INTERSPREAD GmbH

INTERSPREAD is a research and innovation company active on a global scale. Indeed, a truly global mindset is reflected in all activities when collaborating with cross-disciplinary clients active in different industries. Considering the state of the art in digital transformation technologies INTERSPREAD provides intelligent technologies, valuable services, market assessments and sustainable solutions to clients. Our clients include publicly listed technology companies, research organizations, governments, NGOs, and industrial sector. INTERSPREAD was founded in 2014 as a spinoff of a leading research organization. Thus, people at INTERSPREAD hold profound knowledge on the management and coordination of large-scale transnational projects. An extensive pool of knowledge is also shared with the well-established sister company.

Therefore, INTERSPREAD also puts a strong emphasis on research, from which valuable insights into issues of societal relevance can be understood to foster a more inclusive, reflective and sustainable society. Rather than focusing on one special subject in social sciences, INTERSPREAD attaches great importance to interdisciplinarity and focuses on innovative fields of research such as Social Interaction Design, Mobile Marketing Strategies, Collaborative Systems, Collective Intelligence, or Smart Social Media Applications. The used research processes and proprietary methodologies are designed to transform complex information into clear and precise insights for developing definitive actions. INTERSPREAD develops customised solutions based on state-of-the-art technologies and end-user driven methodologies to tackle pressing societal challenges.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Department of Media and Communication

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented research university with a strong social orientation in its research and teaching. Its scientists and students endeavour to solve global social challenges, drawing inspiration from the ever dynamic and cosmopolitan Rotterdam. Its academic education is intensive, active and application-based, and its research is increasingly carried out in multidisciplinary teams, which are closely interlinked with international networks. With its research impact and study quality, EUR can compete with the top European universities. Important values for Erasmus University Rotterdam are daring, curiosity, social engagement, working at the frontier and striving for success. More than 3.000 persons are employed by Erasmus University.

The Erasmus Research Centre for Media, Communication, and Culture (ERMeCC) carries out interdisciplinary research on media, communication and culture. The Centre’s mission is to operate as an international, national and local centre of expertise for high-quality research into the myriad relationships between media, society and culture. Its research is empirical, interdisciplinary and comparative, informed by work in various social sciences, in particular media and communication studies and sociology. ERMeCC’s Media, algorithms, privacy and surveillance research cluster focuses on personal, social, and ethical consequences, and (cyber) security threats of mobile and interconnected media technologies and devices. The centre houses the ERMeCC Digital Research Lab, which caters to the centre’s research themes and offers resources for research into digital data and media.

Timelex

Timelex is a leading niche law firm specialised in the legal aspects of information technology (IT), privacy & data protection (GDPR), intellectual property, and media & electronic communications. Every day we strive to match law and innovation. While we focus on the areas in which we excel, we also advise clients on various issues of general commercial and business law, such as about distribution and franchising networks, commercial agency, unfair competition and market practices, consumer protection, product safety and product liability, general sales and purchase terms and conditions, etc. Some clients rely on us as their single point of contact for all their legal question. And if we cannot help them ourselves, we refer them to the right lawyer for their question. Our private-sector clients are multinationals, large companies, SMEs and start-ups, and our public-sector clients include European, federal, regional, local and foreign governments and governmental bodies. We assist them with contracts, advice, court litigation, and legislative and policy-making support.

True insight means that a lawyer has in-depth knowledge of the areas of law in which he specialises and that he is on top of new developments. We therefore encourage our team members to accept teaching and research positions at academic and other education institutions, to publish frequently and to teach courses. For instance, many of our lawyers and legal consultants have been researchers or obtained a PhD in Law at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Law & ICT (ICRI), currently called the Centre for IT & IP Law (CiTiP) of the Law Faculty of the University of Leuven. This renowned academic centre was founded in 1990 by Timelex partner Prof. Dr. Jos Dumortier, who has been a pioneer in IT and data protection law in Europe and Belgium since the ‘80s.

