Age-Friendly Environments (AFE-INNOVNET)

What is being done at the EU level to support active and healthy lives through the promotion of age-friendly environments and silver economy? This was the core question addressed at the AFE-INNOVNET seminar that took place in Frankfurt on 2 July 2015.

The event was organised by the AFE-INNOVNET project in the framework of the Deutscher Seniorentag (German Senior Citizens Day). It was an ideal learning opportunity in which older people, the industries, research centres and local and regional governments, could discuss on how to improve their living environments thanks to a fruitful collaboration among the different stakeholders.  

Indeed, as mentioned by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the opening speech, demographic change takes place whether we want it or not. Moreover, according to a survey carried out among German mayors, demographic change appears as one of the top three priorities. To address the challenges, many good practices are being implemented in the country. However, according to Ursula Krickl, representing the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DSTGB), local structures still need to be adapted and embrace other innovative solutions. Speaking on behalf of the CEMR, Angelika Poth-Mögele insisted on the role that local government can play when addressing the demographic challenges and the need for them to exchange and learn from each other, as positive but also negative experiences can often inspire innovative solutions to their peers. She referred to the AFE-INNOVNET repository of age-friendly good practices created for this purpose and invited the participants to spread the word in their own local/region municipalities.

As voiced at the beginning of the session by Horst Krämer, from the European Commission (DG Connect), Europe could be a leader but Member States need to look beyond its borders and make the most out of the demographic opportunities. New areas of activities can be exploited and they could establish Europe as a leader. Yet, it is not the case. Why is it so?

According to Menno Hinkema, Senior Research Scientist at TNO, one of the reasons could be the untapped potential of partnership between the different stakeholders: the underestimated involvement of end-users in the decision-making process or the unnatural relationships between public authorities and the industries hindered by public procurement rules. To remedy that and encourage local governments to take the risk to invest in innovative solutions and thus support start-ups, the European Commission came up with different solutions, namely the pre-commercial procurement and the public procurement of innovative solutions.