Dirk Balfanz

Dr.-Ing. Dirk Balfanz

Working area(s)

Scientific Managing Director Centre for Cognitive Science

Contact

work +49 6151 16-23736

Work S1|15 245
Alexanderstraße 10
64283 Darmstadt

Dirk Balfanz is Scientific Managing Director of the Centre for Cognitive Science. He supports the further strategic development of Cognitive Science and its degree programs at TU Darmstadt. His tasks include supporting fundraising and the implementation and management of acquired third-party funding projects. His own research involvement in recent years has been mainly in the area of human-robot interaction.

since 2016 Scientific Managing Director, Centre for Cognitive Science,
Technical University of Darmstadt
2011-2016 Head of CAS Education, CAS Software AG, Karlsruhe
2006-2011 Head of Innovation & Research Management, CAS Software AG, Karlsruhe
2001-2006 Head of R&D Department, ZGDV e.V. – Computer Graphics Center, Darmstadt
1996-2000 Researcher, Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics, Darmstadt
1993-1996 Sotware Engineer, Bosch Telecom, Dept. Cordless Phones, Salzgitter
1996-2002 Doctoral Degree in Computer Science, Technical University of Darmstadt
1986-1992 Graduation in Electrical Engineering, University of Dortmund

Dirk Balfanz earned a Diplom degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Dortmund in 1992 and received his doctorate from the Technical University of Darmstadt in 2002 with a thesis on the automated generation and use of geo-metadata.

From 1993 to 1996, he worked in digital wireless communication at BOSCH Telecom. He participated in standardizing the DECT standard with ETSI and specifically worked on implementing the first DECT-based phone systems at BOSCH Telecom. In 1996, he joined the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics as a researcher focused on metadata technology for geographic information systems (GIS). He conducted projects related to geodata management and retrieval and supported the standardization of the ISO 19115 standard for geographic metadata. From 2001 to 2006 he was head of the research department “Mobile Information Visualization” at the Center for Graphical Data Processing (ZGDV e.V.) in Darmstadt. Leading a team of computer scientists, designers and engineers, he directed research and development in the field of mobile, context-sensitive multimedia data processing and visualization. He managed European and German research projects. From 2003 to 2008 he was director of the “MAP Forum”, the legal successor of the former German research project “MAP – Multimedia Workspace of the Future”, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor. From the end of 2006 until mid-2016, Dirk worked at CAS Software AG in Karlsruhe. Until mid-2011, as Head of Innovation and Research Management, he was responsible for the strategic acquisition and management of European and German research projects as part of the company's innovation strategy. After 2011, he was Managing Director of the CAS Education business unit, which develops and provides Campus Management solutions for universities.

Since September 2016, he has been Scientific Managing Director of the Centre for Cognitive Science at Darmstadt University of Technology.

2021-2025 HMWK/LOEWE Research Cluster WhiteBox
Administrative coordinator, acquisition support
2023 Symposium on Explainability
Organization and conduct
2021-2025 BMBF project KompAKI
Participation
2020-2024 BMBF project IKIDA
Participation, management support, acquisition support
2020-2023 BMBF project PlexPlain
Management support and acquisition
2018-2021 BMVI project DeepSpaceBIM
Participation, subproject management and acquisition
2018-2021 BMBF project KoBo34
Participation, subproject management and acquisition
2018 KogWis 2018: Computational Approaches to Cognitive Science
Organization Chair
2017-2019 Cognitive Science program @ TU Darmstadt
Support of the development and establishment
since 09/2016 Scientific Managing Director of the Centre for Cognitive Science,
Technical University of Darmstadt

Funded research projects in which I am / was involved in the areas of acquisition / management / implementation.

