#rp26 speaker Surjo R. Soekadar: Upgrade for your brain?

How can Europe shape neurotechnology, AI and new therapeutic approaches in a responsible manner – to promote greater self-determination and sustainable innovation?
Foto von Surjo R. Soekadar im Anzug und Hemd
Photo Credit
Charité/Streltsova

Psychotechnology combines neurotechnology, digitalisation and insights from psychedelic research. It opens up new avenues for the treatment of mental health conditions and the enhancement of cognitive performance. At the same time, data-driven business models are giving rise to new forms of dependency – specifically designed to foster dependence rather than empowerment.

The session outlines the current state of play and demonstrates how Europe can build a competitive ecosystem through responsible innovation. The focus is on technologies that strengthen self-determination and mental freedom – as a counter-model to platform economies that specifically optimise behaviour for retention and dependency.

Surjo R. Soekadar is Einstein Professor of Clinical Neurotechnology and Chief Innovation Officer at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. There, he is driving forward innovation as a core mission of medicine and, among other things, is establishing a NeuroTech Open Innovation Hub to bring neurotechnological developments into clinical practice more quickly.