idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

Nachrichten, Termine, Experten

Grafik: idw-Logo
Grafik: idw-Logo

idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft

idw-Abo


Instance:
Share on: 
10/26/2026 13:19

Mannheim-based research project selected as a finalist for international innovation summit

Linda Schädler Abteilung Kommunikation
Universität Mannheim

    The Mannheim-based research project TRAPP, which aims to combat child trafficking using artificial intelligence, is one of 100 projects selected from around the world to be presented at the ‘Prototypes for Humanity Summit’ in Dubai this November. The event brings together innovative university projects with companies, public institutions and investors. Only three other German universities have qualified for the event with their projects.

    More than 1,200 universities worldwide submitted applications to take part. The organisers selected 100 finalists – including TRAPP, a research project led by social scientist Dr. Eirliani Abdul Rahman. She is supported by the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung through its Programme for International Academic Freedom and has been conducting research at the Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES) at the University of Mannheim since March 2026. Her research work is also funded by the Chair of Social Data Science at the University Prof. Marc Ratkovic.

    The ‘Prototypes for Humanity Summit’ will take place in Dubai from 16 to 22 November. The platform offers the selected teams the opportunity to present their projects to an international audience and to establish contacts with potential partners.

    About the “Trafficking Risks: AI for Proactive Protection” (TRAPP) project

    As part of her project, Abdul Rahman is using artificial intelligence to develop a tool designed to identify patterns of child trafficking in the Indian state of Odisha. In future, a scalable platform is set to consolidate fragmented data sets, visualise high-risk areas using heatmaps, and support the Women and Child Development of the involved State of Odisha with relevant interventions for household vulnerable to child trafficking. The aim is to identify particularly vulnerable families and communities at an early stage and to prevent child trafficking for the purposes of forced labour, forced marriage or sexual exploitation – in a more targeted manner.

    Further information:
    Prototypes for Humanity Summit: https://prototypesforhumanity.com/en/
    TRAPP research project: https://www.sowi.uni-mannheim.de/ratkovic/research/trapp/
    Press release on the research grant for Eirliani Abdul Rahman: https://www.uni-mannheim.de/en/newsroom/media-relations/press-releases/2026/maer...

    Contact:

    Dr. Eirliani Abdul Rahman (available for interviews in English)
    Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES)
    University of Mannheim
    Tel. +49 621 181-1996
    E-mail: eirliani.abdul.rahman@uni-mannheim.de

    Yvonne Kaul
    Research Communications
    University of Mannheim
    E-mail: kaul@uni-mannheim.de


    Images

    Eirliani Abdul Rahman mit Mrinalini Darswal, Kommissarin und Staats­sekretärin im Ministerium für Frauen- und Kindes­entwicklung des indischen Bundes­staates Odisha
    Eirliani Abdul Rahman mit Mrinalini Darswal, Kommissarin und Staats­sekretärin im Ministerium für Fr ...

    Copyright: The Women and Child Development Department, Odisha, India


    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists
    Information technology, Social studies
    transregional, national
    Research projects, Scientific conferences
    English
    created with AI assistanceÜbersetzung mit deepl


     

    Help

    Search / advanced search of the idw archives
    Combination of search terms

    You can combine search terms with and, or and/or not, e.g. Philo not logy.

    Brackets

    You can use brackets to separate combinations from each other, e.g. (Philo not logy) or (Psycho and logy).

    Phrases

    Coherent groups of words will be located as complete phrases if you put them into quotation marks, e.g. “Federal Republic of Germany”.

    Selection criteria

    You can also use the advanced search without entering search terms. It will then follow the criteria you have selected (e.g. country or subject area).

    If you have not selected any criteria in a given category, the entire category will be searched (e.g. all subject areas or all countries).