Barbara Klein

Barbara Klein is a Professor of Organization and Management in Social Work at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and Arts since 2007. Her research focuses on the integration of new technologies, particularly emotional and social robotics (e.g., PARO, PLEO, GIRAFF), into healthcare systems to enhance elderly care and improve quality of life for individuals with dementia or severe disabilities. She pioneered the adoption of therapeutic robotics in Germany after witnessing their impact during 2008 fieldwork in Japan with inventor Dr. Takanori Shibata.

• Studied sociology at Goethe University Frankfurt (1984 diploma) and earned her doctorate (Dr. phil.) there in 1994
• Worked at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft for over 20 years, later establishing the Market Strategy Team Public Health
• Conducted Marie Curie fellowship research at University of Stirling (1994–1995) on elderly care quality assurance

Her research emphasizes the ethical and practical implementation of robotics in social work, addressing cultural differences in technology adoption (e.g., Denmark vs. Germany) and advocating for their use as complementary tools for qualified caregivers rather than replacements. She leads the international eRobotics network and developed a permanent exhibition on barrier-free living at her institution.

Key scientific award: Marie Curie Fellowship. She actively promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration through a YouTube-based cross-media platform and ongoing field research projects.