Smart Ageing Synergies: Strengthening Interregional Innovation through Living Labs and Digital Hubs

ongoing

Project aims to develop and scale innovative Smart Ageing solutions across Europe (Romania, Greece, Portugal, Canary Islands, Finland, Catalonia), focusing on creating a robust ecosystem that integrates SMEs, public authorities, research institutions, and regional innovation hubs. By establishing a network of Digital Living Labs in diverse regions, the project will co-create, test, and validate solutions designed to support active and healthy ageing. These Living Labs will serve as real-world environments where end-users, including elderly citizens and caregivers, can engage directly with new technologies, ensuring solutions are user-centered and aligned with local needs. The project will map and strengthen regional value chains, fostering interregional cooperation to address specific challenges in the Smart Ageing sector. Through targeted capacity-building initiatives, we aim to equip SMEs with the skills and tools required to engage in interregional business activities, support digital transformation, and improve market readiness. The project will further establish a Regional Innovation Ambassador Network to enhance cross-border governance and facilitate knowledge exchange. Ambassadors will act as liaisons, connecting local SMEs with opportunities across Europe, fostering collaboration, and ensuring alignment with EU priorities, particularly under the Smart Specialization Strategies (S3). To ensure the sustainability of project outcomes, a comprehensive exploitation and dissemination plan will be developed. This includes engaging stakeholders through workshops, webinars, and EU networks such as the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), and S3 Thematic Platforms. Additionally, an interregional investment pipeline will be created to connect validated business cases from Living Labs with investors, ensuring that high-potential solutions receive the support needed to scale across Europe.