CLICK News from the Auditory Valley Hearing for all. All people, all situations, all sectors. November 2013 The „Deutscher Zukunftspreis“ and its impact 10th anniversary of the German Hearing Centre Hanover News from the Cluster of Excellence Foto: shutterstock.com/l Foto: i g h t p o e The newsletter is supported by CLUSTER OF EXCELLENCE IN THE A UDITORY V ALLEY INTRO CLICK - CLICK - CLICK. It‘s the start of a new era. CLICK. After 29 editions of the HörTech newsletter, we are delighted to introduce CLICK, a new magazine which reports on the innovative trends and current events from Auditory Valley, taking an interdisciplinary cross-site approach. In this first edition we start by introducing the Auditory Valley research and development network in the “DIRECTIO- NAL FILTER” section. In each of the following editions, this section will focus on one of the partners from the research network. The “SONIC BOOM” and “PINK NOISE” sections include highlights such as the 10th anniversary of the German Hearing Centre Hanover and news from our network partners. All issues will have a particular focus on the develop- ments and findings of Hearing4all, the Cluster of Excellence in the Auditory Valley. We hope you like the newsletter‘s new look and interdisciplinary and cross-site reporting, and are looking forward to hearing your feedback. Your editorial team P.S.: Would you prefer to get “CLICK” as a PDF by e-mail? Contact us at [email protected] CONTENT ECHO Preface by Prof. Dr. Dr. Birger Kollmeier 03 DIRECTIONAL FILTER Hear the future. Auditory Valley introduces itself 04 SONIC BOOM The German Future Prize and its impact 06 SONIC BOOM 10th anniversary of the German Hearing Centre Hanover 07 PINK NOISE News from the network 08 Hearing4all SWEEP The Cluster of Excellence „Hearing4all“ 12 Hearing4all IMPULSE News from the Cluster of Excellence 14 CAREER Studying in Auditory Valley 18 FORECAST Announcements 19 Impressum: HörTech gGmbH, Marie-Curie-Str. 2, 26129 Oldenburg, Tel. 0441-2172 200, Fax 0441-2172 250, E-Mail: [email protected], www.hoertech.de V.i.S.d.P: Prof. Dr. Dr. Birger Kollmeier, Stephan Albani Redaktion und Gestaltung: Swantje Suchland CLICK erscheint zweimal jährlich und wird kostenlos abgegeben. 2 CLICK | November 2013 ECHO Preface Dear reader, nothing is as constant as change – and on that note I am delighted to introduce our new magazine “Click – News from the Auditory Valley”. A lot has happened since the research and development network was founded with the at first strange-seeming idea that there is a direct val- ley connection between Oldenburg and Hanover due to the Hunte, Weser, Aller and Leine rivers. Although the Au- ditory Valley is a long way o# from being able to compete with Silicon Valley, the direction of travel has been clear Prof. Dr. Dr. Birger Kollmeier, Coordinator of the Auditory Valley tand ever since the overwhelming success of the German the Cluster of Excellence „Hearing4all“, University Oldenburg: Me- government‘s excellence initiative and the establish- diical Physics ment of the “Hearing4all” Cluster of Excellence. Shortly after opening the cluster, we were o# at a furious pace A very special highlight, which also brings high politics with the „Deutscher Zukunftspreis“ being awarded to our to the table, was the election of HörTech managing direc- team, the visit by the German Chancellor (and also later tor Stephan Albani, to the German Bundestag. Although her opponent Peer Steinbrück) at the Hannover Medical as a member of the newly formed German parliament he School, the foundation of the new Faculty of Medicine in will be reducing his obligations as managing director to a Oldenburg and the appointment of twelve new professors minimum, he will at the same time be able to give Audito- (and successful negotiations to retain two further pro- ry Valley a certain voice in Berlin - who’d have thought it fessors). On the cluster‘s first anniversary, for which we possible even five years ago? organised a conference in Hanover at the start of Novem- ber with top-class participants, it‘s clear: it‘s going well in Finally, dear reader, I would like to draw your attention the Auditory Valley! to the future of hearing, specifically nurturing young talents. Recruiting new doctoral students and research It was by no means a foregone conclusion that everyone assistants for the initial phase of the Hearing4all Cluster wouldn’t just be pottering away by themselves, but that of Excellence has not always been easy, highlighting the the di#erent academic disciplines, sites and research fact that due to the demographic change we now have sectors from basic, applied, clinical and industry re- to do everything in our power to obtain and keep young search would increasingly network with each other. This talents. Also Auditory Valley o#ers unique opportunities interdisciplinary cooperation was achieved thanks to the to study life sciences, natural sciences and engineering, more than 300 dedicated employees in the cooperating and I would like to warm you up to these and kindly ask research institutions in Hanover