Thematic meeting on transnational synthesis and SilverStar Challenge

On October 27th, another online meeting was held! All 7 Partner Countries of Central Europe has met to summarise foregoing actions and discuss next stages of the I-CARE-SMART project. As the final outcome is going to be a fusion of all cooperating regions' analysis, Needs Assessment Reports had to be presented. The Needs Assessment document focuses on business and seniors’ situation in the regions. These analyses allow all the project partners to work on transnational synthesis- one of the stages in the process of finding the best formula.

Later on, the particular solution will be introduced at the Silverstar Challenge event. Below we bring an insight into the idea presented on the meeting from our Austria-based partner City of Graz.

Persona:

Zita is 73 years old, lives in the city of Graz in a big flat in a Wilhelminian style buildings on the 3rd floor without an elevator. She has three children, four grandchildren and one dog. Her family lives not in Graz, therefore they do not see each other that often. Her husband died two years ago and since than she lives alone. She’s still mourning her husband and often feels alone in her home. Zita has retired but had worked at as an assistant at the doctor’s office of her husband. Therefore, she is financially secure due to her pension and some money from her husband.

Zita has some health problems: She is suffering from a mild depression due to the dead of her husband and often feels lonely and sad. Her husband was an important part of her life and cooking and taking care of matters for him gave her meaning in daily life. Now Zita often is bored and due to a lack of life enhancing activities is suffering from a mild cognitive decline.

 

Introduction to the business model

The key activities address co-creating better solutions for the elderlies and putting senior citizens in the centre of development processes in Graz even stronger. 

Contents of Business Model Canvas: 

  •         establishing and maintaining a network
  •         sign Co-Creation strongly in research
  •         financing sources: partnerships & sponsors 

Value proposition:

  • platform in Graz to work on social innovation for and with elderly people
  • offer various stakeholders access to co-creation as a method:
    - make collaborative thinking a more common tangible experience for start-ups, SMEs and larger companies as well as    
     - for public authorities and research institutions
  • active participation of senior citizens in creating, developing and testing new products and services 

Key activities:

  • connected with research, businesses, public authorities and end-users,
  • build and maintain a network with different stakeholders and experts of the Quadruple Helix,
  • clear catalogue of offers (research activities, defining target group, conducting co-creation sessions, real-life tests etc.),
  • promote the added value of co-creating within PR,
  • establishment and management of the consumer relationships and living lab network,
  • events and offers for end-users to build a community and to keep them motivated.
 

Customer segments and channels 

Customers:

  • businesses who want to develop smart products or services for elderly people
  • start-ups, students, SMEs and large companies which need support in co-creation
  • elderly people
  • research institutions in our area
  • public authorities 

Channels:

  • businesses and public authorities: network events and information through electronic media
  • seniors: social events, information events and personal contact
  • public exhibitions and fairs to reach businesses, associations, health care organizations as well as seniors relationship
  • one-time relationships and long-term relationships. 

The above presented business solution showcases the scheme that’s being used when analysing regional situation of elderly group of society and business among all 7 partner’s locations.

All the data collected, that is senior group problems and needs, business engagement obstacles and opportunities, technology tools and research - all these provides essential basis for further actions planned in the project. Data subsequently undergo the evaluation process- different perspective and particular arrangements are applied. This process is called transnational synthesis. Eventually, regional analyses are where the final solution derives from, but to bring some sort of significant change on the national level, the process of synthesis is crucial. The workflow presents how I-CARE-SMART's local ideas grow out of the reality of various regions in Central Europe, into the common-ground solutions and the real needs fulfilment!

As the project is now entering the transnational synthesis stage, you might want to stay with us and check for updates and news in the upcoming months!