The Active and Assisted Living Programme (2014-2020) is a research, development, and innovation funding programme (R&DI) jointly implemented by several AAL Partner States with a substantial financial support from the European Commission.
The aim of the AAL Programme is to provide innovative Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) based solutions including products, systems or services to enhance older adults’ quality of life, to improve long-term sustainability of the health and long-term care systems and to strengthen the industrial base in Europe. Large, medium and small enterprises are encouraged to participate in the projects and co-design innovative solutions with user organisations, large enterprises, universities and research organisations. In this way, the programme provides a unique opportunity for SMEs and large enterprises to develop innovative AAL solutions and bring their ideas closer to the market.
The topics covered by the Programme include management of chronic conditions, social inclusion, access to the self-serve society, mobility of older adults, management of daily activities, support from informal careers (e.g. family and friends) and occupation in life.
The AAL Programme calls are complementary to the Horizon 2020 calls related to Active and Healthy Ageing under Societal Challenge 1. The Programme is co-financed by the European Commission and 19 countries until 2020 for an estimated budget of € 700 million.

The call 2017 has already been announced:
• Call 2017 – AAL packages/Integrated solutions
The aim of this call is to support innovative, transnational and multi-disciplinary collaborative projects. The proposal must demonstrate a clear route to market and added-value for the different types of end-users.
The focus of the 2017 call challenge of the AAL Programme is twofold:
1) The challenge lies in developing packages integrating different solutions that address the needs and wishes of end-users and add value to their lives.
In AAL Call Challenge 2017 it is possible to:
• Integrate single successful solutions that have been developed through the course of previous AAL related projects (funded by the AAL Programmes, other funding Programmes at the European or national levels, or other sources), and need finalisation;
• Develop new components and integrate them into packages.
2) The challenge lies in extensive testing and evaluation of packages in order to provide meaningful and significant results.
Projects are expected to present a realistic business plan with time-to-market perspective of maximum 2 years after end of the project. Significant involvement of industry and other business partners, particularly SMEs are encouraged. The effort of industry and other business partners in each project is expected to be 50% or more. Indicative duration of the project: 18 – 36 months.

Eligibility criteria
Within the AAL Programme only projects which fulfil a set of eligibility criteria can be funded. Funding will be possible only for Consortium of at least 3 independent eligible organizations (legal entities), from at least 3 different AAL Partner States participating in the Call for Proposals.
Only organisations that are explicitly included in the National Eligibility Criteria published with the Call text are eligible for funding. It is highly recommended to contact the AAL National Contact Persons (NCP) prior to submission of a proposal. In some countries, NCP-contact is a requirement for being eligible for funding.
Consortia must include at least:
• one eligible for-profit business partner;
• one eligible for-profit SME partner which can be the business partner;
• one eligible end-user organisation.
Duration of the project:
As setting up a consortium is not an easy process, AAL offers a Partner Search facility to support the identification of the potential partner.

Funding
The funding of a project is implemented at national level. Every project partner within a funded project applies at his/her National Funding Agency (NFA) for funding.
Project total budget is up to 5 M€.
The maximum funding from the AAL Programme per project is 2.5 M€.

The deadline for submitting applications is 24 May, 17:00 CET
More detailed information can be found on the AAL Programme website
SAVE THE DATE:
the AAL Forum 2017 will be hosted in Coimbra in October (2-4). The Forum is a yearly event of the Programme aiming to create an interactive and inspiring event, building on the creativity and the commitment of the AAL community. The 2017 event goes under the title “Bridging the gaps between technology solutions and ageing well. What can YOU do?”.

The event will give a special emphasis on showcasing AAL technologies and solutions pre-market and on the market and on the organization of interactive and motivational sessions & workshops with the AAL community contribution.
Send your proposals for the design and the organization of the interactive sessions and/or workshops: from developing a programme and identifying all stakeholders involved to describing the expected outcomes and keeping in touch with the AAL Forum programme committee to make sure that all session information are available online.