Introduction

The aim of the AAL Programme is to provide innovative ICT-based solutions including products, systems or services to enhance older adults' quality of life and to strengthen the industrial base in Europe. The specific aims are to: - foster the emergence of innovative ICT-based products, services and systems for ageing well at home, in the community, and at work, thus increasing the quality of life, autonomy, participation in social life, skills and employability of elderly people, and reducing the costs of health and social care; - create a critical mass of research, development and innovation at EU level in technologies and services for ageing well in the information society, including the establishment of a favourable environment for participation by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); - improve conditions for industrial exploitation by providing a coherent European framework for developing common approaches and facilitating the localisation and adaptation of common solutions which are compatible with varying social preferences and regulatory aspects at national or regional level across Europe.

Objectives of the call

The call is focused on the topic: Living well with dementia - Providing integrated solutions based on ICT to support the wellbeing of people living with dementia and their communities. The aim of this call is to support innovative, transnational and multi-disciplinary collaborative projects with a clear route to market and added-value for the different types of end-users. A key priority underlying this challenge will be to bring together technologies and services to create ICT based solutions addressing the aspirations and challenges that will enable the wellbeing of people with dementia and their communities (family, caregivers, neighbourhood, service providers, care system, etc.). The proposals should include a user-centred approach as well as pilots with a considerable number of end-users involved in order to demonstrate the benefits and added-value necessary to make a significant impact on the market.

Expected impact

a) On quality of life

ICT-based solutions are expected to sustain or improve the capacity of people with dementia for: - Living an active and meaningful life; - Living independently and safely for longer at home with support from their carers and community when necessary; - Living in dignity and satisfaction during all stages of dementia. ICT-based solutions should support informal and professional carers to: - Reduce stress and care burden; - Build resilience; - Improve quality, efficiency and effectiveness of care.

b) On market

ICT-based solutions are expected to contribute to: - A large(r) use of ICT/technology for people with dementia and their supporting community; - A growing public and consumer market of interoperable and scalable AAL services and products to support active, independent and dignified living for people with dementia throughout all stages; - More European collaboration, including end-users, industry and other stakeholders in the value chain; - Savings for the social/care system as people with dementia live in their homes for longer, thus delaying the move to institutionalized care. The projects must present a realistic business plan with time-to-market perspective of maximum 2 years after end of the project.

Eligible applicants

Eligible for funding are only organizations that are explicitly included in the national eligibility criteria published as part of the Guide for Applicants.

Eligible countries

AAL Partner States participating in the Call for Proposals are: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland.

Partnership criteria

The consortium must include at least 3 independent eligible organizations from at least 3 different AAL Partner States participating in the Call for Proposals. In addition, consortium must include: - at least one eligible for-profit business partner; - at least one eligible for-profit SME partner which can be the business partner; - at least one eligible end-user organization. The consortium must include between 3 and 10 partners. The effort of industry and other business partners in each project is expected to be 50% or more (in person months).

Funding

The project total budget must be of maximum 5 million Euro, with a maximum funding of 2,5 million Euro.

Project duration

From 12 to 36 months. Deadline for submitting applications 26 May 2016

More information at http://www.aal-europe.eu/

In case of interest please contact the Research Support Office (Leonor Norton lnorton@fsjd.org, recerca@fsjd.org)