Digital Accessibility for the Göttingen Science and Business Hub

The German Accessibility Strengthening Act transposes EU Directive 2019/882 into German law and applies to businesses offering products or services in electronic commerce to consumers. Göttingen as a research and university hub is affected in multiple ways: spin-offs from the University of Göttingen distributing software or platforms are covered by the BFSG, as are clinics with patient portals, publishers with online offerings and service providers of all types. The technical requirements follow European standard EN 301 549, which is based on WCAG 2.1. We recommend implementation to WCAG 2.2 AA as the future-proof standard.

Universities and publicly funded research institutions are additionally subject to the BITV 2.0, the German ordinance on barrier-free information technology. This sometimes sets more demanding requirements than the BFSG and applies to all federal authorities and public-law institutions. For Göttingen institutions serving both public and private audiences, we recommend a review against both frameworks. Approximately 7.8 million severely disabled people live in Germany (Source: Federal Statistical Office, 2024). They all use the internet and are all potential customers, patients, students or partners of Göttingen organizations.

Göttingen is not a typical commercial location. The close integration of university, university hospital, Max Planck Institutes and the growing biotech scene creates a digital infrastructure that far exceeds a simple corporate website in complexity and user requirements. Clinical portals must be usable by patients of all ages and disability groups. Research platforms must be accessible to international users who may rely on screen readers or magnification software. Publication databases must provide PDF documents in accessible form. We know these specific requirements and address them through our PDF accessibility service and technical audits for complex web applications.

In our work with organizations across Lower Saxony, we encounter recurring barrier patterns that are also typical for Göttingen. In scientific and medical contexts in particular, certain issues stand out: complex data visualizations without text alternatives, inaccessible PDF documents with scientific figures, dynamic web applications without ARIA live regions and multilingual content without proper lang attributes.

Göttingen is one of Germany's densest research locations. The Georg August University, the university hospital and numerous non-university research institutions form an ecosystem that attracts startups, spin-offs and service providers. Especially companies building digital products from this environment should treat accessibility as an integral part of development, not a retrospective compliance task. We support Göttingen startups and research companies in building accessible web applications from the outset.

Medical portals and patient information systems have specific accessibility requirements: their users may be older people with visual impairments, patients under medication with limited fine motor skills or people with cognitive limitations who need plain language and simple navigation. The Göttingen university hospital and surrounding clinics and practices offering online services are well advised to align their digital presence with these realities. Our screen reader testing service and easy language review are particularly helpful modules here.

Our office in Söhlde near Hildesheim is approximately 70 kilometers from Göttingen, easily reachable via the A7 motorway. For Göttingen clients, we offer personal on-site appointments for kickoff meetings, training sessions and audit presentations. Technical work — audits, remediation and monitoring — is handled efficiently via remote collaboration. This combination of personal accessibility and digital efficiency has proven itself in our work with clients across Lower Saxony.

Across 50+ accessibility projects (own project experience), we have built expertise across a wide range of technologies and industries. For Göttingen clients, this means no learning curve on your platform, no abstract audit document that leaves you alone, but a partner who understands your situation and proposes pragmatic solutions. Get to know us in a free initial consultation and receive a first assessment of what needs to be done.

Choosing accessibility is not just a compliance decision but also a business one. An accessible web presence improves user experience for all visitors, not just those with disabilities. Semantic HTML and correct document structure positively affect search engine rankings. Better form accessibility reduces drop-off rates in checkout or booking processes. Approximately 15 percent of the world's population live with some form of disability (Source: World Health Organization, 2023). For Göttingen businesses with an international client base, that is a substantial market potential.

Our service spectrum for Göttingen clients covers the entire accessibility lifecycle: from the initial BFSG classification through the WCAG 2.2 audit and technical remediation to the accessibility statement and ongoing monitoring. Each module can be commissioned individually or booked as a comprehensive package. Get in touch — we are happy to advise you.