ISyCARE General Assembly 2026

More than 80 representatives from academia, healthcare, and industry gathered at Connext Vivendi in Paderborn for the second General Assembly of the ISyCARE innovation community. The meeting focused on the latest developments within the community as well as the second funding round, during which eight project teams presented their ideas.

For the inIT, the second funding round was highly successful: two projects advanced to the next stage of the funding process. The institute was represented by DiRePa (Digitally Supported Rehabilitation Transitions Along the Patient Journey) and RehAI-SCAN (Rehabilitation-Related Detection of Everyday Barriers in the Home Environment through Computer-Based Analysis). DiRePa develops digital information and coordination processes for geriatric rehabilitation along the patient journey. RehAI-SCAN aims to identify barriers in the home environment at an early stage using computer-based analysis and to support rehabilitation counselling. While DiRePa had already been selected following the expert review, RehAI-SCAN impressed the jury during the project pitch of the second funding round and subsequently qualified through the community vote.

Effective Data Platforms for Healthcare

At the General Assembly, the DiRePa project was presented by Nils Brinkmeyer from the Digital Data Platform OWL. The project focuses on geriatric patients at the interfaces between acute care, geriatric rehabilitation, and outpatient follow-up care. It investigates information needs, user acceptance, and barriers to the adoption of digital rehabilitation services in Germany.

In addition to inIT, project partners include the Digital Data Platform OWL as well as the associated partners St. Vincenz Kliniken Paderborn and Praxisnetz Paderborn Berufsverband e. V. Julian Knaup from inIT explains:

"With DiRePa, we are taking the next step towards effective data platforms in healthcare that are tailored to the needs of all stakeholders – from medical professionals to patient groups with their specific requirements along the patient journey."

AI-Based Support for Home Environment Assessments

Prof. Dr. Markus Lange-Hegermann, Dr. Laura Moradbakhti, and Marianne Petersmeier from the Public Health Office of the District of Lippe jointly presented the RehAI-SCAN project during the project pitch of the second funding round.

RehAI-SCAN stands for Rehabilitation-Related Detection of Everyday Barriers in the Home Environment through Computer-Based Analysis. The project is jointly carried out by inIT and the Public Health Office of the District of Lippe. Its objective is to develop a demonstrator capable of identifying potential barriers in the home environment at an early stage and preparing this information for rehabilitation counselling. The focus is on living areas that are particularly relevant for mobility and independent living. Using photos or videos, critical features such as tripping hazards, missing grab rails, or unsuitable furniture placement are to be identified.

"With RehAI-SCAN, we want to investigate how AI-based methods can provide practical support for rehabilitation counselling. What matters most is that the technology is not developed in isolation from practice, but together with the professionals who encounter these needs in their daily work," says Prof. Dr. Markus Lange-Hegermann.

The identified features will be compared with rehabilitation-related risk profiles. Based on this analysis, the system will generate easy-to-understand recommendations and review notes for professionals. Final assessments will remain the responsibility of the counselling services; the demonstrator is intended to prepare and structure their work rather than replace it.

"Even small barriers in the home environment can have a significant impact on independence, safety, and participation. Our goal is to identify such situations at an early stage and provide targeted support for counselling processes," explains Dr. Laura Moradbakhti.

As a practice-based postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Laura Moradbakhti is establishing the research group 'AI and Digital Assistance Systems in Healthcare' in cooperation with the District of Lippe. RehAI-SCAN builds on this close connection to practice and combines it with data science expertise: Prof. Dr. Markus Lange-Hegermann contributes his expertise from the research area Mathematics and Data Science to the project.

ISyCARE at inIT

The Campus OWL project ISyCARE is based at inIT within the Discrete Systems research group headed by Prof. Dr. Volker Lohweg. Within the innovation community, the institute is responsible for the Care Data Spaces work package. Its activities focus on data-driven technologies for modern healthcare scenarios, including medical and nursing data infrastructures, data-driven analytics, digital assistance systems, and app-based solutions.

Further information about the ISyCARE innovation community is available at: isy-care.de