Do you have a solution that can make it possible for elderly and people with disabilities to live independently in their own home? The five Nordic capitals have joined forces to solve one of the biggest challenges the Nordic welfare model has ever faced – and invite both new and established innovators to participate in the Nordic Independent Living Challenge.
The Nordic Independent Living Challenge is for everyone in the Nordic region – from established welfare solution providers to students and startups. Also elderly and disabled with an innovative spirit are encouraged to sign up. The main prize is 1 million NOK (approx. 120.000 EUR). In addition, there is a 200.000 NOK cross-Nordic collaboration award and a 100.000 NOK student award.
Participants will get help turning their ideas into real products and test them with real users. They will get the possibility to introduce their solution to a growing Nordic market and collaborate with the capital cities – and to meet and network with fellow Nordic colleagues in the field.
In Finland, City of Helsinki and Forum Virium Helsinki are responsible for organising the Nordic Independent Living Challenge competition. The competition runs in four stages from 5ht January 2015 to June 2016.
The four stages of the competition
The registration is open until 18 March 2015. Everyone in the Nordic region can submit a proposal through on-line registration form. The registration form, Terms and conditions as well as Competition rules are available on the challenge competition webpage at www.realchallenge.info.
Out of all proposals, international jury will select 40–80 participants to take part in a Nordic Matchmaking Event in Copenhagen. This event will provide tools to further develop ideas by digging deeper into specific user needs and the design and usability of the solutions. Matchmaking event offers also a unique opportunity to interact with other applicants from across the Nordic region.
After the Nordic Matchmaking Event, participants will be invited to submit a new application. New members can be added to the teams, but at least one partner that has been part of the competition from the start must be included. Out of these applications, 15–25 will be invited to the next stage of the competition. During this stage participants will receive mentoring and support to develop their concepts further, including business plans and preparation for testing on real users.
The five finalists will be able to test their solution in the Nordic capitals. They will be asked to make a plan for implementation and the estimated impact on end users. The finalists will receive financial support of 300.000 NOK to cover expenses.
Boosting cross-border innovation
The Nordic Independent Living Challenge is a cornerstone of the Innovative Nordic Welfare Solutions project, aiming at making the Nordic region world leading within innovative health and welfare solutions with export potential. The project is one of five so-called lighthouse projects in the Nordic Cooperation Programme for Innovation and Business Policy 2014-2017, and is run by Nordic Innovation.
Nordic Innovation is a Nordic institution working to promote cross-border trade and innovation in the Nordic region. Working under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordic Innovation is a key player in implementing the Nordic Cooperation Programme for Innovation and Business Policy 2014-2017.
For more information, please contact:
Kaisa Spilling
Project manager
Forum Virium Helsinki
Kaisa.Spilling@forumvirium.fi
+358 40 744 8831