Dear subscribers,

The AAL Association has announced that the first European AAL Forum will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2009 in Vienna. Please find below the complete announcement text.

Yours sincerely,

Christian Wehrmann
AALIANCE Office

AAL FORUM 09
29. September – 1. October 2009
Hofburg, Vienna

Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) aims at extending the time older people can live in their preferred home environment by increasing their autonomy, assisting them in carrying out activities of daily living. The aim is to contribute to enhance the quality of their lives by the use of ICT products and the provision of remote services including care services that will assist them to achieve the autonomy, independence and dignity appropriate to their needs and determinations. AAL has to compensate for (age-related) deficiencies.

The AAL Joint Programme (AAL JP) is a new joint research and development (R&D) funding activity implemented by actual 20 European Member States and 3 Associated States with the financial support of the European Community based on article 169 of the EC treaty. Its most important activity is the regular publication of Calls for Proposals for R&D projects. AAL Partner States commit own funding on the basis of their respective national funding programmes. Thus, partners in AAL projects are administered under the specific national funding rules and by the respective national funding agency (see www.aal-europe.eu).

The “AAL FORUM” will serve as a platform and meeting place for the AAL JP. Beyond this the FORUM will present, discuss and communicate the field AAL in a holistic view including regional and European economic and public aspects. For this it will cover (parallel sessions):

• Innovation and Economic aspects.
  The economic realisation of AAL needs a strong market. Its framework, the needs and requests of investors and business models will be presented and analysed.

• Highlights of AAL activities in regions, member states and Europe.
  The strong background of national, regional and European activities is presented and discussed.

• Scientific aspects of the AAL JP themes within the Joint Programme, focussing on user and interdisciplinary aspects and aspects of the JP (economy, technology).
• The Joint Programme itself, its elements and content. The JP is discussing its own state and further development and promoting matchmaking.
• Important issues of general relevance of the AAL field (Plenary).

An exhibition will present institutions, companies, projects, activities and actors of AAL. Tutorials for industrial and best practice themes will give the state of the art in AAL.

The event in VIENNA, Austria, is the beginning of a series of yearly events taking place in the member states of AAL JP. It will be organised by the AAL JP with strong involvement of member states, sponsors and relevant stakeholders in the AAL field. It is intended to install AAL FORUM as the central European AAL meeting place.

Contact:

Alexandra Kuhn
Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology
eMail: aal@bmvit.gv.at
Phone: +43-1-711 62 – 65 3104
Website: www.bmvit.gv.at/aal