Today, MEDTEQ+ and AGE-WELL launched the envisAGE 1st Call for Innovations to support the commercialization of technologies to help Canadian seniors maintain a better quality of life, longer, while propelling companies in the AgeTech sector, at the first envisAGE Annual Forum as part of AgeTech Innovation Week in Toronto. Through this program, funded by the Government of Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund, envisAGE's unique collaborative model will support Canadian companies with a mature technology that has been validated and is ready to be deployed in the hands of users, whether older adults, caregivers or organizations offering services and programs to an aging population.

"The Government of Canada is investing in age tech innovations to support our seniors who have contributed so much to our great nation," said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. "We are proud to partner with MEDTEQ+ and AGE-WELL to support the envisAGE program, which will harness innovative ideas from businesses and start-ups to use technology to maximize health and wellness outcomes for Canadian seniors."

"Innovations in age tech are helping seniors age with dignity. We want to invest in new ideas that will help Canadian seniors age on their own terms," said the Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., Minister of Labour and Seniors.

"Reaching early adopters or a significant set of adopters and ensuring strong positioning in a growing market, are two major challenges faced by companies. envisAGE aims to increase collaborations between companies as well as organizations that provide services, support, care, and housing for seniors. envisAGE's collaborative model catalyzes all players in technological innovation so that companies, living environments and seniors all benefit from the implementation of innovative solutions. We're talking about improving quality of life and the delivery of services, as well as increasing efficiency. The goal is to unite the strengths of all players in the ecosystem to truly meet the needs of older adults, caregivers, and service providers," said Sabrina Boutin, Senior Vice-President of MEDTEQ+ and Executive Director of envisAGE. The pan-Canadian initiative is co-led by MEDTEQ+ and AGE-WELL.

envisAGE, a catalyst for Canada's AgeTech Ecosystem

With this 1st Call for Innovations, envisAGE supports collaborative projects focused on real-world technology integration with a technology readiness level of 7 or higher. Collaborators in selected projects will benefit from access to funding, project coaching and support from the envisAGE ecosystem to implement their innovation. The integration of each innovative solution will be assessed by an envisAGE Beachhead™ and implemented in partnership with a Community Lab, i.e. an organization working with seniors and caregivers that will integrate one or more technological solutions. Innovation Hubs, as partners in envisAGE, will contribute their expertise to collaborative projects, as needed, and develop their own stream of projects beneficial to the envisAGE ecosystem.

envisAGE's distinctive ecosystem includes:

• SMEs: These are small and medium-sized technology companies offering products or solutions for AgeTech markets or meeting the needs of an aging population.
• Community Labs: Innovators will be able to demonstrate and implement their technological solutions in real-life environments such as retirement homes, organizations providing services, programs or care, long-term care homes, NORCs (Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities) and communities of seniors and caregivers.
• envisAGE Beachheads™: Companies and Community Labs will be supported by one of ten envisAGE Beachheads™ ‒ centres with expertise in measuring benefits and impact, to support the deployment of a technological solution and assess the impact of integrating it into a living environment or an environment offering services to seniors and the community.
• Innovation Hubs: Five innovation hubs will provide specialized expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence and analytic sensors, and best practices so that new technologies can be adopted across Canada and in different settings. 

Canadian companies (SMEs), organizations providing services, programs or care, and community organizations are invited to present their AgeTech project by submitting their letter of intent before November 21, 2023, to projet@envis-age.ca, according to one of the following themes:

• Autonomy and Independence
• Cognitive Health and Dementia
• Healthy Lifestyles and Wellness
• Staying Connected
• Supportive Homes and Communities

To view the envisAGE 1st Call for Innovations – Guide for Applicants, visit www.envis-age.ca 

Increase the robustness of 100 innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Over a five-year period, envisAGE will invest $47 million from the Strategic Innovation Fund to support up to 100 collaborative AgeTech projects that address the needs of older Canadians, caregivers, communities and organizations. The envisAGE initiative aims to support and fund impact projects over a period of 12 to 18 months (up to 24 months in exceptional cases), and to accelerate the commercialization of technology-based solutions that meet needs and promote a better quality of life, longer.

"We live in an increasingly technologically advanced digital world, and there is an unprecedented opportunity to deliver solutions that empower older adults to live active, healthy and independent lives, while supporting caregivers," said Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Scientific Director and CEO, AGE-WELL. He noted that by 2035, Canada is projected to become a "super-aged" country, with one in four Canadians over the age of 65. "By providing funding and services to companies with later-stage products, and connecting them to community organizations, envisAGE will accelerate access to innovations that benefit older adults, caregivers and health care providers," he said. "Indeed, everyone will benefit from the diverse portfolio of state-of-the-art solutions created."

Added Ms. Boutin: "envisAGE-funded projects will offer local solutions that will advance Canada's burgeoning AgeTech sector, creating and sustaining jobs and expertise across the country, which is at the heart of envisAGE's mission."