and Oldenburg who I‘d that you go out and stir up interest in them. The hearing like to warmly compliment and thank for their e#orts aid industry has already made an excellent contribution here. to nurturing particularly gifted students of hearing tech- nology and audiology with a total of 4 “Germany scholar- But even here, nothing is as constant as change. The ships”… newly established regular meetings of the business fo- I look forward all the more to your response! rum are creating a new cross-sector platform for commu- nication with the hearing aid and cochlear implant indus- Yours sincerely, try around the world. The first meeting took place at this Birger Kollmeier year‘s hearing aid developer forum at the start of June and the forum has been meeting regularly since then. November 2013 | CLICK 3 DIRECTIONAL FILTER Hear the future. Auditory Valley introduces itself Auditory Valley – that‘s two sites, more than 300 scientists, 17 topics and one vision: hearing for all! All people, all situations, all SECTORS. This goal is of major societal importance, because 18% of the population of Germany – including more than 50% of the over 65s – have hearing loss which requires treatment. By improving the individual diagnosis of hearing impairment and the fitting of personal hearing devices with appropriate adjustments, scientists and engineers can significantly improve communication for those a#ected – be it at work, on the street or at home. The Auditory Valley research and development network The quick, targeted and holistic development of innova- in northern Germany has been bringing together experts tions requires cross-institutional infrastructure which in hearing and related fields since 2008. More than 300 promotes communication and synergies. That‘s why the scientists from basic and applied research are involved scientists are organised in 17 topic management groups. in the Auditory Valley, which includes two special re- search areas, an international graduate school, a Federal Ŷ Assistive technology Ministry of Education Research Centre of Excellence and Ŷ Audio signal processing the Hearing4all Cluster of Excellence. The merger of the Ŷ Audiological diagnostics hearing research institutions in Oldenburg and Hanover Ŷ Auditory neurophysiology serves to bridge the subject matter between ENT medici- Ŷ Training/advanced traning ne and audiological expertise. Connecting the know-how Ŷ Equipment/facilities/services in the fields of audio technology, assistive technologies Ŷ Evaluation/design of studies and technical acoustics has created a network which per- Ŷ Hearing care/rehabilitation manently improves the quality of life for a large number Ŷ Implant development of people. Ŷ Inner ear biology Ŷ Cognition & acoustics The collective vision is the driving force for all those Ŷ Neurosensory sciences participating in the Auditory Valley. The focus is on new Ŷ Operative therapy with hearing aids approaches to solutions for connecting hearing aid tech- Ŷ Psychoacoustics nology with cochlear implants and consumer electronics. Ŷ Technical acoustics This connection will in the future mean that especially ol- Ŷ Technical hearing aids der people who are starting to lose their hearing will come Ŷ Translation & application to appreciate the benefits of hearing support and won’t unlearn how to hear. That‘s why innovative ideas for hea- ring aids, hearing implants and also assistive technology for everyone are being developed – in other words the “hearing aid” in every smart phone, TV or car radio. Foto: Hibbeler, Fraunhofer IDMT Fraunhofer Hibbeler, Foto: 4 CLICK | November 2013 RICHTUNGSFILTER The partners in the Auditory Valley cover the entire pro- research topic groups, establish business and science cess chain from research to product development to networks, acquire specialists and lobby policymakers. patient care. In cooperation with leading international manufactures of hearing aids, cochlear implants and au- For doctors, hospitals, hearing aid acousticians, speech dio system technology, innovations in the field of hea- therapists and patients, the healthcare forum provides ring are being developed as quickly and holistically and advice, information and further training. Auditory Valley target-oriented as possible. Interdisciplinary collaborati- actively supports the communication and discussion of on, strong partners and a high degree of innovation are the latest research trends and findings, promoting rapid the reasons why industry and research partners such as transfer of knowledge from an academic environment to Fraunhofer IDMT, Kind Hörgeräte and Sennheiser are in- commercial use. volved in the Auditory Valley. It can already be said today that know-how from the Auditory Valley can be found in Auditory Valley is open to interested members of public more than 90% of all hearing systems worldwide. through the forum for partners & friends. Forum mem- bers regularly receive newsletters and professional infor- Translation is a central principle of Auditory Valley‘s three mation and have the opportunity to attend conferences, forums.