Eight New DFF Projects Showcase the Versatility of Digital Technologies
For the twelfth time, the ZHAW digital initiative is funding a wide range of research and development projects. The eight selected projects focus on aspects of digitalisation in areas such as energy, biodiversity, and health.
By 2029, ZHAW digital aims to establish sustainable structures and expertise to equip the university for long-term digital transformation and ensure its future viability. The focus lies on education, internal transformation and research. For the twelfth time, research and development projects by employees are supported.
Environment
One project is developing a digital planning tool to help cities identify optimal locations for seasonal heat storage, promoting more climate-friendly energy solutions (Luca Baldini). Another aims to create new models to make industrial fermentation processes more efficient and increasingly automatable (Ivo Kaelin). In wildlife studies, a platform is being developed to automatically detect and classify animals in camera-trap images (Stefan Glüge).
Health and Society
Several projects focus on socially responsible AI: a watermarking system safeguards AI-generated voices against misuse (Jan Milan Deriu), while an AI assistant generates constructive counterarguments to online hate speech (Pius von Däniken). Digital applications for health is also a key focus. One project is creating a smartwatch app to support children with ADHD (Samuel Wehrli).
AI for Research and Education
In research, AI-supported systems will assist in identifying suitable EU funding programs and internal collaboration partners (Zorana Petojevic). In edcuation, chatbots will be used as learning aids in university courses to enhance student learning (Björn Plaschnick).
Through this diverse portfolio, ZHAW digital highlights the broad potential of digital technologies—for sustainable practices, scientific innovation, and socially impactful solutions.