The WIDER project final event and 2nd EU Road-show took place in Brussels on 21 May 2015, under the title "Ageing at home: fostering eco-designed and marketable solutions in MED area SMEs through innovation vouchers".
Around one hundred participants gathered to witness the presentation of 39 awarded innovative projects, whose design and implementation was possible thanks to WIDER Innovation Vouchers.
WIDER vouchers in fact allowed selected companies to innovate towards the emerging sectors of eco-smart housing for the elderly. Therefore, they discovered new potential for their own economic development, while addressing the European demographic challenge.
A dynamic presentation of the main projects’ features was followed by a roundtable discussion, giving participants a further insight into the successful WIDER methodology and results. It also constituted an opportunity to outline possible actions at EU level perceived as necessary in order to facilitate innovation with particular regard to the eco-smart housing for elderly related sectors.
Besides the project partners, among the participants there were representatives of DG SANCO, DG CONNECT and EASME, a MED JTS delegate, representatives of awarded SMEs, and consultants serving as knowledge and service providers within the WIDER project.
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The project Green groWing SMEs: Innovation and Development in the energy sector in mEd aRea (WIDER), is funded by the EU Programme MED (2007-2013).
The purpose of the project is to address the ageing trend and related social changes and challenges it presents,by using an innovative approach. In particular, it aims to enhance elderly customers’ lifestyle while helping them to use energy in a cleaner and better way and improve energy saving until autonomy of their residence.
For more information: radovanovic@cei.int
