An increasing number of older people are recovering at home following a stay in a geriatric rehabilitation centre. The REHABOT project is developing a smart AI assistant that supports older people during their recovery at home and helps healthcare professionals gain a better understanding of the recovery process.

Reason 

Due to the ageing population, pressure on the healthcare system is rising rapidly. At the same time, older people are spending increasingly shorter periods in care facilities following a hospital or rehabilitation stay, meaning that a large proportion of their rehabilitation takes place at home. 

Digital rehabilitation platforms and sensor technology make it possible to support patients at home and monitor their progress remotely. However, these systems also present challenges. Healthcare professionals often lack context regarding patients’ home situations, making it difficult to interpret sensor data. Digital feedback also frequently lacks the personal nuance of face-to-face support. 

This creates a need for technology that not only collects data, but also helps to better understand it and to support patients in a way that is both clear and motivating.

Goal 

REHABOT is developing an AI-supported rehabilitation system that helps older people recover at home and supports healthcare professionals with remote monitoring and guidance. 

The project is investigating how artificial intelligence can contribute to more personalised, understandable and context-aware support during the rehabilitation process.

Expected outcomes 

The project delivers: 

• An AI-powered home rehabilitation assistant for older people.

• A digital platform for monitoring and support by healthcare professionals.

• New insights into human-centred AI applications in healthcare.

• Enhanced support for home rehabilitation and greater opportunities for personalised remote support.  

In addition, REHABOT helps to reduce the pressure on geriatric care and supports independent recovery at home. 

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Publications

Project duration

from 01-09-2026 to 01-09-2028

Project manager

Bin Yu, associate lector, Digital Life, Hogeschool van Amsterdam

Researchers

Somaya Ben Allouch, lector, Digital Life, HvA

Michel Oey, docent-onderzoeker, Digital Life, HvA

Daniel Bossen, associate lector eHealth en Beweeggedrag, HvA

Margriet Pol. associate lector Technologie en Participatie, HvA

Shihan Wang, associate professor, Universiteit Utrecht

Marije Holwege, lector Geriatrische Revalidatie, Hogeschool Inholland & Omring

Funding

SIA RAAK Publiek

Partners

• Omring
• De Zorgcirkel
• Argos Zorggroep
• Hipper Therapeutics B.V.
• PAM B.V.

Children’s maths performance is declining. At the same time, the shortage of primary school teachers is increasing. The teaching time available is spent on the cognitive aspects of maths: ensuring that children understand and master the basic skills. But maths is a subject in which negative emotions also play a significant role – more so than in other subjects. And those emotions can have a negative impact on maths performance.

Although teachers agree that emotional aspects are important, they lack the time, knowledge, skills and appropriate tools to address these systematically. This gave rise to the idea of developing a robot assistant for teachers that takes children’s emotions towards maths into account. Based on brief, child-friendly micro-check-ins, the robot can deploy appropriate emotion-regulation strategies where necessary. In this way, both the cognitive and affective aspects of maths can be addressed, without placing additional time pressure on teachers.

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Publications

Project duration

from 01-09-2026 to 01-09-2028

Project manager

Simone de Droog, associate lector Digital Life, Hogeschool van Amsterdam

Researchers

Somaya Ben Allouch, lector Digital Life, HvA

Marianne Bossema, docent-onderzoeker Digital Life, HvA

Monique Schaule Jullens, programmamanager Digital Life, HvA

Matthijs Smakman, lector, Hogeschool Utrecht

Veerle Hobbelink, promovendus, Hogeschool Utrecht

Rosa Alberto, onderzoeker, Hogeschool Utrecht

Mike Ligthart, assistent professor, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Sanne van der Ven, docent-onderzoeker, Radboud Universiteit

Funding

SIA RAAK Publiek

Partners

• Expertisecentrum Ponto
• Smartrobot.Solutions
• Florente basisscholen
• Gemeente Diemen

In Amsterdam districts where many residents have a low socioeconomic position, people often face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and limited access to care. This creates a paradox: those most at risk often seek help only when symptoms have become severe.

