The first day of the summit focused on technical innovation transfer in the area of neurosciences and neurotechnologies. The findings of very broad bibliometric analyses conducted by Boğaziçi Üniversitesi have highlighted areas of technical innovation and challenges in the neurotechnologies. The delegates discussed the significance of these results for the future trajectory of the alliance. Academic debate was supplemented by discussions with representatives from spin-offs established in the area of neuroscience and neurotechnology. Examples of this important element of the summit included presentations of innovations from a robotics start-up from Hungary and a Spanish company that introduced a medical device recording changes in the activity of neuronal ensembles associated with a range of cognitive brain processes.
Day two of the summit extended its focus to encompass wider society and its views.Widespread social acceptance of medical procedures using technology—especially involving the brain—is dependent on the level of improvement to treatment that they bring. NeurotechEU has commissioned a team of academics including Professor Martin Reuter of the Department of Psychology at the University of Bonn to prepare an international survey to gauge levels of technology acceptance amongst patients and reach an understanding as to how members of the public gather information about medical treatments. Developments in the neurosciences are currently being made in a range of fields from medical sciences to smart cities design.
In addition to researchers and transfer experts, the interactive sessions held during the first two days of the summit also saw the active participation of students.
The primary focus of day three rested on the further coordination between the partners to support innovations and applications. Presentations of initial results and sessions provided the foundation for discussions focusing on the continuation of cooperation in Phase II. Representatives of the Transfer Center have been working together closely to this end, and will continue to do so in order to support the work of this lively European network in developing innovations. The issue of transfer cuts across multiple work packages of the European University, ranging from teaching to public outreach and from start-up advice to the funding of innovations.
