For this reason, the Interreg Two Seas project SEAS2Grow has been launched. The aim is to accelerate innovations aimed at senior citizens and their carers. During this four-year project, 36 entrepreneurs with a care innovation were guided through living labs in four countries. The English, Belgian, French, and Dutch living labs ensured, among other things, that co-creation sessions and tests took place with senior citizens, informal carers and/or professionals.
Innovations with a silver lining
Innovations for seniors include a large market. The so-called European 'Silver Economy' is the largest in the world, with 96 million people aged over 60. Yet companies have difficulty entering this market. Making contact with the right organisations and people, the complexity of the care sector, the difference in the cost of care in different countries are among other things a major challenge for entrepreneurs. As a result, older people, carers and professionals in Europe do not benefit from all the innovations developed in European countries. And entrepreneurs with good innovation have difficulty selling and scaling up their products/services.
In addition, entrepreneurs gained insight into the market situation in other countries. They discovered how care and financing is arranged in these countries, who the competitors are, etc.
In this magazine all innovations are reviewed with the aim to inspire people and further accelerate innovations for seniors.
