When people develop advanced dementia, they often lose the ability to communicate effectively through speech. In such cases, it is a major challenge for caregivers and medical staff to recognise pain in a timely and reliable manner. Since those affected can often only express themselves through nonspecific behavioural changes, such as restlessness, defensiveness, or withdrawal, pain in older adults frequently goes unrecognised or is misinterpreted. Digital technologies, such as the PainChek® pain assessment app, can offer a solution here. Researchers of HSBI, in collaboration with various healthcare facilities, aim to determine how well such tools can be integrated into the already demanding daily routine of caregiving as part of the “DIGITPAIN” research project.

EU provides a two-million euro funding for the international university project THRIVE to speed up on healthcare innovations. In this two-year project, 14 partners from nine European countries aim to translate healthcare research findings more quickly into workable and socially effective innovations.

At the invitation of HSBI’s Bielefeld School of Business, international and national experts from politics, business and science gathered at the fifth BiCAB Conference to discuss the importance of shaping the exchange between science, business, politics and society. They also talked about how this exchange can be further strengthened.

About 90 guests from 36 countries are staying at HSBI until 22 May as part of the International Week, enriching the faculties and campus locations with international and intercultural courses, presentations, workshops and activities. With just under 100 activities, this year’s programme has set a new record.