During our HARTstikke Gezond community health weeks, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI are measured in local neighbourhoods. Yet the core problem is not the lack of measurements, but the absence of an effective mechanism that connects these biomedical values to personal, social and environmental context.

AI as a Bridge develops this missing link: an AI-triage system that translates measurements into clear advice, and a connected matchbot that converts this advice into concrete actions and suitable local activities. Together, these systems help residents
better understand their results, turn advice into action, and take earlier steps towards improving their health.

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Publications

Project duration

from 10-10-2026 to 10-10-2029

Project manager

Dr. Bart Baselmans, hoofddocent Biomedische Technologie – Faculteit Techniek, Hogeschool van Amsterdam

Researchers

Somaya Ben Allouch, lector, Digital Life, HvA

Bin Yu, asscoiate lector, Digital Life, HvA

Wiek Dirks, Biomedische Technologie, HvA

Pim Kruijt, Biomedische Techonologie, HvA

Funding

ZonMw IMDI (Innovative Medical Devices Initiative) | Technologie voor Bemensbare Zorg – vraaggestuurde innovaties

Partners

• Buurtcampus Amsterdam Oost and Zuid-Oost
• GOO Amsterdam Nieuw-West
• Amsterdam UMC, Cardiologie
• LOA Foundation
• Nederlandse Hartstichting
• Eindhoven Engine
• AlleyApp
• Universiteit Utrecht | ELSA Lab
• GGD Amsterdam
• Team Sportservice
• ROZO
• Gemeente Amsterdam

Dark Tech

Students from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences’ ICT programme were also present with two interactive robot demonstrations, developed at Studio Dark Tech on behalf of the Digital Life research group. Under the supervision of Professor Somaya Ben Allouch and Associate Professor Simone de Droog, the students explored how social robots can help foster connections between residents of Diemen.

Robot Riddles

For the festival, the students developed, amongst other things, a robot that showcased dance and music from different countries. Visitors were challenged to guess which country the music or dance came from. This sparked conversations about culture, recognition and differences in a playful way. The demo was enthusiastically received by young and old alike.

Daarnaast namen de studenten een robot mee die dieren nadeed in beweging en geluid. Vooral kinderen reageerden hier heel enthousiast op: zij mochten raden welk dier de robot uitbeeldde en gingen zichtbaar nieuwsgierig de interactie aan.

Social earning capacity

The festival demonstrated how technology can stimulate curiosity, interaction and conversation in an accessible way. For many visitors, it was the first time they had actually interacted with a robot. RoboUnity thus served as a fine example of how practice-oriented research and education can contribute to social cohesion.

Working together effectively

The project focuses on developing ‘collaborative intelligence’: effective collaboration between doctors and AI in the field of oncology. AI is already capable of quickly and accurately detecting, localising and monitoring tumours based on medical scans. However, this technology is still used only to a limited extent in clinical practice.

That is striking, particularly given that radiologists face high workloads, staff shortages and an increased risk of burnout. Many tasks in oncological imaging, such as preparing radiotherapy plans, are essential, but also repetitive and mentally taxing.

Relevance to everyday practice

A key objective of the project is therefore not only to develop smart AI, but also to design applications that are well suited to everyday practice in hospitals. The focus is on human-AI interaction: how can we ensure that technology actually supports doctors, rather than creating extra work or uncertainty?

The consortium, comprising the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA) and the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), is one of 31 research teams to receive funding under the ZonMw Open Competition, from a total budget of over 26 million euros. The competition is known for its fierce competition, which makes the award and high rating of this project all the more remarkable.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we interpret cancer scans. Research shows that AI can detect cancer faster and often more accurately, delineate tumours and monitor treatment outcomes, sometimes better than doctors. Yet AI is still only used to a limited extent in hospitals, both in the Netherlands and worldwide. This is worrying, as radiologists face high workloads, staff shortages and the risk of burnout.

Some tasks in oncological imaging, such as measuring tumours or marking them for radiotherapy, are crucial but also repetitive and mentally exhausting. AI can take over a large part of this routine work. This leaves doctors with more time and energy for what really matters: complex decisions and collaboration with other specialists to plan the best care.

