The "Media and Technology" division at the Institute for Ethics in Technology investigates how technology and media intertwine, focusing on two main aspects. First, it examines the influence of technological advancements on the creation of new media forms, highlighting the significant role early technologies played in shaping today's media landscape. This line of inquiry not only traces the historical evolution of media but also assesses its ongoing impact on how we consume and understand media today.

Second, the division explores the portrayal of technology within media, particularly through film. Here, the fictional representation of technology acts as a mirror to society's hopes, fears, and future aspirations, with a special emphasis on artificial intelligence and human-machine interactions. This approach reveals the complex relationship between media, technology, and societal values.

By marrying media's historical development with its contemporary representations, the division seeks to uncover how media and technology collectively reflect and influence societal attitudes and expectations. This research offers insights into the intricate dynamics of media culture, emphasising the social, economic, and ideological contexts that inform our engagement with media.

The "Art and Technology" division at the Institute for Ethics in Technology examines the dynamic between art and technology, also through two lenses. First, the division explores how technological advancements—from ancient architectural innovations to modern digital and interactive art, AI, blockchain, and 3D printing—have historically fostered new artistic expressions and continue to challenge concepts of authorship and creativity. This includes examining the role of technology in creating immersive and participatory art experiences, highlighting the transformative impact of tech on art creation and interaction.

Second, technology's role as an artistic medium and subject is scrutinized, showing how it not only influences the aesthetic content of art but also encourages a reflective engagement with technology itself. Through examining movements from Art Nouveau to High-Tech architecture and contemporary projects that blend biology with technology, the division reveals how art critically engages with technological themes, expanding our understanding of both fields.

Our institute is also part of three interdisciplinary research clusters ("Forschungsschwerpunkte", or FSPs) and one key initiative at TUHH.

FSP Cyber-Physical Systems

This research cluster at TUHH is dedicated to the comprehensive study of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), encompassing a wide range of aspects from sensor technology and hardware to software development and application in fields such as smart grids, medical diagnostics, and robotics. This research initiative focuses on enhancing the reliability and energy efficiency of CPS to support critical, real-time operations. The program adopts an interdisciplinary approach that includes the development of novel communication networks, security measures for CPS integrity, and the application of machine learning for adaptive control methods. Through this effort, the FSP aims to contribute to the advancement of smart technologies and their integration into various sectors.

The Institute for Ethics in Technology enriches the Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) research at TUHH by infusing critical ethical perspectives into areas such as safety-critical calculations, communication across domains, and the interaction between CPS and humans. Focusing on ensuring the privacy, integrity, and security of CPS, the Institute addresses ethical challenges in designing energy-efficient systems, developing reliable software that meets stringent requirements, and implementing adaptive control methods using machine learning. By contributing ethical considerations to the development and application of CPS in diverse fields like medical technology, smart grids, and robotics, the Institute also further pursues its theme "ethics by design".

FSP Medical Technology & Biomechanics

This research cluster aims to enhance medical technology, working closely with the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf within the Medical Technology Research Center. This collaboration allows for the development and clinical testing of innovative techniques, merging engineering with medical knowledge. Key research areas encompass imaging, robotics, microelectronics, and tissue engineering, as well as projects focused on improving material-tissue interfaces and creating medical implants. Through both foundational and practical research, the FSP is essential in tackling health issues faced by an ageing society.

The Institute for Ethics in Technology helps integrate ethical considerations into these research areas, especially imaging methods, robotics, microelectronic sensors, and human-machine interfaces. By collaborating with other researchers at TUHH, we address ethical dilemmas surrounding patient privacy, consent, and the impact of new technologies on human health and society.

FSP Logistics Management & Technology

The FSP Logistics Management & Technology focuses on transforming logistics, trade, and production toward sustainable, resilient global value chains. Driven by advancements in digitisation, AI, and evolving customer demands for social and environmental responsibility, the research cluster aims to strengthen Hamburg’s role as a European logistics hub. Research includes digital and AI-driven logistics systems, sustainable practices like hydrogen strategies, and autonomous transport, covering basic to applied research to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability across logistical systems.

Our institute connects to this research cluster by analysing ethical guidelines for sustainable and socially responsible logistics innovations, ensuring data privacy and algorithmic fairness within digital logistics, and addressing the societal impact of workforce changes brought about by automation and AI. Its input on the ethical responsibilities of autonomous systems and on maintaining fair labor practices in global value chains can help align TUHH’s research with societal values. Lastly, our institute aims to provide ethical foresight to anticipate the long-term societal effects of these emerging technologies.

Machine Learning Initiative (MLE)

The Institute of Ethics in Technology is also part of the Machine Learning in Engineering (MLE) initiative at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH). The MLE initiative brings together expertise and activities in the field of machine learning at TUHH and partner organisations across the Hamburg metropolitan area. Students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, academics, and professors from all TUHH departments and partner institutions collaborate interdisciplinarily within this initiative. The primary goal is to undertake fundamental research, particularly significant for the development of new technologies, thereby advancing the digital transformation of engineering sciences. Beyond foundational research, the initiative is committed to transferring knowledge to businesses and industry. Among various mechanisms supporting this knowledge transfer, the annual MLE Days provide an excellent platform for education and the exchange of expertise. Our Institute of Ethics in Technology contributes through its research on embedding ethical principles into the development and application of AI systems throughout their lifecycle.

The Next Generation City Networking (NGCN) project explores the future of AI-driven, wireless-enabled urban mobility, integrating advanced communication technologies and real-time data for more efficient and sustainable city planning. Developed within the Hanseatic Wireless Innovation Competence Centre (HAWICC), the project aims to create a digital twin of a city district, incorporating dynamic traffic data to optimise emergency response routing, investigate the 15-minute city concept, and advance the next generation of wireless infrastructure. Bringing together nine research teams from HCU and TUHH, alongside partners such as the German Research Centre for AI (DFKI), BREUER Nachrichtentechnik GmbH, and the Björn Steiger Foundation, NGCN is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport. At the Institute for Ethics in Technology, we conduct research on how smart cities can prioritise fairness, inclusion, data protection, and sustainability to create responsible and forward-thinking urban environments.