HörHanse Days 2026 will make the diversity of listening skills in Lübeck visible
At the opening of the HörHanse Days, Lübeck’s mayor Jan Lindenau emphasized the importance of the network for Lübeck as a science and innovation location. HörHanse is an example of how different institutions combine their competencies to jointly advance socially relevant issues. He then used the event to exchange ideas with researchers, experts and network partners.
In HörHanse, actors work together along the entire innovation and supply chain: from training, to studying, to basic research, through technical development to clinical application.
The Lübeck University of Technology also actively contributes its expertise to this network. As a member of HörHanse e. V., together with partners from science, clinics, crafts and business, is committed to developing innovative solutions for everything to do with hearing. With the bachelor’s degree program Hearing Acoustics (B.SC.) and Hearing acoustics and audiological technology (M.SC) TH Lübeck also trains specialists in an area that lies at the interface of health, technology and communication. The close network with research institutions, clinics and companies offers students insights into current developments and innovative fields of application during their studies.
Current research and new technologies
The HörHanse Days program reflected the diversity of the subject area. Current developments from various disciplines were presented in eleven scientific lectures. The topics ranged from hearing implants and robot-assisted surgery to modern hearing aid care, auditory perception, musicians’ health and applications of artificial intelligence.
The professional start was organized by Prof. Dr. Anke Lesinski-Schiedat from the Hannover Medical School with her keynote speech “Hearing loss affects everyone – from simple hearing to brain stem implants”. She demonstrated the importance of good hearing for social participation and advocated for greater acceptance and visibility of hearing systems.
Participatory research
In addition to the lectures, four interactive workshops offered the opportunity to directly experience research and application. The participants gained insights into EEG research on language processing in the brain, followed the live programming of a cochlear implant, discussed modern hearing aid fitting procedures and learned about the latest developments in hearing aid technology.
The practical formats promoted direct exchange between researchers, clinical specialists, students and users – a central concern of HörHanse.
Promoting young talent and networking
A particular focus was on young scientists. Early career researchers presented their work in a poster session and presented their projects in short poster pitches. The variety of topics impressively demonstrated how broad the research field of hearing is today and what potential is emerging for new collaborations.
The second day of the event was also dominated by interdisciplinary exchange. Among other things, the challenges of speech understanding in noisy environments, new developments in hearing aid acoustics and the neural basis of hearing were discussed.
The finale was the keynote speech by Prof. Dorothea Wendt from the Eriksholm Research Center. She presented current research on listening effort and hearing-related fatigue and showed how these findings can be incorporated into the development of personalized hearing systems in the future.
Together for innovations in the field of hearing
The HörHanse Days 2026 have once again shown the added value that close cooperation between universities, research institutions, clinics, educational institutions and companies offers. New contacts, project ideas and perspectives for joint projects emerged in lectures, workshops and numerous conversations.
They are a successful example of how interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge transfer can help develop innovative solutions to social challenges and actively shape the future of hearing.
More information
Further information can be found on the website ListenHanse.