Objective
The objective of the ERGOSYSTEM project is to reduce the amount of back injuries and pressure ulcers that occur in the caring industries. This will impact on the 26 billion euro annual combined cost of these two conditions through reducing the physiological stress experienced by caring professionals and in bed to wheel-chair transfers of incapacitated persons and varying the points of direct pressure bed-ridden persons are exposed to.
- Relevance to Cooperative Research ProjectsPan-European Consortium with SME-proposers and end-users capable of manufacturing and distributing the device and RTD-performers able to deliver The technology the SMEs cannot produce alone. SMEs will own all intellectual property generated in the project, allowing them to move up the supply chain and increase their competitiveness. Implementation of EC initiatives regarding aging populations.
- Scientific and Technological ObjectivesInnovative patient management system, which will greatly reduce the risk of back injury in care-workers and nurses when moving incapacitated persons from bed to wheel-chair and vice versa. A novel actuator, which will have many applications outside the project.
- Potential Impact, five years post market-entry: ~ delivered 200 000 ERGOSYSTEM units into the market; ~ allowed European Health Services to redirect 600m euro; ~ created 100m euro in economic value added for Consortium SMEs. A Dissemination of Use Plan will ensure all new knowledge is protected, disseminated and commercialized.
- Quality of the Consortium: Management and Resources SME-Proposers with high quality assets. The most suitable RTD-Performers in Europe. Well-connected large enterprise and sponsor groups. Equitable, democratic management structure with a detailed communication strategy. Sufficient resources and in depth, expert financial planning.
Call for proposal
FP6-2003-SME-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
COOPERATIVE -Coordinator
NORTH CRAWLEY
United Kingdom