Navel Robotics has developed “Navel,” a social robot designed to alleviate the high workload of care and support staff while helping to ensure high-quality care. To achieve this, the Munich startup combines deep tech, AI, and specialized design to interact empathetically with residents in care homes and respond with appropriate facial expressions and gestures. This approach aims to improve social care.
With this concept, Navel Robotics impressed the digital health award jury and secured first place, which comes with 25,000 euros. Anne Seubert, founder and CEO at Brands & Places, laudator and jury member of the DGP, summarizes the decision:
“Deep tech meets care: With the care robot, the Navel Robotics team has created an innovative and powerful approach that focuses on social interaction and the emotional and psychological needs of residents. This year’s DGP winner’s solution is exciting in terms of technology and at the same time tailored to everyday care work. As a jury, we have seen the diverse applications of the self-learning system, whether in research or directly with patients.”
Navel Robotics follows in the footsteps of Curevision and Neolexon
Second place went to Her-Medical-Aid from Berlin. The startup offers companies a platform to support their employees with health and hormonal concerns. Third place was taken by FitKick Liga from Info GmbH in Cloppenburg. The solution relies on wearables and gamification to improve heart health. Additionally, the telephone service Silberdraht from Heidelberg was awarded the special prize #AccessForAllAndEverywhere. The service provides citizens without internet access with barrier-free access to audio-based digital content.
Heinrich Moisa, CEO of Novartis Germany, summarizes the DGP results:
“Artificial intelligence and other modern technologies have the potential to revolutionize our healthcare system. The finalists of the digital health award 2024 have demonstrated this impressively.”
Novartis Germany has been awarding the digital health award since 2018. Award-winning recipients from Munich are no rarity: for example, Curevision took second place last year. With Neolexon, there was another winner from the state capital in 2020.
