The first Pre-Research-Forum will address the social, scientific, and ethical challenges of digitization in the context of health, in particular, the ethical issues that arise from new products and processes – these challenges are mostly not new, but must be re-discussed and negotiated in the context of digitization. Examples of such questions can be found in the use of care robots, data tracking in hospitals, or the use of artificial intelligence for non-invasive diagnostics. At the Pre-Research Forum, these issues will be discussed jointly by top researchers with stakeholders from society, business, culture, and politics.

The “Pre-Research-Forum” is a new, innovative joint project of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The transdisciplinary approach – science meets practical expertise – enables a change in perspective and away from the discussion formats traditional in scientific disciplines. In addition, scientific findings will be included in the social debates and used for the benefit of all. The Berlin universities, along with Charité – Universitätsmedizin and the city of Berlin, offer the ideal potential for this process.