Duisburg, 06.02.2025  -  Effective January 31, 2025, Prof. Karsten Seidl, Head of the Health Business Unit at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (IMS), will assume the chairmanship of the German Society for Biomedical Engineering within VDE (VDE DGBMT). The election took place on January 30, 2025. In this role, Prof. Seidl will actively shape the strategic direction of DGBMT and drive the advancement of biomedical engineering in Germany.

VDE DGBMT is a leading professional society fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among experts from all fields of technology applications in biology and medicine. Its mission is to promote innovation in biomedical engineering and shape the health technologies of the future. With over 2,800 members, the society provides a platform for professional exchange and drives research, development, and application forward.

Key Impulses for Innovation and Digitalization

As the newly appointed Chair, Prof. Karsten Seidl is committed to strengthening Germany’s position as a leader in biomedical engineering innovation. A key initiative in this effort is advocating for a federal task force to develop a cross-ministerial innovation strategy for biomedical technology. This strategy aims to connect the Ministries of Research and Education, Health, and Economic Affairs to ensure a long-term, effective, and sustainable development of healthcare technologies.

Furthermore, Prof. Seidl emphasizes the urgent need to accelerate the digitalization of healthcare. Establishing the right framework conditions is crucial to making relevant health data available at the right place and time. Particularly in combination with medical devices, digitalization offers enormous potential to enhance patient care by making it more efficient and personalized.

"Being elected Chair of the Board is a great honor and responsibility for me. I look forward to advancing the goals of DGBMT together with the board and its members," said Prof. Seidl.

Fraunhofer IMS warmly congratulates Prof. Karsten Seidl on his new role and wishes him every success in meeting the challenges ahead.

Short Biography – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karsten Seidl

Since October 2018, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karsten Seidl has been Head of the Health Business Unit at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (IMS) and Professor of Micro- and Nanosystems for Medical Engineering at the University of Duisburg-Essen. His research focuses on the development of smart sensor systems for medical implants, next-generation in-vitro diagnostics, and non-invasive healthcare applications.

Prof. Seidl is an active member of DGBMT and is dedicated to fostering young talent, notably as the initiator of the “Young Forum BMT.” As Chair of the DGBMT Technical Committee on Micro- and Nanosystems and a long-standing board member, he has been instrumental in shaping the society’s strategy, facilitating exchange between clinical practice, industry, and academia, and driving forward the future of biomedical engineering.

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Fraunhofer IMS

Smart Sensor Systems for a safe, secure, and sustainable future: In numerous state-of-the-art research laboratories, Fraunhofer IMS works with more than 200 talented scientific employees and students on innovative microelectronic solutions. As a trusted research and development partner for industry, the institutes’ goal is to develop customized sensor systems for your specific needs in the areas of biomedical sensors, optical systems, open source semiconductors, embedded AI, technology services, and even quantum technology. The teams in the four business units – Health, Industry, Mobility, and Space and Security – are committed to implementing outstanding and versatile microelectronics that can be utilized across all your projects. For example, these solutions feature high integration capability, enormous energy efficiency and reliable functionality even under harsh conditions.