Rosetta
From Research to Revenue
The AAL Project That Launched a Lasting Company
ROSETTA was an early AAL project that brought together smart sensor networks, lifestyle monitoring, and user-friendly interfaces to support older adults living independently. Through real-world trials across Europe, the project generated valuable insights into what works – and what doesn‘t – in home-based care technology. Its core sensor platform evolved into the foundation of Sensara, a successful spin-off company that continues to serve the care market. ROSETTA demonstrates how technical innovation, paired with strategic learning and patient investment, can lead to sustained impact long after funding ends.
ROSETTA aimed to support older adults living independently by integrating smart sensor networks, lifestyle monitoring, and intuitive screen-based interfaces. The project targeted both early detection of emergencies and long-term behaviour changes by combining data from motion, appliance, and water sensors. The goal was to increase safety and comfort, while enabling care professionals and relatives to respond proactively. The target group included older adults living alone, as well as informal caregivers and professional care providers seeking unobtrusive support solutions. ROSETTA stood out for its holistic, modular approach, allowing different technologies to be combined based on user needs. It was selected as an AAL Success Story for its strong user-centred design, technical integration, and impact on later commercialisation efforts.
Sustained Outcomes
The most enduring outcome of ROSETTA was the spin-off of the company Sensara, which used parts of the smart sensor technology developed during the project – especially the algorithms and monitoring systems created at project partner TNO. Sensara refined and simplified the original prototype, reducing the number of sensors and moving from in-home computers to a cloud-based system, making the solution scalable and cost-effective. While some components, like the smart screen interface and long-term lifestyle monitoring, were discontinued by other partners, the core sensor technology has been in commercial use since 2014. Several functionalities were retained or evolved within Sensara‘s offering, and user feedback from the ROSETTA trials helped determine which features were worth keeping. The company continues to serve both nursing homes and community-based care settings, proving the long-term viability and adaptability of the original project’s outcomes. Being featured as an AAL Success Story played an important role in building early credibility and visibility for the spin-off company Sensara. As a startup in the care tech sector, gaining trust from nursing homes and care providers was a major hurdle – especially with new technologies. The fact that the solution stemmed from a recog nized European project with validated results and independent evaluations gave Sensara an edge in early business development. In addition, care institutions involved in ROSETTA became launching customers, having already tested and experienced the technology during the trials. The success story label signalled that the product was proven, tested, and backed by research, which helped bridge the gap between pilot and real-world adoption.
ROSETTA helped us understand not just what users need – but what they’ll actually use. The trials showed us which features matter and which don’t. That allowed us to simplify the product and make it commercially viable.”
Irek Karkowski, project coordinator of ROSETTA, CTO at Sensara B.V.
Barriers and challenges
A key barrier was the lack of structural funding for independent living technologies at the time, especially in the Netherlands. While the solution was technically validated and well-received, there was no clear reimbursement pathway for deploying it in private homes. In addition, the original ROSETTA system was too complex and expensive for scalable use – it required in-home computers, a large sensor set, and professional installation. Sensara overcame these barriers by reducing functionality to core features, simplifying installation, and moving to cloud infrastructure. This allowed them to lower costs and adapt to real-world market constraints. Still, the transition took several years and would not have been possible without patient private investors and a strategic pivot toward the nursing home sector, where funding was more accessible.
Partnerships & Networks
ROSETTA’s most crucial partnerships were with the care institutions involved in the trials, some of which later became launching customers for Sensara. Their early exposure to the technology during the project enabled trust, familiarity, and faster adoption. In addition, partnerships with independent evaluation organisations proved valuable – these groups conducted third-party assessments of the system both during and after the project, lending credibility to Sensara’s commercial offering. While the technical consortium partners contributed key innovations, only parts of their work continued post-project. The spin-off of Sensara from TNO ensured continuity of expertise, while new partnerships – particularly with hardware providers in China and Europe – enabled the company to scale production and reduce costs.
Although the original ROSETTA business model was not ready for immediate implementation, it offered critical guidance that informed Sensara’s market strategy. Insights from the project helped the team align their product with government and insurance policy frameworks, especially in the Netherlands. Sensara initially focused on the nursing home sector – where structural funding existed – and later expanded into community-based care as funding models evolved. The company was supported by private investors, which provided the financial buffer needed to bridge the gap between project end and market readiness. Over time, Sensara established a sustainable, subscription-based business model, offering monitoring services at a price point similar to consumer apps – helping ensure long-term viability.
Reflections: What Remains?
With hindsight, the project lead would have focused more strategically on funding structures and reimbursement pathways from the outset. While the technological ambition and user-centered design were strong, commercialisation ultimately depended on aligning with the realities of healthcare financing. A more targeted focus on the nursing home market, where funding was already available, could have accelerated adoption and revenue. Additionally, some features – such as appliance usage monitoring – added complexity without clear market value. Future projects could benefit from a leaner feature set and earlier engagement with stakeholders like insurers and policymakers. Despite these challenges, the team succeeded in pivoting and scaling, in part due to patience, private investment, and strong project foundations.
Project Info
ROSETTA laid the groundwork for one of the few AAL-funded technologies to reach sustainable commercial use. Its smart sensor platform, developed at TNO and refined through real-world trials, became the foundation for Sensara, a spin-off company that continues to operate successfully in the care technology market.
While not all components of the original system were maintained, the project provided key technical assets, market insights, and early customer relationships that proved critical for long-term impact. ROSETTA’s story highlights the importance of iterative learning, strategic adaptation, and structural funding alignment. Its legacy is not just a product, but a functioning company serving real users – 13 years after the project ended.
Irek Karkowski, PhD
Sensara B. V.
Thomas Mannplaats 307
3069 NJ Rotterdam