Life expectancy will continue to increase, yet unhealthy life years make up around 20% of a person's life. Therefore active and healthy ageing is a societal challenge shared by all European countries, but it is also an opportunity. It is a chance for Europe to establish itself as a global leader that is capable of providing innovative solutions.

The European Monitor of Industrial Ecosystems 2021 report highlights:

The webinar will focus on the health-tech sector specifically as it is an increasingly important sector in Europe due to the challenges that come with aging societies. The webinar seeks to explore inspirational good practices that support SMEs in the health-tech sector in their growth and product/service development.

Keynote speech 

Interreg Europe good practices in the spotlight 

The primary objective of the vouchers is to facilitate the transfer of advanced knowledge and technology from R&D centres to SMEs and entrepreneurs in the health sector in San Sebastian. The vouchers offer an incentive for materializing technology and advanced knowledge transfer. The learning value of this practice for other policymakers lies in its ability to connect R&D centers with the business ecosystem, addressing the common disconnect between advanced centers and SMEs in this field. 

HIPÂ is a living lab focusing on products meant for the elderly. It offers a useful space for business to test out their new innovative solutions specifically targeted to the elderly. The byproduct of the practice is also new collaborations between the medico-social sector and businesses. Therefore, HIPÂ living lab supports SME innovation while also tackling a critical issue of aging societies.