Vicomtech supports with the latest technology the independence and improvement of the quality of life of the elderly

SHAPES is an international cooperation project that brings together the participation of 14 countries. It aims at creating an integrated IT platform that will bring together digital solutions focused on improving the health, wellbeing and independence of people as they get older.

This interoperable Platform will offer a network of large-scale interconnected digital services and products, that will empower older adults, families and caregivers, to solve real and meaningful problems. These solutions are intended for older adults facing a temporary or permanent reduction of functionality and capabilities, whether physical or psychological, but also to help those who are healthy to maintain their health and well-being for as long as possible.

Vicomtech, brings its experience in the field of natural language processing, artificial vision, Big Data systems and artificial intelligence to collaborate in the development of the SHAPES Technology Platform, as well as a set of digital solutions for the elderly to Validate in the project.

SHAPES will foster European industry and policymakers to find a means to successfully face the challenges of an aging population. In addition, it will push towards the development of value-based business models to open and scale-up the market for innovative digital health and care solutions and services, supporting and extending healthy and independent living. The programme will also impact on the long-term sustainability of health and care systems in Europe, in which current 25% of the population is represented by older people, according to the United Nations (UN).

The project is a collaboration between 36 organisations, led by the ALL (Assisting Living & Learning) Institute, University of Maynooth, Ireland. The project will last 48 months (from November 2019 to October 2023) and will involve a range of activities that go from the creation of the digital platform itself, to the development and improvement of 15 technological and social solutions aimed at supporting older people. These solutions will be tested by more than 2,000 older adults across the countries involved in SHAPES, so as to ensure that they are meaningful and suitable for users from different countries and cultures.  SHAPES provides for the collection and analysis of participants’ health, environmental and lifestyle experiences, in order to identify needs and provide personalized solutions, and in a way that upholds data protection requirements and ensures the user’s trust in the overall approach.

SHAPES will also involve hundreds of professionals from different areas of knowledge and practice, including health and social care, government, academia and industry. With an investment of almost 21 million Euro, SHAPES is a broad initiative to encompass the needs and expectations of older adults, a population group that, according to the United Nations, grows 3% on average per year.

An energetic and focused communication and dissemination plan will be used to promote the visibility of the project’s results among different stakeholders.

SHAPES’s member countries: Ireland, Belgium, Greece, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Germany.

In addition, in the group of advisory entities of the project, the Adinberri Foundation also participates, an initiative promoted by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa to respond to the strategic challenge of aging.

SHAPES is an initiative funded under the work program "Health, Demographic Change & Wellbeing" of the European Commission, specifically under the call "Smart & Healthy living at home" with id DT-TDS-01-2019 and has funding of 18,732,468.25 euros by the EU.