Fundació Privada Hospital Asil de Granollers

Research and Innovation Department and IT department

The Fundació Privada Hospital Asil de Granollers (FPHAG) is a healthcare, socio-sanitary and social care center, integrated into the comprehensive healthcare system of Catalonia. FPHAG comprises the Geriatric Center Adolfo Montañá and the General Hospital of Granollers, which provides health care assistance both for acute and non- acute patients and it is the reference hospital of the territories comprising the area known as Vallès Oriental, covering a population of around 400000 people and with a total number of beds of 340. Another important role is played by the Sant Jordi Day Care Centre, a centre for the treatment of patients with dementia and cognitive disorders (Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia), with the capacity for 40 people. Teaching is an important activity developed in the Hospital, accredited for postgraduate teaching by the National Council of Medical Specialties. At FPHAG works 1956 people.

Research and innovation at FPHAG is growing and expanding: the institution aims at increasing the number of research activities and collaborative research projects both at a local, national and European level that involve its health workers. The constant motivation has led the hospital to incorporate into the networks, platforms and regional and national clusters, managers and promoters of research and innovation in health and medical technologies such as REGIC (Network of Managing Entities of Clinic Innovation), XISCAT (Catalan Health Innovation Network), ITEMAS (Platform for Innovation in Medical and Health Technologies) and the Health-Tech Cluster (of the Generalitat of Catalonia). From 2012, the hospital participates in European projects of technological innovation of the European Programme H2020 and in regional PO FEDER Grants. FPHAG wants to be a referent in health care, and social health care. Being recognized for its sensitivity to the needs of its patients, the commitment and competence of its professionals and the excellence of its services in an environment of innovation and efficiency all are goals of its principle mission.

COOSS Marche ONLUS

Department of Research and Training

COOSS is a no-profit organization providing social services to disadvantaged people all over the Marche Region. Born in 1979, it counts nowadays around 2900 members-employees and serves more than 7.400 users, among which minors, youngsters, elderly, disabled people, mentally impaired, drug addicted, migrants. COOSS provides many of its services in residential settings, daily centres, family-like communities and protected homes. Some of them are managed on behalf of the Local bodies, while others are of its own property. COOSS also provides territorial services, as home assistance to elderly and disabled people, educational support to problematic children, both at home and within the schools, labour insertion initiatives for disadvantaged groups of users, first acceptance services for asylum seekers and refugees.

Since 1993, COOSS has created its own Department of Research and Training, which was officially recorded as Research Institute by the Italian Ministry of University and Research in 2012. Its main activities consist in the proposal of/participation to EU and National research projects dealing with social issues, with a particular interest in the experimentation  of  technological innovations able to support frail and disadvantaged people and to improve the quality of their life.  The Department is also a VET body accredited for the design and management of training courses to qualify, upgrade and/or specialize social operators. COOSS is certified SA8000 (Social Responsibility),  ISO9001(Quality Assurance) and OHSAS18001 (Safety on the working places). A Safety and Security Unit is active within COOSS to safeguard the employees’ and customers’ privacy, as well as the management, protection and treatment of their data. The Unit staff will provide its expertise and know-how to the  project and will share reports, analyses, data gathering methods and results if needed.

Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Wien

Gesundheits- und soziale Dienste gemeinnützige GmbH – Department of Home care and IT Department

Since its foundation more than 80 years ago, Samaritan Austria has always been sticking to his utmost responsibility: To help people in need, regardless of ethnicity, religion or ideology. During the last years, Samaritan‘s range of activities has significantly widened. Samaritan has expanded from classic ambulance services to various fields of action like: Disaster relief (for example with rescue dogs, drinking water purification) and  development cooperation, senior citizen assistance (with home care services, meals on wheels, emergency/panic alarm services), homeless shelter (social assisted living), refugee relief, social markets (good value), trainings (first aid, water rescue, home health care) and youth groups. Altogether, Samaritan Austria counts 150.000 members and supporters, and a staff of 5.000 volunteers and employees. The Home Care Services constitute a department of Samaritan Vienna. Our aim is to provide services to elderly people all over Vienna enabling them to stay in their homes and to live in dignity. We work with a highly qualified staff and in close cooperation with the „Fonds Soziales Wien“. We undergo regular and strict quality control procedures. We steadily strive for the continuous enhancement of our service quality.

