IDEABLE and ESKILARA, partners of the IOANNA project, organized in Bilbao on February 20 the conference “Innovative Technologies to transform the future of aging in Bizkaia” with the aim of bringing to the municipalities, companies and citizens cases of good practices around Silver Silver economy or economy in Bizkaia, and more specifically, the success case of the IOANNA Project.

The event had the participation of the Bizkaia Provincial Council, as well as other entities such as the SSI Group, the leading end user organization in Bizkaia and with experience in AAL programs. Likewise, a large group of potential stakeholders within the territory attended it, such as other end user entities, local businesses, municipalities, SMEs, and potential primary users.

Iurdana Izurza, advisor at the social action department of the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, presented Etxetic Project, a project aimed to develop a pilot to test new formulas to take care of people who remain at their homes and promote their independence.

The IOANNA solution was afterwards presented by Iñaki Bartolomé ( CEO Ideable Kwido, expert in solutions e-Health Care, Silver Economy, digital transformation) to local municipalities and public entities, with the aim that they function as promoters of the tool, so that it is free for both professionals and older people and their families. “We offer a double benefit to the municipalities that we think are very interesting, improving the provision of services to the elderly and, therefore, their quality of life, and at the same time promoting the work of local businesses within the silver economy sector”, explained Iñaki Bartolomé.

Next, Susana Romero, Psychogerontologist, Head of the Knowledge Management Area and Researcher at SSI Group, presented some of the projects in which SSI participates at both local and international level. The objective of this group is to provide a comprehensive response to the social needs of older people as well as the most vulnerable people residing in the Basque Country.  For this, it focuses on 4 areas: social intervention, innovation, employment and entrepreneurship and finally knowledge management.

Finally, an open debate was held among all participants during which real needs of older people in in relation to promoting their autonomy and advanced proximity services following the example of IOANNA were discussed, as well as the added value of technological solutions around those needs.