4th NOTRE Stakeholders meeting in Cluj Napoca, Romania
The North-West Regional Development Agency (ADR NV) organized on February 26th 2025, the 4th LSG meeting for the NOTRE project, centered on advancing innovation in active aging and improving health conditions for seniors. The event, initiated with a networking session, provided a platform for stakeholders to converge and exchange insights. Ioana Pavel, the project manager of NOTRE, started the formal proceedings by outlining the event's agenda and delving into the project's core objectives. A significant part of her presentation was dedicated to detailing the project's progress over the past four semesters, highlighting key achievements and outlining future objectives.
The meeting facilitated an important exchange of professional experiences as regional working group members discussed their activities and challenges related to innovation in active aging. The exploration of ongoing projects addressing these issues underscored the collaborative spirit of the gathering. Ioana Pavel further elaborated on the staff exchanges, emphasizing their role in documenting and analyzing the policy context of host partners, and disseminating best practices to enhance the policy tools of visiting partners. An invitation was extended to stakeholders to participate in these exchanges and assist in gathering regional best practices.
A central point of discussion was the 3 Pillar Analysis, which aimed to comprehensively assess the digitalization of elderly care. This analysis focused on three critical pillars: public policy authorities, SMEs, and end users, providing a view of the current landscape. The digital security risks faced by seniors were highlighted by Mr. Ion Petrovai from INIT/FRESHBLOOD.
The issue of funding, a constant challenge for innovation, was a significant topic of discussion, the participants highlighting the necessity of national support for EU-funded initiatives and also the importance of fostering collaboration and coordinating efforts among diverse stakeholders.
The meeting concluded with the upcoming actions, deadlines, and roles for participating organizations, ensuring clarity and direction for the next phase of the NOTRE project implementation.
The challenges brought to light during the meeting included the critical issue of security risks faced by seniors in the digital realm, the persistent challenge of accessing public funding, the necessity of enhanced collaboration and coordination among stakeholders, and the need for stronger national support for EU-backed initiatives.
Proposed solutions centered on implementing robust security measures to protect seniors in the digital landscape, sharing best practices to streamline access to public funds, and strengthening coordination among public authorities, SMEs, and end users.
The key insights of the meeting highlighted the importance of digitalization in elderly care, the significance of effective public fund management, the crucial role of stakeholder collaboration, and the necessity of developing and improving public policy tools to promote innovation in active aging and health. The positive feedback from organizations like ZALA MEDICAL and NEUROREVIE underscored the impact of effective fund management.
The meeting successfully facilitated a productive exchange of ideas, challenges, and solutions, setting a clear path for the future implementation of the NOTRE project.