U-TOPIA

The project has been designed to develop, through co-creation and explorative market analysis, sustainable concept(s) for supportive technology that matches the needs of older persons living with HIV in order to manage and improve their quality of life. Based on the collective results a plan and a consortium for further development and commercialisation will be established.

The consortium includes four end user group organisations in three countries involving primary (older HIV patients) and secondary end users (HIV physicians, social workers, HIV nurses, relatives, formal carers, general practitioners). With the expertise of co-creation leader Waag, Institute for Art, Science & Technology, we are certain to co-create ICT concepts that meet the needs and aspirations of older HIV patients once implemented.

Objectives

Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is no longer an inevitable, terrifying death sentence. With the advent of effective antiretroviral therapy, HIV has been turned into a chronic illness that can be managed in the context of a life expectancy that is pretty close to normal. Living longer, however, is not the same as living in good health with a good quality of life: The lives of the growing population of older persons living with HIV are disproportionately affected by a serious number of physical, mental and social challenges. U-TOPIA sets the first step towards the empowerment of older HIV patients.

Expected results and impact

U-TOPIA is a small collaborative project preparing the ground for further R&D activities regarding older people with HIV. Its direct impact is expected on market development through technology and market research. Its indirect impacts are: patient surveys and the co-creation approach (direct patient observations, interviews with a high human-interest factor) will allow to adequately understand the ‘customer base’, the 50+ HIV patients. This provides an opportunity to fine-tune a business strategy and increase the chances for successful market development in this specific demographic segment.

Partners

Partners involved in the U-TOPIA project

Organization	Type	Country	Website
JOANNEUM RESEARCH	R&D	Austria	www.joanneum.at
UTOPIA_BXL	End User	Belgium
GezondheidFabriek	R&D	The Netherlands	www.gezondheidfabriek.nl
HIV Vereniging Nederland	End User	The Netherlands	www.hivvereniging.nl
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa	End User	Portugal	www.scml.pt
ABRACO	End User	Portugal	www.abraco.pt
OnlineSeminar	Large Industry	Belgium	www.onlineseminar.be
Waag	R&D	The Netherlands	www.waag.org

Project name: Towards Empowering Older Persons Living with HIV – U-TOPIA
Website: www.u-topia.joanneum.at
Coordinator: JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH
Duration: 6 months
Starting date: 01.12.2018
Total Budget: € 250.000
Public Contribution: € 200.000

Contact

Kurt Majcen

E.: kurt.majcen@joanneum.at

T.: +433168761636