About
In collaboration with MindLabs, Midpoint Brabant, the municipality of Tilburg, Yonder (ROC Tilburg), BUas and Tilburg University, we managed to obtain a Regio Deal grant, a government grant intended to reinforce regions. For this project, the consortium operates under the name of Digital Innovation District for Society. The focus of this project is on two ambitions: the development of interactive virtual humans and their potential for serious application in society, and the growth of the Spoorzone as an innovation district.
Virtual Humans
A virtual human is an AI controlled, digital person. This technology develops rapidly, enabling virtual humans to show emotions and have increasingly natural conversations. Together with the Fontys lectorships Designing Journalism and Human & Technology we develop practical cases within the domains of healthcare, education and media. We also team up with the work field to learn how virtual humans can be allocated. There is still a lot to explore, we’re experimenting with the interaction between humans and their virtual counterparts. This rapid development of technology poses a challenge for academics and applied researchers, users and policy makers. Keeping up with the latest developments, understanding their societal applications and limiting the associated risks on the social and ethical side is a major challenge. On the other hand, the suspected possibilities of using AI and virtual humans to solve social issues are endless.
Labor shortages affect all sectors and the deployment of AI and virtual humans can contribute to solutions. Think of a virtual 'buddy' for lonely elderly people, a virtual teacher for education and training of digital coaches and assistants. But also serious games that measure or influence behavior and digital twins (digital copies of objects, systems or plans) for better decision-making. Countering a digital divide so that (digital) society remains accessible and fair for everyone - even if you are not so technically inclined - is also a spearhead.
Accelerating broad prosperity
With the continuous exploration of these endless possibilities, we also work towards the second pillar of the project: the further growth of the Spoorzone as an innovation district. Collaborations between knowledge institutions, organizations and companies located in the Spoorzone are stimulated. This way, the ecosystem functions as a magnet for experts on the subject. Companies in the region benefit from the proximity of fresh talent and the opportunity to do research and development. Students and young talent are continuously challenged to develop new solutions and entrepreneurship. The result is that (young) talent bonds to the region, a main goal of the Regio Deal.
Regio Deal Brede Welvaart is scheduled to run until Sept. 2026.
