Research Projects
To visit the ActiveAge website click on the logo below
LabNotes
In February, Gregor Rae, Chairman and CEO of BusinessLab, gave an inaugural lecture to the International MBA student cohort at the University of Aberdeen. "The Art of the Pitch" is the first of two modules intended to help students improve and finesse their presentations to potential investors and employers. The second module is entitled "The Science of the Pitch".
The future is in Newcastle
Technology Watch website lauds the Microsoft Corporation - ActiveAge presentation at the Gerontological Society of America's annual conference in New Orleans, and cites Newcastle upon Tyne as 'the future' in terms of ageing.
Read more...ActiveAge
The ActiveAge team has started another wave of research into robotics, which will provide the theme for the next ActiveAge publication. A Newcastle partner meeting has also been scheduled for the 26th of January, when plans for the 2011 ActiveAge Summit will be finalised.
Renewables
The BusinessLab research team has been looking into the growing renewable energy sector. The team is particularly interested in the markets and business models that are developing within this area - and the strategies and processes that are being deployed to capitalise on the opportunities.
More Agents for Swansea
The City and County of Swansea Council are training up a new cohort of Signature Agents. A total of 36 new Agents are being trained to deploy the Family Learning Signature with families across the city.
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ActiveAge "There is a new look to old age. Old does not necessarily mean ill, disabled or poor. The focus of an ageing population, today and in the future, is on personal independence and optimal living." Professor Joseph Coughlin, MIT AgeLab ActiveAge is a collaborative action research programme that is exploring the opportunities that lie within new markets being created by the ageing demographic and how ICT innovation can help to meet the changing social, physical and economic needs of an ageing society. Projections show that by 2025 there will be more than 116 million people in the EU over the age of 60. This changes the way we have to think about the workplace; it questions the functionality of the home; it demands a radical review of how we design for mobility, and it asks increasingly searching questions about the way in which we deliver public services. Society as a whole - business, government, academia and community - must consider how this apparent 'problem' can be turned into an opportunity. It was in response to such challenges that ActiveAge was conceived. Inspired by the work of Joseph Coughlin, founding Director of MIT's AgeLab, BusinessLab created the ActiveAge programme and formed the consortium of foundation partners to support the early collaboration with Professor Coughlin that led to the ActiveAge themes. Recent research has focused on age-friendly cities and ways in which 'age friendliness' can be assessed. We have also been looking into the importance of 'inclusive' design, in ICT and other products, for older people. The ActiveAge view is that by designing for the old you automatically include the young. This is crucial for many organisations who, in order to reap the benefits of the ageing population, need to start focusing on an older consumer. Working with our partners such as Microsoft Corporation and Newcastle City Council we have been looking at new possibilities for service delivery using innovative ICT solutions. In collaboration with our third sector partners we have been looking at metrics for age friendliness and how to capitalise on age friendly best practice from around the world. |
Partner quotes
- "In our drive to improve the performance of a diverse international group, BusinessLab's Corporate Signature has given us a unique picture of the organisational barriers and levers to successfully delivering our corporate change programme.""The Signature has also stimulated collaboration between our business units and has helped management to shape communications and define a clear and focused action plan"Raymond PirieVice President, Intertek plc
- "For any individual interested in older adults or any for-profit or non-profit entity looking for expertise, guidance or relevant data ... there is no greater integrated experience or seamless, end-to-end data than what is being orchestrated by ActiveAge."Dr Gary Moulton
Product Manager
Microsoft Corporation - "BusinessLab’s development and maintenance of the ActiveAge website and information stream is both a regional resource in the United Kingdom and a model that others around the world are attempting to emulate.""But ActiveAge is doing more than collecting and distributing information. It has become a valuable nexus of business, government, universities and NGOs. I can assure you there are few activities in the world that have successfully brought together the various interests."Prof Joseph CoughlinFounding Director
MIT Age Lab - "ActiveAge has opened up for us a whole range of new and sometimes unexpected opportunities, helping us to think in fresh ways...and facilitating the development of innovative partnerships across the public, community and private sectors.""The BusinessLab team has been consistently responsive to our needs, playing a key role in helping us shape our thinking about the future."Colin WilliamsDirector Of TransformationNewcastle City Council
"I see BusinessLab as a key partner adding considerable value to our existing work as well as differentiating us from others working in similar fields. I am in no doubt that this relationship will evolve over time to our mutual benefit."
Ken Milroy
Chief Executive
The Aberdeen Foyer- "The stimulus, analysis and encouragement provided by BusinessLab has guided the school into developing many innovative solutions to more effectively deal with families."
Kevin Beaton
Head teacher
Sydney Smith School "Partnering with BusinessLab brings both traditional and non-traditional benefits to the relationship.
True to BusinessLab's reputation, the company is composed of a tight nucleus of professionals who are result driven. This tight nucleus has formed a loose association with many expert contacts around the world, giving you, the partner, an exposure to new ideas, new people and best practice."
Peter Griffiths
President
Jersey Information Society Commission (Ret)
