Darmstadt has held the title of being a “digital city” since 2017. The media company VRM recently hosted a roundtable discussion entitled “Smart City – Digital City Darmstadt” to talk about the status of digitalization, its dangers, and its potential, locally. Tim Maurer, editor-in-chief of the Darmstädter Echo, discussed the topic with seven participants from politics, research, and the urban economy, as well as several executives from Darmstadt hospitals.

In addition to Holger Klötzer, Head of the City Department for Digitalization and Education, and José David da Torre Suárez, Managing Director of Digitalstadt Darmstadt GmbH, the managing directors of Darmstadt Hospital, Agaplesion Hospital Elisabethenstift, and the Alice Hospital Foundation also took part: Clemens Maurer, Michael Nowotny, and Marcus Fleischhauer. Jan Tränkner, project manager for hospital digitalization at Alice Hospital and Darmstadt Children’s Hospitals, was also present. emergenCITY coordinator Matthias Hollick debated with them in particular about examples of digitalization in healthcare. His point of view:

“Implemented correctly, digitalization can increase the resilience of our society. Done wrong, it becomes a danger.”

One promising example in terms of digitalization discussed at the table is the use of artificial intelligence in radiology: AI tools could assist staff in detecting bone fractures. However, technical issues such as cybersecurity, legal issues relating to data protection, and the population’s openness to digital technologies remained key points of discussion.

A news article on the event is available here.

A special issue in the Darmstädter Echo on the topic of “Smart City – Digital City Darmstadt” is planned for December 5.