Nearly 180 guests, high-level insights into the medicine of tomorrow, and lively discussions about the opportunities and responsibilities of new technologies: With a record number of participants, Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences kicked off its Science Year 2026/27 on November 4. Under the motto “The Future Is a Matter of the Heart: Shaping Tomorrow’s Medicine Together,” the Zittau campus became a meeting place for science, medical practice, and society.

How will we diagnose and treat diseases in the future? What role will artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology play? And how can we ensure that, amid all these technological possibilities, we don’t lose sight of the human element?

The fact that these questions are on many people’s minds was evident on November 4 in the Audimax of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. Nearly 180 guests attended the ceremonial opening of the Year of Science 2026/27—a new attendance record. Researchers, students, medical professionals, and representatives from politics, business, and civil society enjoyed an evening that combined scientific insights with concrete visions for the future.

With its annual theme, “Medicine of the Future,” the HSZG is also aligning with the nationwide “Year of Science 2026.” Prof. Dr. Sophia Keil, Vice President for Research, Knowledge Transfer, and International Affairs, emphasized even before the event that the challenges of our time can only be overcome by working together and across disciplinary boundaries:

Following the ceremonial welcome by the Vice President, Zittau’s Mayor Thomas Zenker and Prof. Dr. Andreas Hoff, Director of the Institute for Health, Ageing, Technology (GAT), also addressed the guests. For the GAT Institute, the evening also marked a special occasion: it celebrated its tenth anniversary and served as a scientific sponsor for the Year of Science.

When the Hospital Itself Becomes Part of the Treatment

A medical emergency led to a last-minute change in the program: Prof. Dr. Gerhard Hindricks of Charité Berlin was unable to travel to Zittau in person because he had been called in at the last minute for emergency surgery. He therefore delivered his presentation , “The Future of Cardiology: Digital Cardiovascular Health,” via video link and still took the audience on an impressive journey into the future of cardiology.

“We need to detect and treat conditions earlier. We need to talk about continuous care pathways and make room for digital health spaces,” Hindricks emphasized. Using statistical trends in the cardiovascular field, he illustrated how urgently Germany must advance digital technologies in medical care. One example of this is the planned digital model clinic at the German Heart Center at Charité Berlin.

Spanning approximately 30,000 square meters, the facility will be a hospital that takes a holistic approach to health. The focus is not only on state-of-the-art medical technology but also on the architecture itself: lighting, ambient sound, wayfinding, and interior design are intended to support healing processes while simultaneously improving working conditions for medical staff.

Added to this are digital platforms, smart patient rooms for monitoring vital signs, robotics, and AI-supported applications. In the future, these are intended to support patients not only during a hospital stay but throughout their entire treatment journey: from early detection through therapy to prevention.

For Prof. Hindricks, artificial intelligence is far more than just a tool for increasing efficiency. It also offers the opportunity to make healthcare more accessible and equitable.

A Robot in the Operating Room—But Humans Remain Essential

Prof. Dr. Stefan Zeller from the Görlitz Municipal Hospital then demonstrated how technological innovations are already being integrated into everyday clinical practice.

His presentation , “New Technical Possibilities in Medicine: The Example of a Surgical Robot,” transported the audience directly into the operating room. Using striking images and specific medical procedures, he explained the potential applications of the Da Vinci robotic system.

The benefits are numerous: more precise procedures, less blood loss, reduced pain, and faster wound healing. The length of stay in intensive care units can also be reduced thanks to less invasive surgical techniques. In doing so, Zeller cleared up a potential misunderstanding:

The presentation also demonstrated that modern medical technology does not always have to be purely theoretical and abstract. With footage taken directly from the operating room—including views that are usually reserved for medical professionals—Prof. Zeller left the audience in awe.

Research from Zittau: When Tumors Become Visible

The subsequent program segment , “Young Scientists@HSZG,” demonstrated that the medicine of the future is not only being developed at major university hospitals but also right here at HSZG . Moderator Victoria Hohlfeld welcomed Prof. Dr. Elisa Wirthgen and the early-career researchers Pia Schubert and Ali Al Hamad from the “Toolbox Biomedicine” early-career research group to the discussion.

