“Gesund-Zusammen”: Tech coalition formed to combat Covid-19

Some of Europe’s leading tech companies and data privacy experts have joined forces to launch a non-profit initiative called “Healthy Together” (Gesund-Zusammen) to combat the spread of COVID-19, which has turned into a global pandemic.

This broad coalition of tech and industry experts believe the most effective weapon to defeat the virus is by harnessing the power of data to successfully break the chain of infection and flatten the curve. 

The coalition are combining their resources and, within a very short time, have already built an app that tracks the virus while protecting personal data based on the PEPP-PT (Pan-European Privacy Preserving Proximity Tracing) initiative that was announced today by 130 scientists in eight countries across Europe. The app will be available next week.

The data gathered is intended to protect risk groups and relieve the burden on the health system – while ensuring that data protection and privacy remain at the forefront of all technological solutions. The purpose of the technology is to track the virus, not humans. 

The initiative is supported by data privacy experts such as Deloitte Legal, Bird & Bird, Datenschutzexperte.de  SKW Schwarz, Usercentrics, MyData and ReedSmith LLP. 

The founding partners are via, a company of Global Citizen Foundation, finleap, Europe’s leading Fintech ecosystem and insurtech unicorn, wefox Group. 

Other partners include the Bundesverband Deutsche Startups e.V., data4live, an initiative of the Hasso Plattner Foundation, the online bank N26, the travel platforms Omio and Get your guide, the delivery platform Delivery Hero, the company builder BCG Digital Ventures, the HR tool Personio, the Auto1 Group, the digital logistics service FreightHub, the mobility provider TIER and many others. 

The coalition is calling on other tech companies across the world to join the initiative to deliver a global solution to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The initiative will focus on developing technology and providing information. Members can also provide resources for the development of other digital tools that are already under construction, thus helping to advance technical developments to contain the virus. Current projects will be shared on the website with access to resources such as development teams and platforms.

Sascha Gartenbach, Founder & CEO via: “We co-founded this initiative because in such exceptional times as now, everyone should make a contribution to counteract the pandemic. We believe that digital approaches play an important role in optimizing overall health care and breaking the chain of infection”.

Julian Teicke, Founder & CEO wefox Group: “The most important basis is data protection – because even in times of crisis, people’s freedom and personal rights have top priority. We make sure that despite a broad data basis, everything follows the principles of data protection.”

Ramin Niroumand, Founder & CEO finleap: “It is incredible to see how much broad support the initiative has already received at this point, from the industry itself, as well as from associations. We are working together, as a digital ecosystem, with full force to launch the first digital solution shortly”.