Two consortium projects that EEMCS and TPM researchers are taking part in received NWA-ORC grants. These projects are the DECIDE project, in which AI systems are designed more democratically, and the BIO-COMPaSS project, which investigates whether understanding biological age motivates people to live healthier. In these projects, researchers collaborate with knowledge partners and societal organizations. Each project will receive around 6.8 million to get started right away.
This project called Democratizing AI – Empowering Citizens through Transparent Decision-making (DECIDE) focuses on democratic and transparent AI design. Citizens are increasingly confronted with decisions made about them by AI-systems in, e.g., healthcare and government services. Often without the AI-system being able to explain that decision. The DECIDE project wants to change this. Scientists from various disciplines, such as computer science, philosophy, ethics, psychology, law, public administration and business sciences together with citizens, are developing a new generation of more transparent and democratic AI systems. This gives citizens more control over decisions affecting their lives. We also develop new AI-systems as ‘intelligence-enhancing-technology’ for use by citizens. This will ensure that AI contributes to a fair transformation of society.
The consortium is led by Prof. M. Boon of the University of Twente. The following TU Delft researchers are involved: Dr Eng Zenlin Roosenboom-Kwee, from the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM), and Dr Ujwal Gadiraju and Dr Neil Yorke-Smith, from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS).
The project receives 6.8 million euros in funding from NWA-ORC (not including co-funding in kind worth 0.1 million euros).
BIO-COMPaSS
This project called BIOlogical age-driven, COMmunal, Personalized System for Sustainable health promotion (BIO-COMPaSS) focuses on healthier living through understanding your biological age. Although the general population is living longer, their healthy life years are declining due to chronic lifestyle diseases. A gap exists between people’s calendar age and their “biological” age, resulting in lower quality of life, higher healthcare costs, and increased sick leave. The main contributors are insufficient exercise and poor diet. The BIO-COMPaSS project examines whether understanding one’s biological age—as a measure of actual health—motivates healthier behavior. Citizens, scientists, and companies are collaborating to identify which biomarkers, combined with personalized exercise and nutrition plans, provide the strongest motivation. The project aims to reduce biological age by five years, contributing to a healthier population.
The consortium is led by Prof. Dr. R.T. Jaspers of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The following TU Delft researchers are involved: Dr Filipe Arroyo Cardoso, from the EEMCS faculty, and Dr Iulia lefter, from the TPM faculty.
This project will also receive €6.8 million (not including co-financing of €0.8 million) from NWA-ORC.
The Dutch Research Agenda (NWA) programme
The consortia receive grants by the Research along Routes by Consortia (ORC) programme line of the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). Citizens are at the heart of creating and renewing the Dutch Research Agenda. The link between society and science is a key element of the NWA programme. Governments, researchers, civil society organisations and citizens work together to develop and use knowledge to achieve scientific and societal impact. And through science communication, knowledge is shared in society to increase engagement and trust in science.
Source: TUDelft