WhiteBox
2021-2025
Title: WhiteBox – explainable models for human and artificial intelligence (Erklärbare Modelle für menschliche und künstliche Intelligenz)
Funded by: Hessian State Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts (HMWK)
Funding Line: LOEWE Research Cluster, Funding Round 13
Project website
IKIDA
2020-2024
Title: IKIDA – Interactive AI algorithms & cognitive models for human-AI interaction (Interaktive KI für Domänenexperten und Alltagsnutzer)
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Project website
PlexPlain
2020-2023
Title: PlexPlain – Explaining Linear Programs (Erklärende KI für Komplexe Lineare Programme am Beispiel intelligenter Energiesysteme)
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Project website
KoBo34
2018-2021
Title: KoBo34 – Intuitive HRI Intuitive interaction with cooperative assistance robots for the third and the fourth age (KoBo34 – intuitive Interaktion mit kooperativen Assistenzrobotern für das 3. und 4. Lebensalter)
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Final report TU Darmstadt
Project website
DeepSpaceBIM
2018-2021
Title: DeepSpaceBIM – Digital construction assistant of the future (Digitaler Bauassistent der Zukunft)
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI)
Final Report
Final Report TU Darmstadt (opens in new tab)
Project website
CLOUDwerker
2011-2014
CLOUDwerker: Trusted SaaS im Handwerk: flexibel – integriert – kooperativ
Funded by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi)
Project website
VERRED
2009-2012
Title: Vertrauen in flexiblen Unternehmen – reflexiv, erfahrungsbasiert, dynamisch: Neue Verfahren zur Bewältigung der Risiken des Wandels
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
balance.arbeit
2009-2012
Title: Vom reaktiven Störungs- zum prospektiven Ressourcen-Management – Kompetenz und Polyvalenz zur internen Flexibilisierung
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
SIGMUND
2009-2011
Title: Semantic and emotion based conversation management at the customer service (Semantik- und emotionsbasiertes Gesprächsmanagement in der Kundenberatung)
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Final report
SOPRANO
2007-2011
Title: Service oriented programmable smart environments for older Europeans.
Funded by: European Commission, Framework Programme 6, IST / IP
Project info
COCKTAIL
2009-2011
Title: Skalierbare, KMU-zentrierte Mashup & SaaS Diensteplattform
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
DiVA
2008-2011
Title: Dynamic Variability in complex, Adaptive systems
Funded by: European Commission, Framework Programme 7
Project info
M3V
2007-2011
Mobile Multimediale Multilieferanten-Vertriebsinformationssysteme
Funded by: Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Technology (BMWi)
Final report
MSCO
2007-2010
Title: MSCO – Maintenance Supply Chain Optimisation.
Funded by: Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Technology (BMWi)
ERMA
2006-2008
Title: Electronic risk management architecture for small and medium sized communities
Funded by: European Commission, Framework Programme 6
Project info
Servingo
2004-2006
Title: Service Plattform Infotainment and Logistics for FIFA World Cup 2006 (Serviceplattform Infotainment & Logistik anlässlich der der Fußball WM06)
Funded by: Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Technology (BMWi)
Final report
FlexUI
2005-2006
Title: FlexUI – Java Implementation of 2D Interactive Liquid Browsing Software with Rich Media Information Visualization Technology
Funded by: Ministry of Information and Communication, South Korea
MUMMY
2002-2006
Title: MUMMY – Mobile Knowledge Management
Funded by: European Commission, Framework Programme 5, IST
Project info
Main results
ARVIKA
1999-2003
Title: Augmented Reality for Development, Production and Servicing (Augmented Reality für Entwicklung, Produktion und Service)
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Final report
EMBASSI
1999-2003
