Methodological note

The identification of the most relevant priorities in the AHA field was carried out through desk-based research focused on the collection and analysis of over 60 scientific documents and relevant reports. This was followed by a consultation of approximately 90 members of the EIP on AHA Action Groups and the discussion of the findings and proposed R&I areas in a workshop with the 9 members of the Scientific Advisory Board. The final step of this process is to ask the EIP on AHA Action Group members to comment on the final R&I priorities that have been identified. These comments will be included in a final report which will support the development of the R&I roadmap for the EIP on AHA. This document will serve as basis for policy decision, hopefully influencing the definition of future research priorities.

• P1-RIA1 - Methods and technologies for improving health literacy

• P1-RIA2 - Methodologies for the co-creation of solutions

• P1-RIA3 - Lifestyle patterns and cultural differences of users

• P1-RIA4 - Population cohorts / user’s stratification for better personalised intervention

This priority addresses the need to raise awareness about the existing technologies and the impact they can have on improving the quality of life of older people and facilitating the provision of health and social care. It is a priority for the innovation and technology transfer agents to double their efforts in properly informing the users and educate them about the most recent technologies in the AHA sector. It includes the need for deeper knowledge on the user characteristics (e.g. age, gender) and specifications (e.g. social and cultural aspects) that can contribute for the development of better personalised interventions (e.g. changing from hospital-based models to home-centric approaches) and a more adequate design of new technologies and solutions for AHA. Also, it implies the active involvement of end-users in the definition and development phases of new solutions to ensure their appropriateness and suitability. Emphasis should be on improving the quality of care services, seeking to move from standardised health to personalised health under the motto “Less care is better care”.

• P2-RIA1 - Adoption of common terminologies

• P2-RIA2 - Knowledge management strategies

• P2-RIA3 - Skills and knowledge [within organisations] identification mechanisms

• P2-RIA4 - Growing awareness on AHA actors

• P2-RIA5 - Promote the dialogue amongst different actors

This priority refers to the need to bring together different actors in the AHA field and to get them “speaking” the same language and understanding each other’s roles in the development of the AHA sector. It is crucial that different sectors (e.g. closer cooperation between public and private sectors, with the first learning from the good practices of the latter) and areas of knowledge are able to work together on R&I initiatives, so that more comprehensive outcomes can be reached. SAB members highlighted that there is a need to accept that skills and expertise from the private sector are needed to create major innovations and a successful AHA sector.There is also a need to develop new working tools and methodologies for cooperation between sectors and actors from different cultures, languages, fields of knowledge, etc. Different and relevant stakeholders should be approached by eliminating communication barriers (e.g. common understanding of terminology) and by implementing knowledge management/sharing mechanisms, both of which are considered to be relevant aspects in this domain.

• P3-RIA1 - Mobile solutions

• P3-RIA2 - Social participation methods

• P3-RIA3 - Health literacy strategies

• P3-RIA4 - Translation of research results into a “common” language

This priority focuses on the need to equip and train patients with the appropriate knowledge and skills so that they are able to understand their health condition and to adopt available solutions to manage their health and quality of life. Healthcare and social care providers play a key role in this area, namely in demystifying and clarifying prevention, care and cure aspects to the patients and citizens in general. Furthermore, it is also necessary that they translate the technical jargon into a “common” language so that patients (and citizens) are able to clearly understand the specific aspects of their cases and how they can act to better manage their health and lifestyle.

• P4-RIA1 - Risk factors, determinants and patterns of multi-morbidity

• P4-RIA2 - Methods and tools to assess the impact of preventive interventions

• P4-RIA3 - Development of biomarkers

• P4-RIA4 - Strategies for the promotion of healthy lifestyles

This priority relates to the evidence on the increase of chronic diseases and frailty amongst older people. In an ageing population such as Europe has today, tackling the challenges related to functional decline and loss of independence, namely through preventive measures that can contribute to the maintenance of the quality of life, are seen as a main area of concern and therefore a significant domain for further R&I initiatives. Besides, the need to move towards a proactive and preventive care (rather than continuing on a reactive care paradigm) has been highlighted and is nowadays being addressed by the healthcare systems of several European regions.

• P5-RIA1 - Definition and adoption of common standards

• P5-RIA2 - Integration of care services

• P5-RIA3 - Knowledge about barriers for the interoperability of systems

• P5-RIA4 - Regulatory framework

This priority refers to the need for deeper knowledge on the existing barriers to the interoperability of systems across healthcare systems, as well as across health domains and countries (e.g. existing national infrastructures may not be yet prepared to respond to interoperability requirements). Standardisation plays an emerging role on enabling interoperability, especially regarding cross-European interoperable frameworks. Therefore, focus should be placed on the identification of data transmission details and on the technical requirements needed, so proper (and hopefully common) standards can be defined and implemented.

