WHO/Europe has designated the European Campus Rottal-Inn (DIT-ECRI) at Deggendorf Institute of Technology in Germany as a collaborating centre on digital health. Collaborating centres carry out activities in support of various WHO programmes in areas such as medicine, public health, nursing and midwifery, and more.

DIT-ECRI will support WHO in strengthening digital health systems, including through policy and strategy development, training and capacity building, as well as research and evaluation of digital health interventions. The collaboration is expected to last 4 years with the possibility of extension.

“We are proud to be among 27 WHO partners in Germany and the only one in the field of digital health. We are committed to supporting WHO's vision of using digital technologies to transform health systems and reach underserved populations, as outlined in the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW14),” said Prof. Dr. Georgi Chaltikyan, head of the new center. Dean Prof. Dr. Christian Steckenbauer sees this as “a milestone in health research and in the internationalization of the European Campus”.

Specifically, DIT-ECRI’s contributions will include providing data and analyses on existing digital health policies and ethics frameworks, identifying potential gaps, and providing evidence-based recommendations for policy enhancements. DIT-ECRI will collaborate with WHO to revise and refine a comprehensive toolkit covering the planning, deployment, and evaluation of digital health solutions. To improve workforce competencies in digital health, DIT-ECRI will develop targeted training materials, coordinate capacity-building initiatives, and guide the upskilling of health care professionals. Under WHO’s coordination, DIT-ECRI will also engage in research and evaluation of digital health interventions to ensure a robust evidence base for continued innovation and improvement.

“Modernizing health care and making sure that digital tools are safe and accessible is a priority for us at WHO. Germany is a key player in advancing digital health in Europe, and this is why we are looking forward to working together with DIT-ECRI. This partnership will help us translate research into practical solutions that strengthen service delivery and improve patient outcomes across the region,” said Dr David Novillo Ortiz, Regional Adviser for Data, Evidence and Digital Health at WHO/Europe.

The new collaboration will support the implementation of the Regional Digital Health Action Plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030 and the WHO Global Strategy on Digital Health.

Since 1 January, Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT) has been a true hero. Or one of 13 German HEROES, to be more precise. Though not the kind of "heroes" typically associated with the term; here, the acronym stands for "Higher Education for Resilience-Oriented and Empowered Societies". This is a transnational alliance of higher education institutions focusing on promoting the talents of a new generation of EU citizens. With the perhaps heroic goal of strengthening the regional resilience of people, companies and nature.

Ulrike Sauckel, Head of Division Internationalisation at DIT, is very proud to have brought Deggendorf Institute of Technology into this select fold. "The 1.9 million euros in total funding will allow us to get a lot of things done," hopes Sauckel, a DIT employee with vast experience in international university collaborations, adding: "It's about making the university, the teaching staff and the students fit for the future. For a VUCA world, a world shaped by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity." It can even be a transformational process for the university and the region alike, she continues. "As regional networking is the focus of European Uni, the region will also benefit from the university's programmes," Sauckel is certain. These programmes are all the result of close cooperation with local stakeholders such as the city, schools, regional development and, of course, also with companies.

By way of example, new, contemporary teaching formats, such as challenge-based learning, will be a focus at DIT. This will be organised in cooperation with companies, but also with other institutions. "Such creative approaches will enable the necessary future skills to be developed and will bring new impetus to teaching at DIT," says Sauckel, adding that other programmes are intended to create inclusion so that the acquisition of intercultural skills no longer depends solely on the size of parents' wallets.

During the funding phase, DIT will be responsible for creating and maintaining the necessary ecosystem, i.e. for all stakeholder groups in and around a university: from pupils to alumni, from companies to environmental protection organisations. Programmes such as HEROESfriends, HEROESalumni, but also the Student Council or the International Advisory Board will be coordinated by the university.

With the "European University Networks (EUN) – National Initiative" programme, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is lending its support to the EU's "European Universities" initiative. Since the beginning of the year, 13 German universities have been supported in the current and final fifth funding round. They will receive around eight million euros from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) over the next four years in addition to the EU funding. DIT is included in this round.

The European Universities are cross-border university networks that jointly develop teaching and learning formats, new forms of cooperation in education, research and technology transfer and strive for close cooperation with society. They are the brainchild of French President Emanuel Macron and are part of the European Union's Erasmus+ programme.

In the national support programme, the DAAD assists the German universities selected by the EU in setting up European university networks. To this end, the DAAD promotes networking between the universities, helps to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and ensures greater visibility for German universities within the European networks.

