Call for projects: Improving home assistance for older people

90% of French people believe it’s better to enable people to stay in their own homes in later life (1). In other words, a challenge arises: How can we help older people live independently in their own homes? What innovative solutions could improve their quality of life and safety? EDF Pulse Croissance and the Residential Customers Marketing Division of the Group are launching a call for projects to answer this question from 6 March to 9 April 2018. We are accepting submissions from start-ups and SMEs.

Why focus on improving home assistance for older people?

EDF wants to help its residential customers enjoy later life by making their everyday lives easier. That’s why we’re looking for innovative solutions to improve quality of life and peace of mind for all customers, with a focus on enabling older people to stay in their own homes.

The aim of this new call for projects is to find a start-up or SME offering tools, products, or a combination of existing or maturing solutions in the area of assistance for older people at home.

Please note!
A second call for projects focusing on domestic services for residential customers in general will be launched on 4 April. Applicants can only make submissions for one of the two calls for projects. Please consider carefully which area corresponds best to your offer to increase your chances of winning. Details of this call for projects are available at this page.

EDF is committed! 4 good reasons to take part in this call for projects

If you are one of the winners, you’ll enjoy the following advantages:

Paid testing of your solution
Technical support and contacts with EDF experts
Support from EDF and its partners (competitiveness clusters,, incubators, etc.) for implementing the tested solution
Exposure in EDF's communications media (website, social media, etc.)

What solutions are we seeking?

Watchword: Show us your unique and easy-to-implement innovations with a competitive advantage. You can also submit a combination of solutions responding to the various objectives cited below.

Our three priority areas:

1 Helping older people maintain independence in their own homes

Our needs?
Help older people stay in their own homes for as long as possible and make their homes more comfortable and ergonomic so that their lives become easier

Sample solutions*

Smart home systems
Local services
Mobility aids
Technology training (computers, smartphones, etc.)
Home adaptation
...

2 Remote monitoring and peace of mind

Our needs?
Make older peoples’ homes safer to prevent accidents in the home and prevent social isolation

Sample solutions*

Innovative remote assistance solutions
Activity monitoring
...

3 Everyday savings

Our needs?
Help older people manage their budgets to save money and improve their quality of life

Sample solutions*

Assistance and advice for everyday expenses
Budgeting tools
Analysis of recurring automated payments
...

*These are just some examples. As long as your idea falls within these priority areas mentioned, we’re open to anything!

Timetable and selection procedure

1 Applications open

6 March at 3 PM to 9 April 2018

You can apply and suggest solutions in one or more areas. All you have to do is complete your application and fill in our answer form.
Any questions? Send in your questions to our teams.

2 Selection procedure

9 April to 1 June 2018

You will be informed if you do not fulfil the eligibility criteria. You will not be permitted to submit an application.
9 - 26 April: Our teams will examine your submissions and make a shortlist.
22 - 23 May: Finalists will be invited to pitch to the jury.
31 May: Results sent out to applicants.
1 June: Winners announced

3 What’s next?

From September 2018

EDF will support the winners and help fund an on-the-ground trial:

Phase 1: Preliminary studies prior to trial with the support of our experts
Phase 2: Approval of solutions
Phase 3: Paid testing of selected solutions

Answers to your questions

Click here to read our answers to your questions.

Selection criteria

This call for projects to assist older people in their homes is right for you if your solution is:

Innovative,
Unique, and outside the box
Easy to implement with a competitive advantage (solutions with existing customers have an advantage)
Scalable on the French residential customers market
Economically viable in the short, medium, and long term, profitable
Easy to test immediately on a web platform to put the solution on the market, previous success online an advantage
In accordance with EDF image and values

Please note!
Start-ups and small to medium-sized companies based in Europe can apply. Please note that any solutions provided will be aimed at the French residential market.

⁽¹⁾According to a survey conducted by OpinionWay in March 2012

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