Health and well-being of the elderly is not only a societal challenge but also as growth opportunity by bringing innovation closer to senior citizens.
Local and regional governments involved in the I-CARE-SMART project are committed to act as facilitators of innovation. They aim to offer an open space for co-creation. For that they will exploit existing channels through which elderly citizens are currently reached (e.g. the care system, senior communities, social networks).
Together with regional partners, there will be new quadruple helix innovation ecosystems that will create huge potentials for promoting innovation through a better understanding of user needs.
The project will deliver a comprehensive toolset with practical guidance on how to engage seniors and businesses in user-focused co-creation and open innovation. The development of innovative solutions together with final users will be piloted in interactive co-creation sessions and living-lab tests. Additionally, the project will create a “SilverStar” platform to facilitate co-creation processes across borders.
01.05.2019
30.04.2022
13 project partners
2 593 039,34
total budget
7 countries
7 strategies
and action plans
WPT3 is responsible to design and to implement the SilverStar Platform, a Transnational Open Innovation Platform for Smart Elderly Care. The platform will support (i) the visibility of the identified innovative solutions and (ii) the creation of a virtual community to encourage and facilitate transnational collaboration and co-creation of innovative solutions for elderly care.
Additional outcomes of this thematic work package are the Transnational Network, i.e. the I-CARE-SMART Network, and the Joint Strategy for the network.
The I-CARE-SMART network of stakeholders in elderly care makes the commitments to continue their cooperation and to jointly maintain the SilverStar Platform. It will include partners, supporting partners, and cooperation with 3rd parties as well as existing networks in the field.
The Joint Strategy outlines future actions to sustain and scale up the platform and to roll out project results to regions with similar S3 objectives.
As a result of I-CARE-SMART, improved cooperation and sustainable linkages will be established among quadruple helix (QH) actors of CE regions, to promote innovation for better health & well-being of the elderly.
The I-CARE-SMART project implemented three Thematic Working Groups (Senior Engagement, Business Engagement, Co-creation and Open Innovation Methods) to develop different perspectives in order to empower the partners and Task4 members in strengthening co-creation in elderly care.
T1.1 Toolbox for Senior Engagement
The Toolbox Senior Engagement is based on the results of the summary report for efficient senior engagement. This approach focuses on exploration and implementation. The Toolbox for Senior Engagement will be transferred into training material, addressing Quadruple Helix actors (Task4s) of the six regions Budapest, Prague, Kosice, Liguria, Graz and Lodzkie enabling them to apply senior engagement techniques in the following projects process.
T1.2 Toolbox for Business Engagement
The aim of the Toolbox for Business Engagement in co-creation is to support businesses in being involved in the co-creation processes within all the other members of the quadruple helix.
The toolbox has been designed according to the evidence of the regionals’ research and provides a set of tools focused on business engagement. The proposed tools are : procurement for innovation/ pre-commercial procurement, matching (r&d events), network facilitators model, living lab model, business incubator model.
Contributing partners: SI4LIFE, NOWA, SPEKTRA, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Medical University of Lodz, Technical University of Kosice.
T1.3 Handbook on Co-Creation & Open Innovation Methods for Smart Elderly Care
This concept paper is twofold, first it shall outline the mission, philosophy and ways to proceed in the TWG to develop a handbook on co-creation for the elderly and older adults, second it provides detailed instructions on carrying out regional analyses on the linkages and cooperation mechanisms within the regional innovation systems and how to collect good co-creation and open innovation practices.
Joint Guideline on the Composition and Operation of Task4s
A joint guideline is needed to set up Regional Quadruple Helix Task Forces (Task4s). This document outlines the key responsibilities of Task4s members and the expectations regarding the experience and qualification of members. It also contains suggested rules of procedure and a detailed work-plan, which ensures a standard workflow among the different regional Task4s.
I-CARE-SMART project has 13 partners and 9 associated partners from 7 regions
lead partner
Újbuda is the most populated district of the Hungarian capital city of Budapest. With 30% of its inhabitants belonging to the 60+ age group, the city faces the challenge of the ageing society, which prompted the Municipality of Újbuda to create a local strategy for the elderly called “Újbuda 60+ Programme”.
Our website: www.ujbuda.hu
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Our website: www.bme.hu
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Plays a key role in the shaping of regional policy through the
preparation and drafting of the most important regional strategic documents, incl. the Regional Innovation Strategy for Lodzkie Region (LORIS 2030). LORIS emphasises the role of the silver economy in the region’s development. Aging is an issue of special concern for LR, as it has one of highest and fastest rising proportion of elderly
in Poland (above 25%).
Our website: www.bruksela.lodzkie.pl
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Is one of the largest medical universities in Poland active in education, research, training and healthcare. Aging is one of the key
research subjects of MUL.
The Healthy Ageing Research Centre was established for
interdisciplinary research in 2011. MUL has substantial experience in multi-sector cooperation with partners for active aging and is well embedded in EU innovation networks.
Our website: www.en.umed.pl
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Our website: www.viacarpatia.eu
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One of the leading Slovak public technical university, which caters for a wide range of educational and research needs throughout Slovakia and Central Europe region and has very strong linkages to national and regional policymakers and actively cooperates on shaping national and regional S3s and R&D&I policies.
Our website:
www.tuke.sk
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Liguria Region (RL) governs the regional public health system and ensures coordination and cooperation among different actors involved in the health sector, playing a coordinating role in the regional innovation ecosystem. Due to its large senior population, Liguria is an extraordinary test bed for innovation targeting the elderly.
Our website: www.regione.liguria.it
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Is an Innovative SME and a regional consortium of SMEs with the primary aim to carry out basic research, translational and applied, for supporting the quality of life of older adults and people with sensory, neuro-motor, cognitive and / or mental disabilities. The Consortium includes RTDs, representatives of end users and other SME active in ICT sector.
Our website: www.si4life.it
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Is a non-governmental, non-profit institution providing care and support to more than 1100 senior citizens in the form of residential as well as domiciliary and respite care services. The organization also operates a shelterered housing scheme for the elderly and a leisure time educational centre providing range of leisure time activities and lifelong education.
Our website: www.ssspraha9.cz
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Spektra, cooperative of the blind, was founded in 1989. At the beginning, Spektra specialized in developing, manufacturing and distribution of assistive equipment for visually impaired people, and extended its activities in helping people with speech and finger impairments during last 7 years.
Our website: www.spektra.eu
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The geriatric health centers of the city of Graz (GGZ) are competence centers for aging medicine and care. The company is divided into three business areas: hospitals, nursing homes and day centers as well as alternative forms of living for elderly.
Our website: www.ggz.graz.at
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Is a non-partisan and non-profit association to which the city of Graz and municipalities of the district Graz-Umgebung belong. nowa is committed to equality between women and men in the labour market, education, business and regional development.
Our goal is to contribute to a gender democratic society in which learning, development and career is possible without structural disadvantages and limiting attributions.
Our website: www.nowa.at
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Our website: www.hwtk.de