Bernstein Focus "Neurotechnology"

1. Funding purpose

The aim of the funding initiative “Bernstein Focus: Neurotechnology” is to bridge the gap between neuroscientific research and neurotechnological applications and to shorten the time needed to translate research results into marketable products. The research activities will focus on improving our understanding of the underlying neuronal mechanisms and dynamism as well as on the development of model approaches and on quantitative analysis within the meaning of computational neuroscience.  Essential elements of the “Bernstein Focus: Neurotechnology” concept are the participation of industrial partners, the establishment of mechanisms for technology transfer and the implementation of a consistent teaching programme to improve the interdisciplinary training of young researchers. Project-related collaborations with groups outside the Centres will serve the transfer of knowledge beyond the network.

2. Status of the funding measure

The “Bernstein Focus: Neurotechnology” was established in 2008. A Bernstein Focus was set up in each of the following regions:
- Berlin
- Frankfurt
- Freiburg / Tübingen
- Göttingen

The BMBF intends to provide 34 million Euro over a period of five years (2009-1013). The “Bernstein Focus: Neurotechnology” is integrated into the National Network for Computational Neuroscience.

3. Funded projects

a) Short description of current projects

Berlin - Noninvasive Neurotechnology for Man-Machine Interaction

Koordinator:
Prof. Klaus-Robert Müller
Technische Universität Berlin
Fakultät IV Elektronik und Informatik
Institut für Softwaretechnik und Theoretische Informatik
Franklinstr. 28/29, Sekr. FR 6-9
10587 Berlin
Tel.: +49 30 314-76820

Subprojects A1, A3, A4, B4, W3, Zentrum

Technische Universität Berlin Fakultät IV Elektronik und Informatik Institut für Softwaretechnik und Theoretische Informatik Franklinstr. 28/29, Sekr. FR 6-9 10587 Berlin

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Prof. Klaus-Robert Müller +49 30 314-76820 01GQ0850 4.158.136 EUR 01.09.2008 - 31.08.2013

Subprojects A2, A4, B1, B3

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Charitéplatz 1 10117 Berlin

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Prof. Dr. John-Dylan Haynes +49 30 2093 6762 01GQ0851 1.197.994 EUR 01.09.2008 - 31.08.2013

Subproject B2

Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Fachbereich Biosignale Abbestr. 2-12 10587 Berlin

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Dr. Martin Burghoff +49 30 3481-7238 01GQ0852 381.365 EUR 01.09.2008 - 31.08.2013

The Bernstein Focus: Neurotechnology Berlin (BFNT-B) posits that neuroscientific results can be exploited for developing robust ‘real-world’ applications that have a major potential for (also non-medical) industry. Similar to the new paradigm of medical research ‘from bench to bedside and back’, the center brings together a multidisciplinary faculty with the aim of directly applying insights from basic neuroscience to relevant applications (‘from bench to desktop and back’). The major aim of the BFNT-B is to foster novel noninvasive ‘brain reading’ techniques to enhance man-machine interactions. Their contributions will be evaluated, e.g. in the future-oriented field of usability studies for telecommunications systems and services, or driver-assisted measures for vehicle safety. The organizational aim of the BFNT-B is to establish a sustainable infrastructure for the development of non-invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and relevant measurement and data analysis techniques. It builds on the existing infrastructure such as the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, excellence clusters, graduate schools and CRCs, eventually extending them towards applications. To ensure implementation of the technologies developed, the BFNT-B is setting up close collaboration with industry. Furthermore, an Industry Liaison Manager is appointed, with the task to coordinate science and industry and to assure technology transfer from research to application. The scientific part, as well as the study program in neurotechnology that is to be established, will be coordinated by the new chair ‘Neurotechnology’ (W3 professorship), who will strengthen the cooperation between applied projects and technology projects. The chair will thereby support the implementation of up-to-date neurotechnology, as it is developed in this project, with regards to industry-oriented applicability. Moreover, innovative methodologies of data analysis and novel applications in neurotechnology, especially BCI-techniques, will be applied to neuroscientific basic research.

