Investing in a mature market

Sep 24 2007 The Journal

THE world’s population is ageing rapidly, and in the UK alone there are 19 million people over the age of 50, accounting for 32% of the population. Organisations are beginning to recognise that they will need to adapt their business models to meet the needs of this growing market if they want to thrive in coming decades.

The implications of an ageing population on the workplace, wellbeing and mobility are fundamental to the UK’s economy. The rapidly expanding ageing marketplace has rising expectations and businesses are starting to realise that they have to be innovative in order to meet their needs. Those prepared to adapt or expand their business model, come up with original technologies and introduce new ways of working are unearthing a wealth of new opportunities.

Cels is using its position as a catalyst for change in the North East healthcare and life sciences sector to bring together experts from both academia and industry to further the work around ageing in the region.

By uniting the research expertise in the region’s five universities, as well as the clinical excellence in its hospitals and a rapidly expanding industrial base, North East England will become a world-leader in assistive technologies for the older population.

Areas of focus include mobility, which is considered the key to independent living and working to maintain satisfactory levels of social inclusion in the community.

Cels conduct activity in these areas. A proportion is research-based, drawing on the experience of academic institutions and addressing commercial opportunities.

Current projects include:

The Ambient Kitchen, which is led by Newcastle University and funded and managed by Cels, is an initiative that incorporates high-tech devices into a normal kitchen to enable older people to live independently.

The technology, which is embedded into floor tiles and kitchen devices, records actions so that any deterioration in a medical condition can be accurately monitored and treated effectively. The kitchen uses audio and visual prompts to support individuals in their everyday tasks, for example a dementia sufferer can be gently reminded what stage they are at in a sequence such as making a cup of tea.

The Wheelbox is a new, on location, on-demand wheelchair service. The ‘pods’ containing wheelchairs are designed for occasional wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. They will be made available in places such as retail parks, arenas, airports and supermarkets.

The prototype has been developed by Newcastle based WWB Services in conjunction with the Cels Healthcare Network and utilising the Cels InSTeP programme, which provides organisations with support in the development of products for the healthcare sector.

To find out more about the healthcare business opportunities available in the North East visit www.celsatlife.com.