The Pilots for Healthy Active Ageing (Pharaon) Open Call

Deadline: Dec 31, 2021  
CALL EXPIRED

BACKGROUND

The first Pharaon Open Call will fund individual applications (e.g., not consortia) with mature digital solutions that are ready to be integrated into the Pharaon platforms. Solutions must be aligned to resolve the needs of one or more of the Pilot sites or provide specified additional requested functionality. All solutions must conform to at least one of the Pharaon Pilot Challenges (PCHs) applicable to the pilot site(s) the Third-party project seeks to address. The PCHs are:

• PCH1 – The behaviour and the approach of elderly to friendly technological devices,
• PCH2 – Health status definition and its progress over time,
• PCH3 – Non-Intrusive Monitoring and Alarm Triggering,
• PCH4 – Promote social cohesion,
• PCH5 – Define specific personalized care plan on the basis of user´s needs,
• PCH6 – Reduce isolation and loneliness, enhancing the autonomy through connectivity and digital tools,
• PCH7 – Promote accessibility and the provision of proximity services through the use of IT platforms,
• PCH8 – Promote capacity building and awareness on green economy, citizenship and cultural traditions,
• PCH9 – Indoor Environmental Quality,
• PCH10 – Support to caregivers towards more efficient and personalized care services.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the pilot in Murcia are to improve telecare systems in the region, especially by empowering older adults to participate more directly in their care.

The objectives of the Andalusia pilot are focused on addressing unwanted loneliness and social isolation as well supporting wellbeing. Accordingly, the Andalusian pilot developed three use cases related to improving digital skills, community participation and cognitive stimulation.

The objectives of the Slovenian pilot are to reduce social isolation and loneliness, monitor and encourage physical activity, and to monitor and improve indoor environmental quality in retirement homes. Accordingly, the use cases addressed at the Slovenian pilot site focus on improving wellbeing, increasing social involvement and event participation, and supporting communication between peers and family.

The objectives of the Dutch pilot are to promote social cohesion and to reduce social isolation and loneliness by matching people and promoting healthy ageing through lifestyle coaching provided by technological solutions. Accordingly, the two main use cases being demonstrated are related to community building and providing tailored health advice to older adults.

The Italian pilot is split between two locations, Tuscany and Apulia. The primary objective of the Italian pilot is to improve quality of life for older adults living at home. In Tuscany, the priorities are to address socialisation and inclusion, as well as monitoring living conditions. In Apulia, the priorities are to provide physical and cognitive stimulation activities, while also providing solutions for socialisation and environmental monitoring.

The pilot in Portugal is divided between two locations, Amadora and Coimbra. The objectives of the Portuguese pilots are to develop and implement citizen focused solutions, integrated care and planning, integrated infrastructures and processes, and knowledge sharing. These pilots include a central focus on the relationship between the community, the environment, and the people living in them. Accordingly, the use cases addressed by the Pilot sites in Portugal are participation in community life, lifelong learning, and ensuring a safe and comfortable environment.

PRIORITY GAPS

Please refer to the official Open Call Text for complete descriptions of the needs for each pilot.

The priority gaps of the Murcia pilot are:

• to find innovative solutions that provide non-intrusive cardiac monitoring,
• devices capable of accurately measuring body weight and automatically sending this information to the Pharaon platforms, and
• a voice-based interaction system

The priority gaps and needs (by order) of the Andalusian pilot are as follows:

• A software solution that provides personalised cognitive stimulation, activity and progress monitoring, and coaching
• An e-learning platform with digital content for older people
• Development of an algorithm to match people with similar tastes and hobbies
• A virtual assistant that responds to voice commands instead of, or in addition to, a touch interface

The priority gaps of the Slovenian pilot are:

• Event listing platform with features that allow event organisers to list events, older adults to find events in their area and arrange attendance (RSVP, purchase tickets, etc.), and supporting transportation organisation to simplify transit between venues and retirement homes
• Personalisation of physical activity recommendations based on data tracked from wearables.

The priority gaps of the Dutch pilot are as follows:

• Virtual travel…
• Motivating and personalized coaching system
• Sharing memories

The priority gaps of the Italian pilot are as follows:

• Provide cognitive stimulation games (software application) for older adults, preferably with personalisable stimulation and tracking plans for users.
• Extend the physical exercises programme available on the Pharaon ecosystem, including with personalisation and tracking

The priority gaps of the Portuguese pilot are as follows:

• A digital application that promotes the engagement in nature preservation within cities, and the mental and physical activity of older citizens, but not exclusively.
• A domotic system to monitor and, ideally, prevent falls as well as detect early signs of illness.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

The expected outcomes for all third-party projects are:

• Projects must adapt and integrate their technology, device, software, or other solution to the Pharaon platform at the pilot site(s) addressed by the project.
• Projects must meaningfully demonstrate their solution at the applicable pilot site(s) within 6 months of signing the cascade grant agreement (between Pharaon’s cascade funding partner, InnoRenew CoE, and the beneficiary). Meaningful demonstration means a demonstration with a long enough period of time to show the functionality, impacts, and if applicable, for users to test the solution and provide feedback.
• Projects must address training for users and other project stakeholders (i.e., Pharaon consortium members, pilot site staff, other related community members) through provided training, training materials in the appropriate language for the pilot site(s), etc. The “training the trainers” approach is recommended.
• The solutions from the project must align with the needs and objectives detailed in Section 2 for the addressed pilot site(s).

FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THIS CALL

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to tailor their applications to the specific needs and circumstances of the pilot site(s) they wish to address. Addressing the priority gaps above, in line with the associated use cases and pilot challenges will ensure your application can be considered for funding.
• A developer handbook can be made available to successful applicants. Access to the project Github page will be available to successful applicants as well.

TIMETABLE

#StagesDate and time or indicative period

a)Publication of the call
01.10.2021

b)Deadline for submitting applications
31.12.2021, 17:00 CET

c)Info sessions for potential applicants (webinar) October 2021

d)Evaluation period January - February 2022

e)Information to applicants End of February 2022

f)Signature of Sub-grant agreement March 2022

g)Provisional starting date of the actionMarch or April 2022