21 UK innovators among global winners in healthy ageing contest
An app which encourages exercise by generating music as you move, faster access to orthotics and a toolkit for people with dementia are some of the innovations securing world-wide recognition.
They are three of 21 British innovations named as winners in September 2022, in the Global Healthy Ageing Catalyst Awards .
- BraNeS will use ‘movement sonification’ – the real-time production of sound through the user’s movement. It’s currently spreading within youth and music subcultures through new products aimed at primarily young audiences. This project will adapt that technology for older people to encourage physical activity and social interaction.
- A Derby-based project will recruit elderly stroke patients with ankle mobility problems. Their ankle-foot section will be 3D scanned, and automated shape-capture process, currently only done by 3% of NHS Trusts. The resulting custom designed orthotic will then be 3D printed, using a sustainable material made from castor oil. They should get their orthotic in fewer than 5 days rather than up to 12 weeks which is the current wait time.
- My Day is a phone-based or tablet-based toolkit which will provide information about dementia, practical strategies, and digital tools to help people manage their daily lives. My Day is intended to help people learn about dementia and to share this with trusted family or friends. Collecting information over time can also help to spot early signs of change. This means more help can be put in place.
The Catalyst awards harness the most innovative, cutting edge and blue-sky ideas of researchers, the businesses they work with, and others. This is to create practical, scalable products and services that support us as we age.
Funded by UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) healthy ageing challenge in the UK, winners are also part of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) healthy longevity global competition. UK winners are also eligible for the later stages of that, including a $5 million grand prize.
A full list of the global winners, including those in the UK, was announced in the US in October 2022.
UKRI healthy ageing challenge director, George MacGinnis, said:
Researchers and innovators, particularly those with an entrepreneurial spirit, are ideally placed to develop and deliver ideas to help all of us to stay active, productive and socially connected across the generations both now, and as we get older. This year’s winners include imaginative approaches to both the physical and social aspects of ageing and address issues that affect wider society.
Further information
The Catalyst awards are providing 60 grants over 3 years for academics based at UK research organisations to explore innovative ideas with the potential to transform the physical, mental, or social well-being of people across the world as they age.
In addition to a grant of up to £62,500 per project, award holders will benefit from a structured, nine-month part-time programme of support. This will accelerate ideas and work with researchers to maximise the reach and impact of their work.
All ideas are expected to fit with the priority areas of the UKRI healthy ageing challenge. These include:
- physical activity
- maintaining health at work
- age-friendly homes
- supporting social connections
- better nutrition
- finance products for older people.
Related programme
Healthy Ageing Community of Practice
The Healthy Ageing Community of Practice is a collaborative learning community for businesses, social ventures, researchers, investors and policymakers to connect and share knowledge and insights in relation to healthy ageing.