The challenge is not only to build smart AI, but also to ensure that this technology fits seamlessly into hospital processes and actually supports doctors in their daily work.

Project duration

1 Sep 2026 -1 Sep 2030

Project manager

prof. dr Somaya Ben Allouch

Researchers

dr Bin Yu

Dr. Kevin Groot Lipman, Het Nederlands Kanker Instituut

Dr. Doenja Lambregts, Het Nederlands Kanker Instituut

Funding

ZonMw Open Competition

Partners

• Nederlands Kanker Instituut (NKI)
• Universiteit van Amsterdam
• ELSA Lab Health Inequity

A digital platform offers opportunities to support older adults in their daily functioning and social participation, in collaboration with (informal) care. The platform has features to encourage daily activities at home and participation in community activities, as well as support the network.

Although care and welfare professionals are increasingly open to digitally supported care, digital tools and interventions remain underutilized. Professionals are uncertain about how to integrate these into care while maintaining quality. Additionally, they have little confidence that older adults, especially those with fewer digital skills, will use the digital platform.

This project aims to support older adults with care needs and their networks in sustainably optimizing and maintaining daily functioning and social participation at home with the help of a network of professionals and informal care supported by digitalization. We do this by further developing, integrating, and evaluating an existing digital platform in collaboration with older adults, their social network, and professionals.

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Project duration

 Feb 2026 -1 Feb 2030

Project manager

dr Margriet Pol

Researchers

prof. dr Somaya Ben Allouch

dr Michel Oey

Stephanie Kramer MSc

Daniël Bossen, Faculteit Gezondheid, HvA

Jesse Aarden, Faculteit Gezondheid, HvA

Rick Kwekkeboom, Faculteit Maatschappij en Recht, HvA

Merel van Schravendijk, Faculteit Maatschappij en Recht, HvA

Funding

SIA RAAK-PRO

Partners

• Amsterdam UMC Ouderengeneeskunde
• ROC van Amsterdam – Zorg en Welzijn
• MBO College West
• ROC van Flevoland
• Ben Sajet Centrum
• Gemeente Amsterdam
• GGD Amsterdam
• Centrum voor Cliënten ervaringen/ Clientenbelang Amsterdam
• Amstelring
• Zonnehuisgroep Amstelland
• ViVA zorggroep
• Compaan
• Landelijk Expertisecentrum Pharos
• Ouderen panel Amsterdam UMC en ouderenpanel smart health & vitality lab HvA
• ActiZ
• Zorgverzekeraars Nederland (ZN)
• Beroepsvereniging V&VN
• Ergotherapie Nederland
• Fysiotherapie in de Geriatrie (NVFG)

With increasing digitalization, children are engaging in offline play with others less frequently, resulting in heightened risks of loneliness, obesity, and underdeveloped social skills. Across Europe, this trend has contributed to the rise of an “anxious generation,” with mental health challenges linked to excessive social media exposure and declining face-to-face interactions.

While banning digital tools is not a viable solution – given their strong appeal and role in fostering digital literacy – emerging technologies offer an alternative approach. Robots, for instance, are increasingly recognized as effective mediators of interaction and play. Research highlights that children respond positively to robots, following their instructions and interacting with them as engaging, human-like playmates.

This project aims to develop a small, scalable, and autonomous ‘Playbot’ designed to inspire and facilitate play among children. Tailored to the weather, environment, personal preferences, and developmental needs, the Playbot will encourage children to engage in diverse offline activities together, fostering social connection and active play.

As a seed money initiative, this project will focus on creating and testing an initial prototype. The findings will identify critical knowledge gaps, key research and practical questions, and establish partnerships with European collaborators, laying the groundwork for a compelling and competitive Horizon grant application.

Project duration

1 Mar 2025 -31 Dec 2025

Project manager

dr Simone de Droog

Researchers

• prof. dr Somaya Ben Allouch
• Yuri Westplat MA, tutor at CMD and researcher at the lectorate Responsible IT (HvA)
• Pabo, Faculteit Onderwijs & Opvoeding | FOO (HvA)

Funding

Seedmoney of the Centre of Expertise Creative Innovation (CoECI)

Within SPIRIT, research groups from universities of applied sciences are actively involved in the use of technology for manageable care. They are organised in a so-called “SPRONG group” to form a strong research basis for and with practice.

