The Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK) has made Hans Georg Näder an honorary professor. HAWK President Dr Marc Hudy presented the certificate to Näder on the evening of Friday, 7 October at Gesundheitscampus Göttingen.

President Hudy: “Professor Hans Georg Näder is a business and regional development visionary. Through start-ups, cooperative research and regional development projects, Hans Georg Näder is closely affiliated with HAWK.” Following the honorific speech by HAWK Vice President Professor Dr Wolfgang Viöl, Näder gave his inaugural lecture on the topic “Digital transformation of companies and setting a timely course in medical technology”.

Näder himself described his lecture as a “convolute of interactive ideas”. The potential of the Göttingen region took centre stage. “Everything is here. In central Germany. Great potential for innovations, jobs and economic prosperity is slumbering here. We merely have to activate it,” Professor Näder said. The coronavirus crisis increased the pace of digitalisation in the last few years. While Germany is still lacking innovation speed compared to the USA, we are well on our way. Näder illuminated the potential and opportunities of the digital transformation based on the digitalisation of the orthopaedics trade and Ottobock developments. Thus Ottobock is no longer focusing on the product itself, but primarily on the user. Knowing the needs of users in order to provide the best possible care is the objective. According to Näder, we must have the courage to be disruptive and innovation always comes with emotions. “I can only encourage future generations: Learn and you can change the world. Knowledge is fun.”