Title: Multimodal Assistance for Infotainment and Service Infrastructures (Elektronische Multimediale Bedien- und Service Assistenz)
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
MAP
2000-2003
Title: Multimedia Workplace of the Future (Multimedia Arbeitsplatz der Zukunft)
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Economy and Labor (BMWA)
Final report
InGeo-IC
1999
Title: InGeo Information Center – Geodata Metainformation System
Funded by: Hessisches Landesvermessungsamt (HLVA)
  • Salikutluk, V., Schöpper, J., Herbert, F., Scheuermann, K., Frodl, E., Balfanz, D., Jäkel, F. & Koert, D. (2024). An Evaluation of Situational Autonomy for Human-AI Collaboration in a Shared Workspace Setting. ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI)
  • Salikutluk, V., Frodl, E., Herbert, F., Balfanz, D., & Koert, D. (2023). Situational Adaptive Autonomy in Human-AI Cooperation. CHI’23 Workshop on “Automation XP23 – Intervening, Teaming, Delegating Creating Engaging Automation Experience”
  • Rothkopf, C., Balfanz, D., Galuske, R., Jäkel, F., Kersting, K., Macke, J., & Mohler, B. (Eds.) (2018). KOGWIS2018: Computational Approaches to Cognitive Science. Proceedings of the 14th Biannual Conference of the German Society for Cognitive Science, September 3-6, 2018, Darmstadt.
  • Balfanz, D. (2017). Rhetorische Situation und Neue Medien. In: A. Scheuermann & F. Vidal (Hrsg.), Handbuch Medienrhetorik. de Gruyter Mouton.
  • Balfanz; D. (2017). Autonome Systeme. Wer dient wem? In: W. Schröter (Hrsg.), Autonomie des Menschen – Autonomie der Systeme. Humanisierungspotenziale und Grenzen moderner Technologien (S. 137-150). Talheimer Verlag, sammlung kritisches wissen, Band 71.
  • Graf, R., Balfanz, D. & Juling, W. (2017). Ausgewählte Gestaltungsaspekte bei der Einführung von Campus-Management-Systemen. In: M. Lemmens (Hrsg.), Wissenschaftsmanagement – Handbuch & Kommentar. Lemmens Medien.
  • Balfanz, D. (2014). Die digital persona. In: W. Schröter (Hrsg.), Identität in der Virtualität – Einblicke in neue Arbeitswelten und „Industrie 4.0“ (S. 68-89). Talheimer Verlag, sammlung kritisches wissen, Band 62.
  • Sobol, S., Balfanz, D., & Hefke, M. (2011). Die SLIM-Methode: Unterstützung innovationsförderlicher Wissensarbeit am Beispiel der CAS Software AG. In: S. Jeschke (Hrsg.), Innovation im Dienste der Gesellschaft: Beiträge des 3. Zukunftsforums Innovationsfähigkeit des BMBF (S. 215-222). Campus Verlag.
  • Balfanz, D. & Sobol, S. (2011). Integriertes Innovationsmanagement – Fallbeispiel CAS Software AG. In: J. Howaldt, R. Kopp & E. Beerheide, Innovationsmanagement 2.0 – Handlungsorientierte Einführung und praxisbasierte Impulse (S. 199-227). Gabler Verlag / Springer Fachmedien, Wiesbaden.
  • Balfanz, D., Müller-Gorchs, M. (2010). Berücksichtigung von Akzeptanz und Akzeptabilität in F&E-Projekten. Erfolgsfaktoren technischer Innovation. In: D. Balfanz & W. Schröter (Hrsg.), Gestaltete Virtualität: Realität der neuen Medien in der Arbeitswelt – Standortbestimmung und Perspektiven (S. 34-54). Talheimer Verlag, sammlung kritisches wissen, Band 49.
  • Balfanz, D. (2009). An SME-centric and Integrative Innovation Management Core. In: Proceedings of the XX ISPIM Conference – “The Future of Innovation”, Vienna, Austria, 21-24 June 2009.
  • Balfanz, D., Klein, M., Schmidt, A. & Santi, M. (2008). Partizipative Entwicklung einer Middleware für AAL-Lösungen, Anforderungen und Konzept am Beispiel SOPRANO. GMS Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Band 4, Nr. 3.
  • Choi, Y.-J., Yoo, S. J., Choi, S.-M., Waldeck, C., & Balfanz, D. (2006). User-Centric Multimedia Information Visualization for Mobile Devices in the Ubiquitous Environment. In: Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Volume 4251/2006, “Knowledge-Based Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems”. Springer Berlin / Heidelberg.
  • Yoo, S. J., Choi, Y.-J., Choi, S.-M., Waldeck, C., & Balfanz, D. (2006). Ubiquitous Multimedia Access with a Multidimensional Information Browser. In: Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Volume 4239/2006, “Ubiquitous Computing Systems”. Springer Berlin / Heidelberg.