The basis of this SPRONG group consists of eleven research groups engaged in the development and deployment of care technology. They have been working together for several years in the national research platform Platform for the Deployment of Technology for Health and Wellbeing (PIT).

More spirit for healthcare professionals

SPIRIT focuses on the development, implementation and evaluation of technology for Manpower-Friendly Care (TvBZ). “Manpower-friendly” refers to anything that helps healthcare personnel to do their work to a high standard and to their satisfaction. Reducing work pressure and deploying (scarce) healthcare personnel more intelligently contributes to this.

The aim of bringing together the relevant research groups in this SPIRIT consortium is to make the necessary technological innovation more effective and faster. Innovative projects and pilots are currently taking place throughout the Netherlands.

National collaboration with nine universities of applied sciences

Healthcare and knowledge institutions and entrepreneurs often do this at regional level in their own way, while elsewhere in the country there is often already knowledge available about how to approach this (better): How do you design something together with a specific target group? How do you implement a particular technology effectively? What are the appropriate methods for evaluating the added value?

By engaging in more intensive knowledge exchange at the national level in the areas of healthcare content, technology and methodology, we can learn to tackle these innovative processes more quickly, whether we are healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, teachers or practical researchers. But just as important: there will be more uniformity and coordination in methodological approach and less fragmentation/overlap in innovative projects. This ultimately puts less pressure on the healthcare workplace and helps entrepreneurs develop their innovations more quickly.

Better manageable care

The activities of the SPRONG group (and the underlying projects) focus on all phases of technological innovation. In addition to incorporating current activities related to evaluation/uniform valuation into SPRONG, the same approach is being taken with regard to research activities related to product development and the implementation and upscaling of healthcare technology. A technological innovation must – in all likelihood – lead to (better) manageable care.

All areas of care fall within the activities of the SPRONG group: participating healthcare parties come from elderly care, disabled care, hospital care, rehabilitation, but also mental healthcare.

Project duration

1 Jan 2026 -1 Jan 2030

Researchers

Funding

SPRONG | Regieorgaan SIA

Partners

• Hogeschool Windesheim
• Hogeschool Rotterdam
• NHL Stenden
• Hogeschool Saxion
• Hogeschool Utrecht
• Hogeschool Zuyd
• Hogeschool Arnhem Nijmegen (HAN)
• Fontys Hogeschool
• Omring

In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become a common challenge, and while digital solutions like apps and wearables offer support, they can paradoxically increase anxiety through screen fatigue and constant notifications. Throughout history, tangible objects such as prayer beads, worry stones, and fidget toys have offered calming, haptic experiences to help people self-soothe.

Building on this tradition, the WarmStone project explores a low-tech, participatory approach to stress relief. Through ceramic-making workshops, participants create personalized “WarmStones”—handheld objects crafted to provide tactile comfort and promote mindfulness in everyday life. By examining the shapes, textures, and uses of these objects, the project aims to inform the design of future haptic tools that support emotional wellbeing.

WarmStone offers an opportunity to design and craft unique ceramic objects that fit naturally into daily life. Participants are guided through the process by professional ceramic artist Jiechen, and are encouraged to create handheld “WarmStones” , small, texture-rich pieces designed to provide calming and self-soothing experiences through touch.

In addition to these fidget-friendly objects, participants also have the chance to create an everyday ceramic item, such as a cup or mug, with personalized textures and designs that reflect their individual tactile preferences.

Project duration

1 Mar 2025 -31 Dec 2025

Project manager

dr Bin Yu

Researchers

prof. dr Somaya Ben Allouch

Students

Zixun Zhou, University of Amsterdam

Funding

Seedmoney of the Centre of Expertise Creative Innovation (CoECI)

Partners

• University of Amsterdam Digital Interaction Group
• Studio Boey
• Studio JieChen