Frankfurt Vision Initiative

Koordinatoren:
Prof. Dr. Christoph von der Malsburg
Prof. Dr. Jochen Triesch
Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies
Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität
Ruth-Moufang-Straße 1
60438 Frankfurt am Main
Tel.: +49 69 798-47461
Tel.: +49 69 798-47531

Subprojects Core, D1, P1, P2, P4, P5, P6, P8, P10, P11

Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) Ruth-Moufang-Str. 1 60438 Frankfurt

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Prof. Dr. Christoph von der Malsburg +49 69 798 47621 01GQ0840 5.125.287 EUR 01.09.2008 - 31.08.2013

Subprojects CORE, D2, D3, P7, P9, P10

Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main FB 12 Informatik und Mathematik Robert-Mayer-Str. 10 60325 Frankfurt am Main

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Prof. Dr. Rudolf Mester +49 69 798-22387 01GQ0841 4.339.441 EUR 01.09.2008 - 30.06.2015

The aim of the Bernstein Focus Neurotechnology Frankfurt is the development of a new generation of artificial vision systems. These will achieve an unprecedented degree of robustness and flexibility by combining a variety of visual functions in a unified and brain-inspired manner. Inspired by the development of vision in the human infant, they will learn this capacity by largely autonomous interaction with their environment. The Bernstein Focus comprises a number of individual projects, the topics of which range from basic research in neurobiology and developmental psychology up to the construction of three technical demonstration systems. These demonstrators consist of visually guided robots and camera networks and represent a first step towards exploiting research results in technical applications such as robotics, driver assistance systems, and security technology in buildings.  The project is divided into the following parts: Core Project: Integrated System, three Demonstrators (D1-D3), twelve individual projects (P1-P12), and thus into scientifically or technically oriented subprojects. The general strategy of the Focus is to structure the scientific part by technical problems and insights, and to instruct and motivate the architecture in the technical part by scientific findings.

Freiburg/Tübingen - Hybrid Brain

Koordinator:
PD Dr. Ulrich Egert
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Fakultät für Angewandte Wissenschaften
Institut für Mikrosystemtechnik (IMTEK)
Georges-Köhler-Allee 102
79110 Freiburg
Tel.: +49 761 203-9527

Subprojects A1-A5, B1-B5, C4-C6

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg Fakultät für Angewandte Wissenschaften Institut für Mikrosystemtechnik (IMTEK) Georges-Köhler-Allee 102 79110 Freiburg

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

PD Dr. Ulrich Egert +49 761 203-9527 01GQ0830 5.999.397 EUR 01.09.2008 - 31.08.2013

Subprojects A2-A3, C1-C3

Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen Medizinische Fakultät Institut für Medizinische Psychologie und Verhaltensneurobiologie Gartenstr. 29 72074 Tübingen

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Prof. Dr. Niels Birbaumer +49 7071 29-74219 01GQ0831 3.085.908 EUR 01.09.2008 - 31.08.2013

Subproject B6

Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH Aspenhaustr. 21 72770 Reutlingen

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Dipl.-Phys. Karl-Heinz Boven +49 7121 90925-20 01GQ0832 779.266 EUR 01.09.2008 - 31.08.2013

Subprojects B3, C5

inomed Medizintechnik GmbH Tullastr. 5 a 79331 Teningen

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Michael Altaner +49 7641 9414-54 01GQ0833 282.200 EUR 01.09.2008 - 31.08.2013

Subproject B1

NMI Naturwissenschaftliches und Medizinisches Institut an der Universität Tübingen Markwiesenstr. 55 72770 Reutlingen

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Dr. Alfred Stett +49 7121 51530-70 01GQ0834 586.663 EUR 01.09.2008 - 31.08.2013

In spite of considerable progress towards prosthetic devices controlled by neuronal signals, brain-machine interfaces and other neurotechnological devices, however, user-friendly, neurotechnical devices for everyday use remain a vision of the future, with numerous fundamental biological, technical, computational, clinical, and ethical problems still to be solved. The aim of the BCNT-FT consortium is the development of bidirectional hybrid neurotechnical devices for human usage. This will be implemented in three research clusters, each consisting of projects organized around a common goal: to understand the principles, to advance technology, and to explore and extend clinical applications. Each project addresses issues central to neurotechnology, from basic questions on decoding neuronal signals, interfacing biological neuronal networks to technical devices, actuators and real-time feedback systems, via the stable recording and interpretation of neuronal signals, to the clinical testing and application of new technologies. Research in the BCNT-FT will be supported by a matching, interdisciplinary training program for neurotechnology. In collaboration with industrial, applied and clinical partners neuroprosthetical devices for biomedical application will be developed.

