Henk Herman Nap

Henk Herman Nap is a Full Professor of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), specializing in human-technology interaction. He holds an additional position as Expert Senior Researcher at Vilans (National Care for the Elderly Expertise Centre). His research focuses on participatory design methodologies applied to healthcare technology, particularly in aging-in-place solutions, social robotics for elderly care, and AI-driven decision support systems in long-term care environments.

Key research areas include developing assistive technologies through co-creation with end-users, exploring ethical implications of AI in healthcare, and designing human-centered solutions for dementia care. His work addresses challenges such as technology acceptance among elderly populations, sustainable healthcare innovation, and stakeholder collaboration in healthcare system design.

Recent projects include the GUARDIAN Ecosystem—a sensorized social robot platform for older adults—and studies on responsible AI adoption in nursing homes. He actively contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality healthcare and innovation for aging populations.

His research has produced over 100 publications, with notable work in journals like International Journal of Social Robotics and JMIR Nursing. Collaborations span multidisciplinary teams including healthcare providers, engineers, and ethicists.

Dr. Nap supervises graduate research in healthcare technology innovation and has received over 800 citations for his contributions to gerontechnology and participatory design practices.