Introduction

The Active and Assisted Living Programme (AAL) is a research, development, and innovationfunding programme jointly implemented by several AAL Partner States with a financial supportfrom the European Commission. Its aim is to provide innovative Information and CommunicationsTechnologies (ICT) based solutions including products, systems or services to enhance older adults'quality of life, to improve long-term sustainability of the health and long-term care systems and tostrengthen the industrial base in Europe. The main goal of these solutions is to improve theautonomy, participation in social life, skills, and employability of older adults.

Objectives of the call

The focus of the call is on the development of ICT-based solutions targeting any application area(s)within the AAL domain. The solutions need to be embedded into the strategies of the participatingend-user organisations, service providers and business partners. The call stresses a stronginvolvement of end and other relevant stakeholders in the shaping of solutions and in creatingrespective markets. Since a lot of requirement analyses with older adults and informal carers havealready been carried out in previous projects, it is expected that project consortia will build onknowledge that is already available. A strong business and market orientation is crucial in theprojects.

Type of funded projects

Small collaborative projects: they aim at exploring new ideas, concepts and approaches for ICTbased solutions for older adults. They should reach out to new stakeholders for inclusion in (future)development of AAL solutions, build strong collaborations with end user organisations, supportcommunity building with new customers and create shared agendas.

Collaborative projects: they are expected to be user-driven through co-creation and address aspecified challenge. Furthermore, the route to market needs to be described and aligned with thebusiness strategies of the partners responsible for commercialisation. Significant involvement ofindustry and other business partners, particularly SMEs, are encouraged. The effort of industry andother business partners must be 50% or more (in person months). The solutions developed musthave a short time-to-market introduction within a maximum of two years after the end of theproject.

Expected impact

Expected impact on quality of life: ICT-based solutions are expected to contribute to sustain orimprove the quality of life of older adults in different dimensions and throughout the ageing processfor: a) living a healthy, active and meaningful life; b) living independently and safely for longer athome (decision and control of daily activities) with support from their carers and community whennecessary; c) living in dignity and satisfaction.In case the proposed ICT-based solution includes informal and/or professional carers, it shouldsupport them to: a) reduce stress and care burden; b) build resilience; c) improve quality, efficiencyand effectiveness of the care they provide.

Expected impact on the market: ICT-based solutions are expected to contribute to: a) largeexploitation of ICT based solutions for supporting older adults throughout the ageing process; b)growing public and consumer market of interoperable and scalable AAL systems to support active,healthy and independent living; c) More European/international collaboration, including end-users,industry and other stakeholders in the value chain; d) Savings for the social/care system as olderadults are supported in living independently in their homes for longer, thus lowering the need forhomecare and delaying the move to institutionalized/community care.

Eligible countries

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland,Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland.

Eligible applicants

Only organisations that are explicitly described in the national eligibility criteria are eligible forfunding. The national eligibility criteria are published together with the Call text.

Partnership criteria

The consortium must include at least 3 eligible organizations from at least 3 different AAL PartnerStates. In addition, the 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.

Funding

Small collaborative projects: maximum 300.000 euro.

Collaborative projects: maximum 2,5 million euro (50% of project’s costs).

Projects duration

Small collaborative projects: maximum 6 months.

Collaborative projects: between 18 and 36 months.

More information at

http://www.aal-europe.eu/call-2018-is-on/