Göttingen - Neuro-Bionic Closed-Loop Systems

Koordinator:
Prof. Florentin Wörgötter
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Institut für Informatik
Lotzestr. 16 - 18
37083 Göttingen
Tel.: +49 551 5176-528

Teilprojekte: 1a, 1d, 2b, 2c, 3a, W3-Systemische Neurobiologie, W3-Neuroinformatik, zM

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen Institut für Informatik Lotzestr. 16 - 18 37083 Göttingen

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Prof. Florentin Wörgötter +49 551 5176-528 01GQ0810 5.434.051 EUR 01.10.2008 - 31.10.2015

Subprojects 1b, 1c, 1d, 2c, 3b, zM

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG), vertreten durch das Max-Planck-Institut für Dynamik und Selbstorganisation Bunsenstr. 10 37073 Göttingen

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Prof. Dr. Theo Geisel +49 551 5176-400 01GQ0811 1.193.561 EUR 01.10.2008 - 30.09.2013

Subproject 2d

Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH am Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie Am Fassberg 11 37077 Göttingen

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Prof. Dr. Jens Frahm +49 551 201-1720 01GQ0812 271.764 EUR 01.10.2008 - 30.09.2013

Subproject 1b

Max-Planck-Institut für experimentelle Medizin Abt. Neurogenetik Hermann-Rein-Str. 3 37075 Göttingen

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Prof. Dr. Walter Stühmer +49 551 3899-646 01GQ0813 120.000 EUR 01.10.2008 - 30.09.2013

Subproject 3d

Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung Abt. Kognitive Neurowissenschaften Kellnerweg 4 37077 Göttingen

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Dr. Alexander Gail +49 551 3851-358 01GQ0814 393.297 EUR 01.10.2008 - 30.09.2013

Subproject 1b

Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysik Max-von-Laue-Str. 3 60438 Frankfurt am Main

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Prof. Dr. Ernst Bamberg +49 69 6303-2000 01GQ0815 125.528 EUR 01.10.2008 - 30.09.2013

Subproject 1c

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover Abt. für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1 30625 Hannover

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Prof. Dr. Thomas Lenarz +49 511 532-6565 01GQ0816 356.835 EUR 01.10.2008 - 30.09.2013

Subprojects 3a, 3b

Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH Max-Naeder-Str. 15 37115 Duderstadt

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Olaf Kroll-Orywahl +49 5527 848-1621 01GQ0817 639.600 EUR 01.10.2008 - 30.09.2013

Subproject 1a

Med-El Elektromedizinische Geräte Deutschland GmbH Moosstr. 7 82319 Starnberg

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Lutz Ressel +49 8151 7703-0 01GQ0818 319.960 EUR 01.10.2008 - 30.09.2013

Subproject 3d

Thomas RECORDING GmbH Winchester Str. 8 35394 Gießen

Principal investigator: Tel.: Project number: Volume: Funding period:

Uwe Thomas +49 641 94414-0 01GQ0820 810.286 EUR 01.10.2008 - 30.09.2013

Goal of the Göttingen BFNT center for Neuro-Bionic Closed-Loop Systems is to support and integrate research and development in three core areas: 1) Neural Stimulation, 2) Neural Recording, and 3) Neural Control. It is planned to develop systems in which these three components work together in a closed-loop control system. This is the definition of a Neuro-Bionic Closed-Loop System. Core applications of such systems are found in the areas of medical diagnosis, therapy as well as rehabilitation of sensory, central and peripheral deficits but also in the fields of novel measurement- and data-analysis techniques for basic research. Specifically the BFNT will work on technological development for optical as well as electrical stimulation, imaging and prosthetics. Central support for the BFNT work will arise from the two new W3 (chair) positions to be appointed in the fields of “Neural Imaging” as well as “Functional Data Analysis and Neural Stimulation for Adaptive, Biomechatronic Control". A focused connection to industrially relevant technology development exists through industry partners who are members of the BFNT. Further support for the project goals comes from the central BFNT service structure, which all members can make use of, for example in partaking and/or organizing workshops and through the BFNT guest program and the BFNT coordination measures.