One of the projects in which the NetHub business accelerator participates as a technical assistance provider is “SI4CARE” (“Social Innovation for integrated health CARE of ageing population in ADRION Regions”). This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the INTERREG V-B Adriatic-Ionian Transnational Cooperation Program 2014–2020.
The main goal of the project—which began in December 2020 and is scheduled for completion in May 2023—is to create an effective long-term care ecosystem. This ecosystem is built on social innovation processes, enabled by digitalization, and strengthened by national and regional legal frameworks to support the elderly population. Population analysis indicates that in the countries within the Adriatic-Ionian program area, the proportion of elderly individuals with declining functional abilities requiring long-term care services will triple over the next 40 years. The project goal will be achieved primarily through the establishment of a collaborative network of project partners, the implementation of planned pilot actions, and the development of a transnational strategy with accompanying national/regional action plans.
To ensure successful implementation, work has begun on the Adriatic-Ionian Transnational Strategy, the Action Plan for Improving the Care System for the Elderly in Split-Dalmatia County, and the execution of a planned pilot activity: an innovative sensory IoT solution at the Lovret Home for the Elderly and Infirm. This pilot involves the use of smart bracelets that monitor the vital parameters of elderly residents. The main objective of the Action Plan is to use modern digital innovations to enhance the quality of care systems for the elderly, which is particularly vital under current pandemic conditions.
The long-term establishment and development of successful, creative collaboration between the healthcare and IT sectors—to which NetHub is dedicated—will significantly contribute to the SI4CARE project. The challenging times in which we live and work directly affect innovation processes and the functioning of health and social care systems. Ultimately, mitigating these negative impacts will significantly improve the quality of care, which is of vital importance for the entire population of the County.