At Athens Technology Center (ATC), we are proud to reflect on our pivotal role in the successful conclusion of the URBANAGE, a project funded by the European Commission. Over the span of three enriching years, the project ambitiously sought to enhance the living standards and welfare of the elderly in urban settings.
Our mission within URBANAGE was to harness our extensive expertise in software platform development and integration, leading the development of the groundbreaking URBANAGE Ecosystem Platform.
Furthermore, by leading the exploitation plan of the project, we ensured its sustainable impact and the widespread adoption of its outcomes, which included:
- Urban planning: The URBANAGE Ecosystem Platform provides a range of tools and services that help urban planners, local authorities and older people act now, and make better evidence-based planning, operational decisions, and longer-term policy choices. The final goal was to create more liveable, accessible, and inclusive age-friendly cities that suit all the residents.
- Age-friendly Solutions: URBANAGE was piloted in the Flanders Region (Belgium), Helsinki (Finland), and Santander (Spain). All the pilots recognized the importance of translating the needs of the citizens into data and then into solutions. The cities aimed at increasing the benefits to older people.
- Older people engagement: URBANAGE realized the importance of including older people in decision-making processes and it was a strong promoter of this idea.
In addition, some of the main achievements and highlights of the project include:
- Creating a set of tools that will improve the lives of older people.
- Empowering older people to have a voice and a role in shaping their urban environments and influencing decision-making processes.
- Enhancing the accessibility, safety, and usability of urban spaces and services for older people and other vulnerable groups.
- Increasing the awareness and importance of creating age-friendly policies and practices among policymakers, and researchers at different levels.