• P6-RIA1 - Enhance knowledge about the heterogeneity of the market/consumers

• P6-RIA2 - Identification of key partners for deployment

• P6-RIA3 - Reimbursement policies regarding health services

• P6-RIA4 - Impact assessment of the adoption of new solutions

• P6-RIA5 - IPR support mechanisms for SMEs

• P6-RIA6 – Feasibility studies on outcome-based models in Europe

This priority is linked to the need for new business models that can support the market uptake of the new solutions in the AHA market. These models have to be based on a thorough understanding of the different markets and consumers – the EU market is strongly fragmented -, so the constraints and challenges of introducing a new solution can be overcome. A wider knowledge of key players in the AHA arena could also have a relevant impact in this area. Furthermore, issues regarding Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) need to be investigated so that the owners of the solutions are protected in this very competitive market. It will be important to study the feasibility of the existing outcome-based models and possible alternatives to ensure a proper European care and health system.

• P7-RIA1 - Social participation strategies

• P7-RIA2 - Impact assessment of existing models (on social and health conditions

• P7-RIA3 - Identification of good practices at international level

• P7-RIA4 - Multidisciplinary interventions (health, housing, social, urban planning…)

• P7-RIA5 - Foresight studies for the European age-friendly context

This priority focuses on the need for the ageing population to remain active in society and to prevent the exclusion of older people. This calls for age-friendly environments and communities where older people can remain active and engaged in society. Considering the specific qualities of an ageing population, R&I initiatives should try to contribute to the definition of inclusive and multidisciplinary intervention strategies such as adjusting urban and rural architecture fostering new models for participation in the labour market, etc.

• P8-RIA1 - Benchmark studies on financing models

• P8-RIA2 - Interoperability of national research programmes/funding mechanism

• P8-RIA3 - Alternative funding mechanisms (e.g. funding schemes for industrialisation phases)

• P8-RIA4 - Impact assessment of existing models

• P8-RIA5 - Methodologies to encourage the participation of the private sector in AHA

There is a need to find new ways and financing mechanisms to support the development of innovative technologies and solutions for AHA, which can include private financing schemes, crowdfunding models, etc. It will be important to understand how the funding models can be extended to also cover the early stage of the commercialisation of technologies, and not only the Research and Innovation phases. This might be supported by impact assessment studies on the added-value of the current models. The importance of the private sector in the future of AHA was highlighted on a number of occasions during the discussions, as can be seen in Priority P2, when SAB members emphasised the importance of private sector skills. Also, SAB members stressed the importance of the integration of public and private funding and the threat of competing markets in China and the US. The role of the government in integrating the private sector in AHA is paramount to making it a success in the future. The right conditions within the industry need to be created, and there should be a focus on SMEs (P8-RIA5). Exploring the P8-RIA3, SAB members defended that the possible economic incentives of sharing medical data (e.g. Projects such as VISC+ in Cataluña, Spain) should be investigated along with the development of a network made up of public and private investors. Regarding P8-RIA4 they stressed that a metrics framework is needed to measure the quality of life implications as a tool to stimulate investment. These are metrics for companies and this can stimulate the systemic innovation. A shift from SMART targets to HARD targets is also needed. There are many existing technologies and solutions, let’s give these solutions some numbers (impacts).

• P9-RIA1 - New forms of data access and privacy

• P9-RIA2 - Responsible data management and security

• P9-RIA3 - Big Data

• P9-RIA4 - Identification of good practices at international level

• P9-RIA5 - Professional ethics

This priority is connected to the need to ensure the adoption and implementation of ethical patterns in R&I initiatives for the progress of modern science. Particular attention has to be given to strategies that can ensure data privacy and protection, looking for measures that can tackle the fragile nature of existing digital security systems. Furthermore, data management is increasingly more important and therefore there is a need for new methods that can support the analytical management and ethical use of the results.

• P10-RIA1 – Re-thinking the education and training of AHA professionals in new care and health models

• P10-RIA2 - Education and training models on AHA for decision-makers

• P10-RIA3 – Education and training models on AHA for the general public

The positive relationship between education and health is widely acknowledged. It becomes imperative to educate people to deal and manage health issues, seeking to achieve a good understanding of a life course perspective on ageing. New education and training models should allow more effective intergenerational links and more self-responsible role in health preservation. Also, informed decision-makers can contribute to the development of AHA policies and the swift implementation of measures to improve the quality of life of the population and the quality of the care services. Finally, AHA professionals need to be trained and equipped with the skills required to respond to the care models (e.g. home-centric approaches) and technologies.