKI and ZeMA. Visitors gained valuable insights into current developments in both medical and technical research fields.

Experience & Interaction

The exhibition included interactive demonstrations, allowing attendees to directly experience and explore emerging technologies. This hands-on approach turned abstract research into tangible innovation for everyone involved.

Engaging with the Public

A highlight of the event was the direct interaction with visitors. Numerous engaging conversations, insightful questions, and the strong interest in our work made the day a truly rewarding experience for the entire team.

CDNS presentation at Europe Day 2026

Thank You

We would like to thank all visitors as well as the organizers for making Europe Day 2026 such a successful and inspiring event.

SNNU & htwsaar @ g.tec BCI Hackathon 2026

End of April, htw saar participated in this year’s g.tec BR41N.IO Hackathon 2026 as a hosting institution.

Seventeen students from the Master’s program Neural Engineering took part in the event, where they were challenged to conceptualize and develop a brain-computer interface within just 24 hours. A demanding task, but also an inspiring and rewarding experience. The level of creativity, innovation and technical execution demonstrated across projects was remarkable.

A glimpse into 24 hours of innovation, teamwork, and creativity.

We would especially like to congratulate the team that achieved 2nd place in the Gaming Category in this international competition, which featured more than 150 teams worldwide.


2nd Place Winning Team

Team awarded 2nd place in the Gaming Category

Seminar Announcement:

“Neurotechnology as a Driver of Human‑Centered Digital Transformation”

Prof. Dr. Dr. Daniel J. Strauss will give a seminar on current developments in non‑invasive neurotechnology and its role in human–machine interaction. The session will include insights from recent research and applications across several domains.

The full abstract, speaker information, and access details can be found in the flyer below.

When: 18 February 2026, 11:00 am

Where:

  • In person:
    Diabetes Research Institute
    1450 NW 10th Ave, Room 1000
    Miami, FL 33136
  • Zoom:
    Meeting ID: 949 2440 9500
    https://miami.zoom.us/j/94924409500

👉 Click here to to download the flyer!

SNNU @ the “AI in Medicine” Symposium

On 16 and 17 January 2026, members of the Systems Neuroscience & Neurotechnology Unit participated in the “AI in Medicine” Symposium at Saarland University Hospital in Homburg, which brought together experts from research, clinical practice, and industry to discuss current and future applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Prof. Daniel Strauss presented recent developments in AI-driven neuroscience and neurotechnology, highlighting the clinical relevance and translational potential of intelligent systems in diagnostics and patient Monitoring.

On the second day, Elena Schneider led an interactive workshop focused on the Health.AI project COGNIPANION. The workshop provided insights into how health data can be captured unobtrusively, combined with vehicle-specific information, and leveraged to create novel medical value. In addition, the transfer potential of these technologies to clinical applications currently under investigation was discussed.

The unit also showcased the VI-Screen PRO project demonstrator, an AI-based, contactless screening system for early detection of virus-related respiratory infections. The demonstrator illustrated how advanced sensing and machine learning approaches can support preventive healthcare and future clinical applications.

Copyright Images: Health.AI

CDNS @ Bürgerfest in Saarbrücken

During the Bürgerfest celebrating German Unity Day, the Center for Digital Neurotechnologies Saar joined the University of Saarland’s pavilion to showcase how research can connect science and emotion. Together with partners from the pediatric medicine in Homburg, we presented projects that combine empathy and technology:

  • A incubator system monitoring preterm infants without contact, designed to reduce stress and pain in preterm infants
  • A digital “e-nose” for fast, non-invasive disease detection
  • And a tactile companion bear that enables comforting touch from a distance, as part of the “Multi-Immerse” project
The event offered inspiring conversations and meaningful encounters, highlighting how neurotechnology can make a real difference in everyday care.

Visit from Prof. Erik Bojorquez-Vázquez

This week, we had the great pleasure of welcoming Prof. Erik Bojorquez-Vázquez from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City to the Systems Neuroscience & Neurotechnology Unit.

Prof. Bojorquez-Vázquez presenting his research

His visit sparked inspiring discussions about potential collaborations in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and neural signal analysis. Prof. Bojorquez-Vázquez also delivered an engaging talk on his recent research, focusing on the bidirectional intrinsic modulation of EEG band power time series and its promising applications for BCI systems.

Beyond the scientific exchange, we also enjoyed showing him around our laboratories, where he had the chance to experience some of our experimental setups firsthand (see picture below). Moments like these are the foundation of fruitful collaborations, and we are excited about the possibilities ahead.

Prof. Bojorquez-Vázquez visiting the lab facilities

Thank you, Erik, for your visit – we look forward to future joint projects and continuing this exciting exchange!

Prof. Strauss Participates in German Ethics Council Hearing on New Neurotechnologies

Yesterday, Prof. Dr. Strauss, head of the Systems Neuroscience & Neurotechnology Unit, participated in a hearing by the German Ethics Council, discussing the ethical implications of new neurotechnologies. His presentation, titled “A Window into the Brain – How Can Neurotechnology Measure and Influence Attention and Emotions?”, explored the cutting-edge capabilities of neurotechnologies in measuring and potentially influencing brain functions like attention and emotions.

🎥 Watch the full talk here

Engaging with the Future of Healthcare: Health.AI Network Event in Saarland

Last week, members of the Systems Neuroscience & Neurotechnology Unit had the pleasure of attending the event “Patientenorientierte Versorgungssteuerung – digital vor ambulant vor stationär”, hosted by the Health.AI Network in Saarland.

The event featured a series of insightful talks addressing critical topics such as access to healthcare, the current state of healthcare infrastructure, and the gender health gap. These discussions offered valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in shaping a more equitable and efficient healthcare system.

We were proud to contribute to the program by presenting two of our collaborative projects with Health.AI:

  • Cognipanion – exploring the car as a potential space for continuous health monitoring.
  • intelEDAr – developing an intelligent electrodermal activity sensor for automated pain recognition.

The event provided a fantastic platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and discovering other innovative projects in the digital health space. A heartfelt thank you to Health.AI for the invitation and the opportunity to be part of such a forward-thinking initiative!

Event Announcement: Automotive Health – Cars as Future Health Platforms?

On 30 September 2025, the Saarland University Medical Center will host a special event on the emerging field of Automotive Health. This concept brings together mobility, digitalization and healthcare, aiming to transform vehicles into active partners for prevention, early diagnosis and emergency care.

The discussion will feature Dr. Manfred Knye, physician, author and the originator of the term Automotive Health. Together with experts from medicine, engineering and industry, the event will explore how cars equipped with smart sensors and driver monitoring systems could move beyond safety functions to become tools for long-term wellbeing.

Topics include the role of university medicine in ensuring clinical validity, opportunities for new business models such as Health as a Service, and the impact of upcoming EU regulations that will make driver monitoring mandatory from 2026.

The event is organized in cooperation with the Center for Digital Neurotechnologies Saar (CDNS) and saaris, highlighting the region’s pioneering role in linking mobility and healthcare.

When: 30 September 2025, 14:00–19:00
Where: Saarland University Medical Center

👉 Click here to register via the official event page