  • Balfanz, D., Slavík, P., & Sporka, A. J. (Eds.) (2005). Mobile Work Employs IT (MoWeIT). In: Proceedings der MoWeIT 2005: Mobile Work Employs IT – Mobile Computing Meets Knowledge Management. Prag.
  • Balfanz, D., Grimm, M., & Tazari, M.-R. (2005). A Reference Architecture for Mobile Knowledge Management. In: Online-Proceedings des Dagstuhl-Seminars 05181: Mobile Computing and Ambient Intelligence. Wadern.
  • Grimm, M., Tazari, M.-R., & Balfanz, D. (2005). A Reference Model for Mobile Knowledge Management. In: Proceedings of International Conference on Knowledge Management 2005. I-KNOW ‘05 (pp. 54-62).
  • Waldeck, C. & Balfanz, D. (2004). Mobile Liquid 2D Scatter Space – A Visual Interactive Information Space (ispace) for Displaying Large Amounts of Information and Allowing Simple Vision-based Knowledge Discovery on Small Screen Sizes. In: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Information Visualization (pp. 494-498)
  • Balfanz, D. & Finke, M. (2004). A Reference Architecture Supporting Hypervideo Content for ITV and the Internet Domain. In: Computers & Graphics 28 (2004), 2
  • Encarnação, J. L., Balfanz, D., & Shrimpton, D. (Eds.) (2004). Special Issue on “Video Technology and Interactive Broadcasting”, Computers & Graphics 28 (2004), 2
  • Balfanz, D. & Wichert, R. (2003). ARVIKA – Funkanbindung für mobile Augmented-Reality-Systeme. In: VDI/VDE-Gesellschaft Mess- und Automatisierungstechnik: Funkgestützte Kommunikation in der industriellen Automatisierungstechnik (S. 189-198). VDI Verlag, Düsseldorf.
  • Balfanz, D., Schirmer, J., Grimm, M., & Tazari, M.-R. (2003). Mobile Situation-awareness within the Project MAP. In: Computers & Graphics 27 (2003), 6 (pp. 893-898).
  • Grimm, M., Tazari, MR., Balfanz, D. (2002). Towards a Framework for Mobile Knowledge Management. In: Karagiannis, D., Reimer, U. (Eds.), Practical Aspects of Knowledge Management. PAKM 2002. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 2569 (pp. 326–338). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
  • Balfanz, D. (2002). Visuell unterstützte, automatisierte Generierung und Nutzung von Geo-Metadaten [Doctoral thesis, Technical University of Darmstadt]. Stuttgart: Fraunhofer IRB Verlag, Computer Graphik Edition 07).
  • Balfanz, D. (2002): Automated Geodata Analysis and Metadata Generation. In: Proceedings of SPIE Conference on Visualization and Data Analysis, Vol.4665 (pp. 285-295)
  • Finke, M., & Balfanz, D. (2002). Interaction with Content-Augmented Video via Off-Screen Hyperlinks for Direct Information Retrieval. In: Proceedings of The 10-th International Conference in Central Europe on Computer Graphics, Visualization and Computer Vision'2002, WSCG 2002. Journal of WSCG, Vol.10, No.1 (pp.187-194)
  • Wichert, R., Finke, M., & Balfanz, D. (2001). An Interactive Video System for Live Coverage Transmission using Real Time Video Hyperlinks. In: V.V. Kluev & N. E. Mastorakis (Eds.), World Scientific and Engineering Society (WSES): Proceedings of the WSES International Conference on Multimedia, Internet, Video Technologies 2001 (MIV 2001) (pp. 2541-2545)
  • Balfanz, D., Finke, M., Jung, C., & Wichert, R. (2001). An Interactive Video System supporting E-Commere Product Placement. In: V.V. Kluev & N. E. Mastorakis (Eds.), World Scientific and Engineering Society (WSES): Proceedings of the WSES International Conference on Multimedia, Internet, Video Technologies 2001 (MIV 2001) (pp. 2551-2556)
  • Hein, O., Balfanz, D., & Göbel, S. (2000). Aufbau eines verteilten Metadateninformationssystems für Geodaten mit dem Kommunikationsprotokoll Z39.50. In: Christian-Albrechts-Universität: 12. GI-Workshop Grundlagen von Datenbanken 2000. Tagungsband (S. 41-45). Kiel: Christian-Albrechts-Universität.
  • Balfanz, D., Göbel, S. (1999). Bridging Geospatial Metadata Standards towards Distributed Metadata Information Systems. In: C. Miller & R. Musick, IEEE Computer Society: 3rd IEEE Metadata Conference 1999