Introduction

The Innovation Union (IU) is one of the seven flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 Strategy forsmart, sustainable and inclusive growth. IU plan contains over thirty action points, with the aim topursue three objectives:- make Europe into a world-class science performer;- remove obstacles to innovation, like expensive patenting, market fragmentation, slow standardsettingand skills shortages, which currently prevent ideas getting quickly to market;- revolutionise the way public and private sectors work together, notably through InnovationPartnerships between the European institutions, national and regional authorities and business.Reference Sites are highly inspirational ecosystems, delivering creative and workable solutionsthat improve the lives and health of older people: they are ecosystems which comprise differentplayers, including regional and/or local authorities, cities, integrated hospitals/care organisations,industry organisations, SMEs and/or start-ups, research and innovation organisations, that jointlyimplement a comprehensive, innovation-based approach to active and healthy ageing, and can giveevidence and concrete illustrations of the impact of such approaches on the ground.

Objectives of the call

Scope of the call is to select a new group of Reference Sites of the European Innovation Partnershipon Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA). After the first call of 2012, following a selfassessmentand peer review process, 32 Reference Sites from 12 Member States were recognized.

Characteristics of new Reference Sites

Candidate Reference Sites should:

• demonstrate that they have comprehensive strategies in place, or under development, whichdirect and guide policies and practices in the region, including supporting an active andhealthy ageing population. These may include Innovation Strategies, R&D Strategies, SmartSpecialisation Strategies, Older People Strategies, Education and Training Strategies,Economic Strategies, Regional Development Strategies;

• demonstrate how they are responding to health, societal, and economic challenges through astrategic “whole system approach” to deliver against the EIP on AHA triple win objectives:a) enabling EU citizens to lead healthy, active and independent lives until old age;b) improving the sustainability and efficiency of health and social care systems;c) fostering competitiveness and market growth by developing and deploying innovativesolutions;

• demonstrate the degree of their alignment with the EIP on AHA through both contributionsto the 3 EIP on AHA Pillars and commitments to adopt the relevant elements of the EIP onAHA Action Plans developed by the various Action Groups;

• demonstrate the degree they have developed, or are willing to develop, partnerships withother Regions for the transfer and exchange of good practice, and/or joint working onprojects to support health and care, including active and healthy ageing;

• be committed to contributing to the European evidence base demonstrating impact onoutcomes for patients and service users; effectiveness of developed solutions in meetingneed; and how provider organisations have adapted to deliver new services and servicemodels;

• demonstrate examples and evidenced impact of good practices and the degree that ReferenceSites have scaled up or that they are working to scale up smart health and care solutions foractive and healthy ageing.

Key assessment criteria

Reference Sites will receive a score, called ‘star status’, from 1 to 3. This ‘star status’ shoulddemonstrate their maturity in relation to the above mentioned characteristics.The Assessment Criteria for Reference Sites are based on the following themes:

• Political, Organisational, Technological and Financial Readiness;• Sharing learning, knowledge and resources for innovation;

• Contributing to European co-operation and transferability;

• Delivering Evidence of Impact against the triple win approach;

• Scale of demonstration and deployment of innovation.

Eligible applicants

Reference Sites must be an alliance or partnership of stakeholders within a region or majormetropolitan area. Stakeholders must be understood as any institution or entity that is in the positionto act on EIP on AHA topics, disregarding its legal status: regional political entities, health/socialprofessionals’ associations, hospital trusts, or private entities that work on EIP on AHA topics.The appropriate lead authority for health and social care in the region or area is expected to be afundamental stakeholder in any Reference Site partnership or alliance. Given the diversity of legalenvironments and backgrounds, no exhaustive list is provided by the call.

Project duration

The Reference Sites will be active for the next 3 years.

Deadline for submitting applications

15 April 2016

More information at

http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm?section=active-healthyageing&pg=sites

http://www.scale-aha.eu/call-for-reference-sites/

In case of interest please contact Leonor Norton (recerca@fsjd.org; lnorton@fsjd.org)