DkIT leads the way in EU research for its innovations in smarter living for older people

NetwellCASALA, the Research Centre for Ageing at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), has been named as a top-four competitor in the upcoming EU Innovation RADAR Awards 2017.

Technology is set to play a significant part in enhancing the ability of older people to live longer in their own homes and NetwellCASALA is focused on researching and developing technologies that not only enhances this ability, but also empowers older people to be able to take control of their health and wellbeing within their home and communities.

The Innovation RADAR Awards recognises outstanding innovations in research in EU funded projects across Europe and NetwellCASALA is one of only four innovators in the Technology for Society category of this year’s competition. The innovation which has been recognised by the awards body is the SIMS (Subject Information Management System) platform which was developed in Dundalk and is currently an integral part of the ground-breaking ProACT EC Horizon 2020 project in conjunction with Trinity College. The winner of the awards will be announced in Budapest in November.

The SIMS platform was developed in-house by Dr. Julie Doyle, Senior Researcher at NetwellCASALA and Shane Gavin, Senior Software Developer, which is a fantastic coup for this local team at Dundalk Institute of Technology.

“We are really delighted by this nomination” said Rodd Bond, Head of Research at NetwellCASALA “ProACT is a game changing project, demonstrating how older people with multiple chronic conditions, with the support of their care network, can better manage their health and wellbeing from home. It is a fantastic project to be involved in and it is wonderful that the SIMS platform, which we developed here in Dundalk, is seen as one of Europe’s highest potential innovations in EU funded research and innovation projects” he added.

If you are interested in the research that NetwellCASALA is working on to support and empower older people please go to www.netwellcasala.org for more information.