EUROPEAN ECONOMIC FORUM IN LODZKIE
29.10.2021, Lodzkie Region #multiplierevent
The European Economic Forum is a cyclical event organized by the Lodzkie Region, which has become
a permanent fixture in the calendar of the most important economic events in the country. The first EEF was held in 2007. The forum is a meeting place for thousands of entrepreneurs, businessmen, experts, representatives of local government units and government authorities. Participants discuss the prospects for the region, the economic development of the country and the possibilities of international cooperation.
Every year, the European Economic Forum attracts attention with a variety of subjects. The program covers topics in the field of, among others innovativeness and competitiveness of companies from the SME group, foreign trade, acquiring new markets, new technologies or managing and developing enterprises.
The event had a hybrid format, with attendees representing different sectors: R&D, SMEs, NGO;’s and public authorities, both present in Andels Hotel in Łódź, and on-line.
Within the I-CARE-SMART project two sessions were organized.
PANEL 2
INNOVATIONS IN THE CARE AND SUPPORT OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE ELDERLY #LODZKIE_SUPPORTS_SENIORS
Moderator:
dr Ewa Gabryelak, Marshal’s Office of the Lodzkie Region
Speakers:
Barbara Mazzarino, Si4Life, Italy
Kerstin Löffler, Stadt Graz, Valentina Pettinger, NOWA, Austria
Garbiela Figas, VRneck SOLUTION, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
Zoltan Kiss, Ujbuda, Hungary
The silver economy sector has great potential for business development in connection with the modern technology industry. Existing solutions, such as electronic patient data interchange, e-health, life-function wristbands and fall sensors, and rehabilitation equipment do not completely improve the quality of life of older people and meet all their health needs. It is possible to use modern technologies and successfully implement solutions that facilitate the lives of older people, while improving their efficiency or ensuring a sense of security. Innovations implemented and tested in day homes or nursing homes allow for motor activation and stimulation of the brain through the use of virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality.
The panel was attended by representatives partner organisations, creating innovative & smart solutions dedicated to improving the quality of life of older people. The presented ideas were selected as part of the international SilverStar Challenge competition addressed to innovators from Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Italy in the project “Innovative ecosystem for smart elderly care” I-CARE-SMART (Interreg Central Europe).
PANEL 4
SOCIAL POLICY #LODZKIE_SUPPORTS_SENIORS
Moderator:
Zofia Szymańska, Marshal’s Office of the Lodzkie Region
Speakers:
Magdalena Błaszczyk, Regional Center for Social Policy in Lodz
Robert Biegański, BRAWO R. Biegański, K. Biegańska
Maria Barbara Chomicz, Opoczno Poviat
Monika Wolak, Technology Incubator, Technical University of Lodz
During the panel, activities implemented in the Lodzkie Region aimed at helping the elderly were presented. A modern approach to the support system for people with disabilities and seniors assumes a departure from institutionalized forms of care in favor of supporting independence and organization of a social support network in their place of residence. Changing the way of thinking about the support of an elderly person, taking into account their needs and the possibility of functioning independently as long as possible, has its own economic (lower costs of organized care) and social reasons (due to the preferences of senior clients).
Creating conditions for the development of social services and activities aimed at creating tools available for caregivers of the elderly allow the implementation of innovative solutions and ensuring the safety of seniors. The expectations of the elderly, as an important group of consumers, concern, among others, spatial accessibility and adaptation of the place of residence to the state of health, or the availability of health services. The elderly are more likely than other groups to have health problems and require support, as is access to the care system. Activating the elderly means not only providing an offer of spending free time, sports and rehabilitation activities or a cultural offer, e.g. as part of the Universities of the Third Age.
AGENDA European Economic Forum Lodz, 2021
