Based on a cooperation between Europe and Japan, e-VITA proposes an innovative approach of virtual coaching that addresses active and healthy ageing (AHA): cognition, physical activity, mobility, mood, social interaction, leisure, and spirituality. The e-VITA virtual coach provides personalized recommendations based on big data analytics and AI.
This could be shown in the proof-of-concept (POC) study of the project with encouraging quantitative and qualitative results from Europe and Japan. Nevertheless, objective well-being based on EQ5D questionnaire could not be changed, but subjective well-being was improved in several participants in all countries, as could been shown by the qualitative interviews.
In total 140 participants from four countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Japan) participated in the POC study, and used the e-VITA system for about 6 months. After the use of the e-VITA system the intervention group significantly improved in the physical (SPPB), emotional (GDS), and social (UCLA) domain against the control group.
Also, the more qualitative results of the POC study were very promising but also showed space for improvements of the coaching system. Promising exploitation opportunities have been identified by early adaptors. There are several impacts expectable if the e-VITA coaching approach is implemented in more countries and citizens.
The last period of the project was devoted to the selection of the Key exploitable results and to the preparation of the EU Horizon Results Booster (HRB), an innovative initiative aimed at enhancing exploitation opportunities for European projects within the Horizon Europe Program.
These services aimed to maximize the impact and visibility of the e-VITA foreground, which has been produced during the project. The e-VITA project was supported by the Horizon Results Booster experts using business oriented methodological and strategical approach that guided e-VITA project on accelerating the dissemination of research results through a business plan development and related exploitation strategy.
The HRB included a series of meetings, webinars and workshops where methodologies and tools were shared for the definition of a proper use model, the adoption of strategies consistent with the aims of the project, the identification of competitors and an action plan to implement the business model of e-VITA after the end of the project, thus encouraging and facilitating the transformation of scientific discoveries into concrete innovations.
The HRB significantly contributed to the e-VITA project by promoting its global competitiveness and addressing crucial challenges.
