A new £5.6m health and wellbeing project in the North East is expected to create 145 jobs and launch 45 new products and services.
The UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) is working alongside North of Tyne Combined Authority and deep tech innovation organisation CPI on the initiative.
They hope to engage with more than 600 businesses in the North of Tyne region to provide new opportunities and R&D innovations.
“The demands of our society are changing, and we must continue to innovate with the networks around us to drive social and economic change,” explained Professor Nicola Palmarini, Director of the UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing.
“We want to work with local businesses to build a world-class innovation ecosystem, providing economic and social opportunities and innovations, with a central focus on citizens and community that will mark this region as an international leader for IoCT innovation [Internet of Caring Things].
“We believe that our ability as a society to meet the needs and ambitions of our older residents more effectively – and critically that our solutions will be able to be transferrable nationally and internationally – will result in positive economic development and continued wellbeing of the ageing population.”
In the last 50 years, life expectancy has increased dramatically due to advances in science, medicine and public awareness, which is why organisations are looking to better engage with an ageing population.
The collaboration will focus on the concept of the Internet of Caring Things (IoCT), defined as a network of connected objects and cognitive systems designed to actively care for people, their physical and mental wellbeing, and what really matters to them.
“With many of us living longer, innovations to improve healthy ageing are critical for today’s society. We are looking forward to working with NICA, to turn our breadth of capabilities and R&D expertise into innovations and new business opportunities, leading to more regional investment and economic growth,” said Dr Arun Harish, Director of Strategy, CPI.
“This project will boost cross-sector collaboration and support businesses in North of Tyne to access relevant expertise, ultimately delivering innovations that meet the needs and priorities of residents in later life.”
