Preparation of a joint action plan to support the emergence and growth of silver ECOnomy European ECOsystems and strengthening their efficiency, capacity, interconNECTivity and inclusivity.

Project Information

Senior Eco-Nect

Grant agreement ID: 101070772

DOI

10.3030/101070772

Project closed

EC signature date 13 June 2022

Start date 1 July 2022

End date 30 June 2024

Funded under

• European innovation ecosystems

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 497 325,00

Coordinated by

EURASANTE
France

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Senior Eco-Nect (Preparation of a joint action plan to support the emergence and growth of silver ECOnomy European ECOsystems and strengthening their efficiency, capacity, interconNECTivity and inclusivity.)

Reporting period: 2023-07-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The term “silver economy” designates the economy of the older population or the sum of all economic activities and the whole range of products and services that serve the needs of people aged 60 and over.
Senior Eco-Nect project is based on a series of findings : 1/ Silver Economy is a solution to the increasing proportion of older population in Europe which is one of the main challenges the EU is facing; 2/ Silver Economy generates innovations, as innovators are attracted by an increasing silver market and non-covered needs of older people revealed by the recent crisis; 3/ Silver Economy is highly fragmented as it is a transversal economic sector composed of a large diversity of stakeholders, combined with the heterogeneity of policies in Europe.

Senior Eco-Nect objective is to prepare a joint action plan to support the emergence and development of the European ecosystems dedicated to silver and ageing economy as well as ensuring the inclusivity and interconnectivity between all the key innovation stakeholders of the sector and cross-sectors. The partnership is composed of 4 regional innovation ecosystems (Hauts-de-France, Southern Ireland, Slovenia, Galicia) as well as 2 partners representing European networks (Accessible Tourism ; Sport and Innovation), committed to establish a Joint Action Plan of 5 years after the project’s closure.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The Senior Eco-Nect Project began on July 19th, 2022, and concluded with final results on June 30th, 2024.

The Handbook and Policy Recommendations:
To better understand the silver economy ecosystems and their challenges, Senior Eco-Nect partners conducted:
6 working groups on different themes (e.g. public policies, senior nutrition), forming the basis for Policy Recommendations and partly for the Handbook.
4 ecosystem visits in Arras, Cork, Ljubljana, and Santiago.

Mapping of the Ecosystems:
We established a Senior Eco-Nect dataspace to store project files and information, including questionnaires and their responses. The Interactive Mapping and SWOT questionnaire are accessible there for the project team. The interactive map page design prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity, allowing users to click, filter by sector, and offering a color contrast option. The questionnaire is available in Spanish and English. A total of 157 solutions are registered and represented in the mapping.

SWOT Analysis:
We produced a regional survey analyzed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the senior innovation ecosystem across various sectors, contributing to the Handbook (WP2) and Stakeholder Outreach Strategy (WP3). Informed by the SWOT analysis and other EU senior economy studies, a Market Study detailed the silver economy ecosystem at the EU level, identifying challenges and opportunities, and emphasizing collaboration. Based on these findings, partners developed a strategy to address challenges and leverage opportunities for a sustainable European silver ecosystem, guiding the Joint Action Plan (WP5) and benefiting external organizations.

Joint Action Plan:
The knowledge and expertise gained in previous work packages informed the Joint Action Plan. An outline was created, discussed, and enriched by all partners. Presented during the Senior Eco-Nect Summit in June 2024, the plan is supported by 36 partner organizations through letters of support.

Outcomes
4 silver economy ecosystems committed to a joint action plan
37 new stakeholders across the quadruple helix identified to be part of silver economy ecosystems
16 public authorities took part in the project’s activities
6 transversal areas, beyond the scope of health and care, integrated in silver economy (nutrition, sports, tourism & hospitality, housing, education, smart/tech)
1 strategy for applying to calls to fund the Joint Action Plan

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

In the first year, the project focused on WP2, addressing Objectives 1, 2, and 5, enhancing knowledge and support for four European ecosystems beyond the health sector. Workshop findings and good practices informed the Policy Recommendation Report (R1) and the Handbook (R2) on supporting silver economy innovation ecosystems, which can be transferred to new regions to foster ecosystem emergence and innovation.

Stakeholder outreach and mapping clarified the understanding of the silver economy and stakeholder roles. Key needs identified include clear communication of questionnaire details and addressing the challenge of evaluating returns from numerous European projects.

The mapping process, crucial for reaching targets, supported the D3.2 European Silver Economy mapping report (R3, R4) and the D3.3 Stakeholder Outreach Strategy (R5). The SWOT analysis, with 108 responses from four regions, identified opportunities in tourism, hospitality, and healthcare, but highlighted challenges such as poor networks and lack of support. The SWOT informed a report on the silver economy's progress and needs in the EU and partner states, leading to a strategy (R7) addressing ageing population dynamics and silver economy development.

For further success, a larger SWOT survey sample from more European regions is recommended to ensure comprehensive results. Future comparisons could assess progress over time.

The Joint Action Plan (R8), based on phase 1 results, includes objectives, activities, target groups, and outcome indicators, supported by quadruple helix organizations. A flyer summarizing the plan was disseminated. Funding opportunities for the plan are under review, with project ideas in development involving new Senior Eco-Nect partners.

diagram - overall presentation of WP, objectives and results