The fifth funding round of the national accompanying programme started at the beginning of January 2025. Aside from Deggendorf Institute of Technology, the following German universities will receive up to 600,000 euros in addition to the EU funding over the next four years:

• Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
• Europa-Universität Flensburg
• FernUniversität Hagen
• HTW Berlin University of Applied Sciences
• Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences
• Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
• OTH Regensburg
• TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences
• Chemnitz University of Technology
• Technische Universität Ilmenau
• Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt
• University of Greifswald

Background European Universities

The European Universities initiative aims to bring Europe's universities much closer together in terms of teaching, research, transfer and innovation. At its core is the vision of a cross-border university. The means to achieving this are especially to involve developing joint study and research programmes, offering cross-campus programmes and the engagement of teachers, researchers and students in intensive dialogue.

Following two pilot calls for proposals, the EU selected the European universities over three funding rounds in 2022, 2023 and 2024. A total of 64 alliances spanning more than 560 participating universities from 35 countries have been established. 66 German universities are represented in a total of 58 alliances. Sustainable funding is currently being negotiated at EU level.

National support programme

Alongside the EU, the DAAD has been supporting German universities on their way to becoming European universities through a national support programme funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research since 2020. The programme currently supports 63 German universities that have received prior funding approval from the EU. A total budget of some 39 million euros has been allocated to the national support programme for the years 2024 to2027.

On December 4th the »WomenTech Network« announced the winners for the »Women in Tech Global Awards 2024« at »supercomputing24« in Atlanta, USA. Dr. Helena Liebelt, professor of computer science at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT) and Technical Program Manager for Quantum Computing at Intel was recognized as one of those winners at the largest virtual awards celebration in technology for women, minorities, and their allies. The »WomenTech Network« is the world's largest community for women in tech with more than 9,500 ambassadors in 179 countries.

This year’s competition featured an extraordinary 1,560 contestants representing 128 countries across 21 diverse categories, showcasing the global influence and reach of the Women in Tech Global Awards. Helena Liebelt won bronze in the category "global technology leadership". Prof. Dr. Helena Liebelt has made significant contributions to the advancement of quantum computing and high-performance computing (HPC). She spearheaded the creation of one of Europe’s first Master’s programs in Quantum Computing and HPC, paving the way for technological progress and equipping the next generation of innovators in this cutting-edge field. Beyond academia, Prof. Liebelt is a passionate advocate for accessible scientific communication, bridging the gap between complex quantum computing concepts and the general public. Her groundbreaking work in quantum algorithm development and application has been a driving force in propelling the industry forward, earning her recognition as a true pioneer in the tech world.

“We are honored to be recognized as a winner at the Women in Tech Global Awards 2024,” said Prof. Waldemar Berg, President of DIT. “This prestigious award highlights our dedication to innovation and inclusion within the tech industry, and we are incredibly proud to be celebrated alongside such remarkable leaders and changemakers in this field.”

In addition to honoring tech leaders, the celebration gave nominees, finalists, and guests access to inspiring keynotes by industry leaders, discussions, and opportunities to network virtually with people from all corners of the world. At the celebration, WomenTech Network has been able to shine a light on the most accomplished and inspiring female tech leaders, mentors, and rising stars from around the world.

"On behalf of WomenTech Network, I would like to congratulate Prof. Liebelt and all of our 2024 winners, finalists, and nominees for their hard work and dedication to making positive change within their communities and in technology. WomenTech Network deeply appreciates your ongoing support for our mission to advance gender equality in the tech industry and celebrate the outstanding success of women on a global scale. We are proud that you are part of our outstanding global community", said Anna Radulovski, CEO & Founder, WomenTech Network.

The event served as an inspiring reminder of the importance of investing in education, training, and resources for women and minorities in tech, so they can continue to help drive innovation in the industry.  Some of the success stories from the winners and 700+ influential women in tech will be featured at the world-renowned Women in Tech Global Conference 2025, one of the largest virtual conferences for women working within the tech industry.

About WomenTech Network

WomenTech Network is one of the world's leading communities for women in tech with more than +9500 Global Ambassadors representing 179 countries. +140 000 tech leaders have collaborated with the network to date in order to cultivate a diverse global network that reaches 4.7 million people. WomenTech Network strives to empower women in tech through leadership development, professional growth, and mentorship programs. WomenTech Network hosts regular career networking events and a global tech conference for members to connect with like-minded professionals and learn about job opportunities at leading companies that value diversity.

Learn more about WomenTech Network’s events and programs at www.womentech.net.

About Women in Tech Global Awards

The Women in Tech Global Awards recognize women and organizations making significant contributions to the technology industry through leadership, innovation, and diversity initiatives. Hosted by the WomenTech Network, the awards celebrate individuals and teams driving change and creating opportunities for the next generation of women in tech.