Innovators wanted for a fast growing market!
Innoclusion – caring (for) innovation
With this call, we are looking for digital and innovative solutions that will tackle the needs and challenges of
- Social service providers and their personnel
- Our elderly and / or disabled fellow citizens
- Their relatives
- All the members of the caring community who stand on their side
Click on the logos to learn more about us and our living labs!
In Croatia and in Germany 22% of the population is 65 and older (in 2022). Forecasts for 2050 predict more than 30% (in Croatia) and more than 36% in Germany. The number of people who have disabilities but are under 65 must also be added here. This shows the enormous need for supply and the corresponding market potential.
Innoclusion is a transnational innovation project co-funded by the European Union. Under the project leadership of Diakonie Baden care providers and innovation hubs set up und run four Living Labs in Crotia and Germany to make the world a better place for those who are challenged by disabilities and the results of something that sooner or later affects all of us: the aging process.
As care providers and innovators we care for our fellow citizens in the truest sense of the word. To enable and foster the inclusion of our fellow citizens into our societies and to care for them in a human way we need substantial technical and social innovations.
Our Labs for your solution
New technologies are developed all over and it’s time to apply them to tackle our societal challenges in the sphere of social services. To foster this transformation, we establish our labs integrated into our care facilities. They are the place to be for ambitious teams to present their innovative solutions to users and buyers for in-depth evaluation and co-development.
Your solution to our challenges?
Below you find the first nine most important challenges we and our clients face. If you think your solution will support us to tackle them successfully, apply for a place in one of our Living Labs. When we succeed together a huge market will welcome your product.
Call for application!
Tackle our Challenges!
Become a part of Innoclusion and get access to the fast-growing European care market.
Why you should apply
In our aging societies, the market for care innovations is rapidly expanding. As we strive to enhance the quality of care and promote inclusion, there is a pressing need for both technical solutions and socio-technical innovations.
At our Living Labs, we offer a unique opportunity for you and your team. Here’s what you can expect:
1. Real-Life Testing and Development: Test, develop, and evaluate your solutions with end users in real-life conditions. Our environment becomes your development space.
2. Business Model Support: We assist in creating a business model tailored to the complex care market. Drawing from our extensive knowledge, such as Diakonie’s 10,000 facilities in Germany, we help customize your solution for success.
3. Client and Family Approval: If your solution impresses our clients and their families, we support your market development. Our endorsement and social-political network facilitate the rollout and dissemination of your innovative solutions in EU markets.
How to become a part of Innoclusion?
Tackle our Challenges!
How you can apply?
You can apply to provide a solution to one or more of the challenges described below. You will find the link to the application form in the description of the challenges. You must submit a separate application for each solution.
Please follow the instructions of the application form thoroughly. Incomplete or incorrectly completed application forms will not be considered. The application does not give rise to any legal claims. Please consider our terms & conditions before you apply for becoming a part of Innoclusion.
Who can apply?
Solution providers – We are open to young innovative companies, which are often referred to as start-ups and scale-ups. But if you and your team are working for an established company, we are open to your application as well. And even if you are a student team that has not yet founded the company, don’t hesitate.
For the application there are two prerequisites:
– Your technical solution has already reached TRL 5 or higher. If you are not sure about this see the TRL EU definition.
– You and your team are willing to collaborate with us in one or more of our labs on site in Croatia and/or Germany.
The further application process
From all applications, we select 40 potential solutions for an internal evaluation. From these, we select 10 teams to invite to become part of Innoclusion and work with us in one or more of our labs.
Project duration
There is no pre-set duration for your membership of our living lab. During the onboarding process we will develop a timeline and milestones for the joint project. Progress will be continuously evaluated. Unless otherwise agreed, participation in one of our Living Labs projects will automatically end with the end of the EU co-funded project Innoclusion project no.101102458.
Timeline
Application is open from 01.03.2024 to 31.03.2024.
The selection process will take from 01.04.2024 to 15.04.2024.
We will start the onboarding process of the selected teams no later than four weeks after commitment.
Afterwards, the Living Labs are expected to continue.
Any questions? Requests? Don’t hesitate to ask or give feedback! innoclusion.info@innowerft.com
The Challenges to tackle
01 – Optimization of the process of monitoring and reporting on the provision of social services
Paperless, digital monitoring and reporting solution for social services provision, which relieves the burden and saves time on social service providers and users. It enables individual and summary real-time records and overview of the provided social service, aggregation of data for reporting.
02 – Social service beneficiary activity monitoring
Digital solution which will track and alarm whether the social service beneficiary is active (does daily activity) which suggests that the user is ok/alive and there is no need for emergency intervention.
03 – Just in time medication tracker and reminder for elderly or their guardians
Medication diary – it will help elderly people to take the right medicines and doze on time. It will also help the user or the guardian to more easily monitor and track the overall use of medicines by the user.
04 – Low-threshold Video Call System
People with disabilities live in Diakonie Kork. Often there are considerable distances between residents and their families. They need a low-threshold and barrier-free system that allows them to get into contact remotly by following simple steps.
05 – Digital village square
In outpatient living, individuals with disabilities often feel lonely. We are looking for a solution that helps them to overcome the difficulty of making independent contacts and the lack of integration into activities.
06 – Prevent falls & strengthen sense of safety
Many elderly feel unsafe alone, and carers hesitate to leave them. We need a solution for automated health monitoring and movement analysis.
07 – Communication with different groups & task management
The organisation of on-site care and administrative tasks count for 30% of the workload of carers and caring relatives. To reduce both work and mental load we look for an easy to use integrated communication and task management tool.
08 – Reaching people with dementia in their challenging behavior
Carers and nursing staff struggle to promptly reach people with dementia due to time constraints and a lack of suitable tools for engagement. We are looking for a solution that helps us to provide quick and easy access to people with dementia.
09 – Lifeline for those seeking companionship, engagement, assistance, and safety
Isolated elderly face growing loneliness. With younger generations gone, the elderly lack vital social connections. They are left over without food for soul and mind. To help improve their live, we need a solution that helps them connect with others, access important services, and stay safe.
Frequently asked questions
My solution doesn't fit into any of the 9 scenarios, what should I do?
Definitely still apply and select „10 – My solution doesn’t fit into any of the scenarios“ from the selection options under „Your Solution“ in the form.
Can I apply for multiple challenges or Living Labs?
Yes.
Will companies be reimbursed for their efforts?
The project is co-financed by the EU. The aim is to facilitate access to the social economy for companies. Direct financial participation from the EU is not envisaged. The project’s goal is for suitable solutions to be applied in the social economy, which will then be reflected in a regular business relationship.
What effort (time & resources) should a company expect?
The effort required heavily depends on the type of solution. In the spirit of cooperative collaboration, it is in everyone’s interest for the solution to be comprehensively presented, implemented, tested, and evaluated.
Is there staff available to support solutions in the Living Lab?
The goal is to test solutions with the target audience. If additional support personnel are needed temporarily, this can be arranged on an individual basis.
How long is the testing phase?
The duration of the testing phase depends on the solution and can range from a few weeks to several months. After the project ends in October 2025, the Living Labs will continue to exist and offer the option to continue testing solutions with the target audience.
When is the project end date?
In October 2025 – Afterwards, the Living Labs are expected to continue.
The Innoclusion project is co-financed by the European Union
