European grant for innovative hearing system with major social impact

Beephonix, Radboudumc, and Absolute Audio Labs have jointly received a European grant of €738,000 for the development of an innovative hearing system designed to significantly improve communication in noisy environments. The project, called Right Hearing, is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund ERDF-East. The total project cost amounts to over €1.5 million.

(photo: researcher Martijn Agterberg)

Hearing in noisy environments

In the Netherlands, hundreds of thousands of people struggle with hearing problems. A common issue is the difficulty of following conversations in busy or noisy settings, such as parties, restaurants, or workplaces. The Right Hearing project aims to change this.

The new hearing system utilizes a combination of wearable microphones (a so-called microphone array) and advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) software. These technologies work together to filter out distracting background noise and focus on the voice of the conversation partner. This makes it possible to follow conversations more clearly, even in noisy surroundings.

Combining technological and research expertise

The three collaborating parties each contribute their own area of expertise. Beephonix, based in Nijmegen, developed a microphone technology that captures sound directionally. Absolute Audio Labs, located in Hilversum, specializes in speech and audio technology and provides the DSP software. Radboudumc brings valuable knowledge in the field of hearing research and user experience for people with hearing impairments.

Together, they aim to create a system that is not only technologically innovative but also socially impactful. By improving speech intelligibility in complex environments, they hope to help people with hearing loss engage more fully in social life and avoid isolation.

ERDF East Stimulates Innovation

The ERDF grant enables the continued development of the system. The project is funded through the ERDF East 2021–2027 program, which focuses on strengthening the innovation capacity of businesses in Eastern Netherlands. The program also supports developments in sustainability and energy transition. More information can be found at efro-oost.eu (Dutch) / ERDF (English)

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