The focus was on an exciting question: How can tumors be detected—and even made visible—using specific biomarkers?
The answer lies in the interplay of different scientific disciplines. While Pia Schubert, as a chemist, develops molecular linkers that can be used to specifically modify antibodies, Ali Al Hamad contributes the microbiological perspective. Among other things, he explained how bacteria are used to produce antibodies that can subsequently recognize and bind to specific target structures.

It became particularly clear during the conversation that scientific progress rarely consists of a single major breakthrough. Setbacks in the lab are part of the process. For Pia Schubert, they are not failures in the true sense of the word, but rather important insights on the path to new solutions.

Prof. Wirthgen highlighted the particular strength of Zittau as a research hub: Close collaboration among various basic sciences makes it possible to jointly cover the entire research process—from the identification of new sequences through the production and modification of antibodies to their testing. This is a locational advantage that fosters new ways of thinking and highlights the HSZG’s research strength.

Outstanding Achievements: Up-and-Coming Scholars in the Spotlight

Another highlight of the evening was dedicated to the people whose achievements are helping to shape the future of science and the University. During the Friends of the University Awards ceremony, Prof. Falk Maiwald, speaking on behalf of Friends of the University Chair Mario Linack, honored the exceptional achievements of five award recipients. Luise Kieschnick, Bodo Mauksch, Nathalie Lange, Janine Goliaß, and Jim Marlin Gerschwitz were each honored with a personal laudatory speech.

Prof. Dr. Sophia Keil then presented the Al-Makhawi Prize from the Faculty of Business Administration and Engineering Management to Johann Markus Paul. The Business Administration graduate was recognized for his outstanding academic achievements and his final dissertation on the predictive accuracy of the Elliott Wave Theory.

The honors made it clear: The future of science depends not only on technical innovations, but above all on dedicated individuals who work toward solutions with curiosity, perseverance, and new ideas.

The Medicine of Tomorrow: Technically Feasible, but Also Socially Desirable?

How much digitization can medicine handle? Who bears responsibility when AI supports decision-making? And how can we ensure that new technologies actually reach the people they’re meant to help?
These and other questions were the focus of the concluding panel discussion, “How do we shape the medicine of tomorrow—innovatively, responsibly, and with a human touch?””
With Prof. Dr. Dr. Erik Hahn, Prof. Dr. Gerhard Hindricks, Prof. Dr. Andreas Hoff, Prof. Dr. Karin Fester, and Prof. Dr. Elisa Wirthgen, perspectives from medical law, clinical practice, the Social Sciences, and biotechnology came together.
Hindricks once again participated in the discussion via video link.
It quickly became clear how closely technological possibilities and social responsibility are intertwined.
Prof. Hahn spoke in favor of the opportunities offered by digitalization, but at the same time emphasized the indispensable role of human responsibility. The rapidly growing volume of medical data and new AI applications also pose challenges for the legal system. In addition to data protection and regulation, medical innovations are increasingly raising fundamental ethical questions.
Prof. Fester turned the focus to personalized medicine. Tailored therapies and new cell-based procedures offer great opportunities but are often associated with significant costs. Research approaches such as “green pharming,” in which plants are used for biotechnological production processes, open up prospects for more sustainable and cost-effective methods.
Prof. Wirthgen expanded the discussion to include the possibilities of modern cell therapies and the targeted control of biological processes. It is precisely in this area that biotechnology can make decisive contributions.
For Prof. Hoff, the central question was how new technologies can be developed in collaboration with the people who will eventually use them. He pointed to the potential of digital telemedicine for rural regions, where medical care is coming under increasing pressure.
At the same time, he advocated for the consistent involvement of target groups in research and development processes. Technological progress, he argued, must be shaped through partnership and on an equal footing.
The downsides of new developments were also discussed: the high energy consumption of artificial intelligence, the costs of innovative therapies, and the question of how healthcare professionals can keep pace with the speed of technological change.
The fact that the discussion extended far beyond the panel was evident from the numerous interested and nuanced questions from the audience. The exchange made it clear: The medicine of the future will not be shaped solely in laboratories, clinics, and research and development departments. It requires dialogue with society.