New Center BITS: Bionic systems are revolutionizing health research!

New Center BITS: Bionic systems are revolutionizing health research!

On May 12, 2025, the new Center for Bionic Intelligence (BITS) was officially opened in Tübingen. This interdisciplinary research center is the result of a cooperation between the Universities of Stuttgart and Tübingen and the Max Planck Institutes for Intelligent Systems and for Biological Cybernetics. The aim of BITS is to develop intelligent bionic systems that are intended to contribute in particular to the diagnosis and therapy of neurological and psychiatric diseases. Loud uni-stuttgart.de Baden-Württemberg Science Minister Petra Olschowski emphasized the importance of the center: It combines technology and health research and could represent significant progress for patients.

The rectors of the two universities, Professor Dr. Peter Middendorf and Professor Dr. Karla Pollmann, highlighted the relevant characteristics of interdisciplinary research. Around 50 scientists from a wide range of disciplines such as materials science, neuroscience, biomedicine and robotics work in the center. Bionic systems being developed at BITS include, among other things, nanorobots, innovative plasters, exoskeletons and artificial muscles that are intended to adapt to the needs of people with neurological disabilities. BITS speakers are Professor Dr. Syn Schmitt, Professor Dr. Sabine Ludwigs and Professor Dr. Martin Giese. The opening event offered interested guests insights into the research and was held in English.

Bionic intelligence and its applications

The concept of bionic intelligence is closely linked to the latest developments in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). In recent years, companies like Neuralink, Synchron and Kernel have made significant progress. These companies are working on clinical trials to make BCIs accessible to paraplegics so they can control computers using thought alone. techzeitgeist.de reports that 2025 is expected to be a pivotal year for implantable systems.

Neuralink, Elon Musk's company, received approval for human clinical trials in January 2024. The “N1” chip has already been implanted in a patient who can use it to perform simple computer tasks. Neuralink has also developed technologies that enable more precise implantation. Synchron, on the other hand, uses the “Stentrode” implant, which is inserted into the brain via blood vessels. This company was able to obtain FDA approval for clinical trials in the USA as early as 2021, with the first tests starting in 2023. Kernel takes a different approach and relies on non-invasive BCIs that are used to record brain activity.

Challenges and ethical considerations

However, technological progress in the field of BCIs also brings with it numerous challenges. These include high costs, complex surgical procedures and the question of long-term tolerability. In addition, ethical concerns have arisen regarding data protection and the commercialization of BCI technologies. Who owns the data generated by these technologies? And what legal framework exists to prevent misuse and hacker attacks on neuroimplants? These questions urgently need to be addressed to avoid social inequalities and ensure that access to this technology remains broad.

Overall, the developments at the Center for Bionic Intelligence in Tübingen and the progress in the field of brain-computer interfaces show that we are on the threshold of a new era in neuromedicine. The ability to treat neurological diseases such as Parkinson's, epilepsy or ALS could be revolutionized by innovative bionic systems. However, this requires clear guidelines and laws to ensure responsible use of such technologies.