Pilot location of SmartCare project – Kraljevo has been awarded “Reference Site” status by European Summit on Active and Healthy Ageing – EIP on AHA. This is the first time that location in Serbia participates in European Summit on Active and Healthy Ageing initiative.
The Reference Site status is granted to organisations who have demonstrated excellence in the development, adoption and scaling up of innovative practices for active and healthy ageing, in line with the strategic objectives of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) and particularly the European Scaling Up Strategy for Innovation in Active and Healthy Ageing. The Scaling Up strategy supports the European Commission priority of establishing a Digital Single Market to unlock online opportunities for digital products and services.
This status has been granted due to exceptionally results in implementation of SmartCare project done by Belit in partnership and close collaboration with Health Centre Kraljevo and Centre for Social Work in Kraljevo.
A record 74 regions from across Europe – from Oulu, Finland, to Heraklion-Crete, Greece and from Andalucía, Spain to Olomouc, Czech Republic – have been awarded the status of Reference Sites, as part of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA). They were selected through a process of applications and detailed peer-review based on the Call for Reference Sites 2016, which assessed their commitment to invest in, deploy and transfer innovative digital solutions for active and healthy ageing.
The title of “Reference sites” means that regional alliances – that encompass government authorities, industry and start-ups, research organisations and civil society – are recognised for demonstrating excellence in the implementation and scaling up of the most innovative products and services designed to meet the needs of their ageing populations. Together the 74 reference sites have committed to invest over € 4 billion in the next three years in the deployment and scaling up of digital innovation for active and healthy ageing (AHA). Targeting the digitally-enabled services in digital health and connected care, this investment is expected to benefit over 5 million people in the next 3 years. It will also lay the foundations for a scalable EU market for digital innovation services and products meeting the needs of Europe’s ageing population and their carers.