Transnational Living Lab for Active Ageing

Purpose and goal

TLLAA´s Swedish project leader Mathilda Tham attended Vinnova and JST´s symposium at the Swedish Embassy in Tokyo on June 13, 2018, as well as networking activities. Together with TLLAA´s Japanese project manager, Professor Hiroko Akiyama, Mathilda Tham delivered a presentation about TLLAA and participated in a panel discussion. Participation in Tokyo enabled Mathilda Tham to acquire knowledge about the other projects in the program, as well as gain in-depth information about Vinnova and JST´s expectations for both phase 1 and phase 2 of the projects and the program as a whole.

Expected results and effects

Participation in the symposium as well as adjacent activities led to an expanded network, understanding of research funders´ needs, needs of industry and other key players as well as potential for collaboration with other projects in the program. The presentation and participation in panel discussion have resulted in expanded knowledge about and interest in the TLLAA project from the financiers and other projects and actors. As a whole, the project has generated increased knowledge and commitment to the project and the program as a whole for the benefit of further implementation.

Planned approach and implementation

Vinnova & JST´s symposium generated new insights into the transition between phases 1 and 2, specifically with regard to industry partners. Meeting other projects generated insights into the collaborative potential, specifically as regards how TLLAA can be a test bed for their innovations. It was valuable to learn about background/expectations of the program from, and discuss the project directly with the financiers. Each trip to Japan contributes to understanding of the potentials of the collaboration between the two cultural contexts, as well as how these can be realised.