Our core values are:

• Focus on the people – clients and colleagues likewise
• Holistic view on persons as a basic principle of our (health) care process.
• Recognition of the elder person’s experiences and stories of life
• Valuing wishes, fears and hopes of our clients
• Cooperation with family, attachment figures, and all other persons involved in the care for our client
• Informed consent and shared decision making
• Time for dialogue as important part of our service quality
• Respect of cultural diversity
• Education and training tailored to the actual needs of staff and clients.
• Delivering high-quality care for our clients in the environment they prefer, as long as possible

The main business of Samaritan Vienna’s Department of Home Care is providing home care to currently about 900 older adults in living on their own in the city of Vienna, with a staff of about 260 professionals. We foster the professional development of our staff by the means of basic and continuous education in those areas. We provide education in thematic fields related to nursing, health care, home care and first aid. In order to maintain and enhance the quality of our services, we keep in touch with scientific and technological developments. Hence, we have already participated in several regional, national and international research and best practice projects, most notably the following:

In the EU-project “FEARLESS” (Fear Elimination as a Resolution for Loosing Elderlys’ Substantial Sorrows), an automatic fall alarm system was designed. This system was developed on basis of a user requirement analysis and of following test pilots for the first and second prototype of the system. We contributed to this process by the means of recruiting and assisting the interviewees and test persons among our clients, as well as of taking part in the evaluation, the dissemination and in the creation of a business plan.

In the EU-project “RESPONSIBILITY”, which aimed at forming a network of stakeholders and creating a global observatory regarding responsible research and innovation, we  brought into discussion the perspective of the NPO and its clients, i.e. people in need for help.

In the still ongoing EU-project “Enter Train” (Entertainment by Training on a Personalized Exergame Platform), we acted as workpackage leader in WP 1, the user needs analysis, and will support the test pilots and further tasks of the project.

Johanniter International

Johanniter International (JOIN) is an international network of charities which were originally foundend by the four European Orders of St. John. Founded in 2000 with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, its 21 member organisations are located in Europe and the Middle East and focus on emergency rescue, health and social services, and international humanitarian assistance amongst other aims. Together, the charities have a volunteer base of over 100,000 persons at their disposal. JOIN’s primary goal lies in facilitating the exchange of best practices, achieving closer cooperation among its members on the European and international level. Members of Johanniter International run a total of 14 hospitals, care- and regeneration centres. Since 2006, JOIN has been registered as a non-profit organisation under Belgian law. The aim of JOIN is to derive benefits for its members from increased exchange and cooperation.

The working groups are one of the most important institutions within JOIN. It provide a platform where JOIN members can exchange knowledge and experience on any given issue and offer a space to set the thematic foundation for common projects. As one example, the JOIN Clinical working group deals with clinical and medical cooperation. The group is made up of chief medical officers from JOIN members with the respective medical and clinical services and is currently led by Dr Ian Greaves, chief medical officer of St John Ambulance England and The Islands. Its main aim is to exchange information on medical developments within the JOIN organisations as well as at the national levels. The working group monitors international developments concerning clinical issues and medical innovations and combines the resources of our medical expertise. For SecureHospitals, this working group will support as a practical perspective from people WORKING with ICT and who are facing security issues every day.

European Ageing Network (EAN)

The European Ageing Network (E.A.N.) groups more than 10.000 care providers across the European continent. Members represent all types of organizations and individuals active for older persons and all types of ownership including for profit, not-for-profit and governmental organizations. It is their vision and mission to improve the quality of life for older persons and support them in making each day a better day for by providing high quality housing, services and care.

The European Ageing Network (E.A.N.) is present in 28 European countries. With EAHSA well represented in North-West Europe and EDE in the South-East, the combination makes of the European Ageing Network a truly pan-European organization.  E.A.N. does not stand alone in pursuing its vision, values and mission. It is affiliated with the Global Ageing Network (GAN), a global network with its office in Washington DC. E.A.N. and GAN bring together experts from around the world, lead education initiatives and provide a place for innovative ideas in senior care to be born. They pave the way to improve best practices in aged care so that older people everywhere can live healthier, stronger, more independent lives.

The members of the European Ageing Network (E.A.N.) are servicing over 1 million older people in Europe.  Longevity is one of the biggest achievements of modern societies. Europeans are living longer than ever before and this pattern is expected to continue due to unprecedented medical advances and improved standards of living. By 2020, a quarter of the Europeans will be over 60 years of age. Combined with low birth rates, this will bring about significant changes to the structure of European society, which will impact on our economy, social security and health care systems, the labor market and many other spheres of our lives.