REVITAL: Socio-economic revitalisation of sparsely populated areas through clinical telecare”, which is part of the Interreg VI-B Sudoe 2021 – 2027 Programme, whose objective is to promote research, technological development and innovation between Spain, France and Portugal, has begun.
The main objective of REVITAL is to cover the need to provide specialised health care and physical and neurological rehabilitation services (especially for dependent and elderly people), using technological tools to offer tele-assistance and telerehabilitation services, which will also help to create qualified employment and establish a new population that will boost the rural economy.
To achieve this, the project focuses on responding to the depopulation and ageing of inland rural areas by establishing a new population with social and health care training, preventing elderly and dependent people from having to migrate to urban areas to access advanced clinical services, as well as developing sustainable production systems based on tele-assistance and tele-rehabilitation technologies, responding to social needs that are not sufficiently covered in the field of social and health care services.
The project has a clear strategic orientation towards strengthening social cohesion and territorial and demographic balance through social innovation and endogenous development.
The REVITAL project began with an inaugural meeting on 1 and 2 February at the facilities of IDEVA – Innovation and Economic Development Agency of the Valladolid City Council. This agency is key in public-private collaboration and in the connection between university and business to promote the attraction and retention of talent.
A follow-up meeting took place on 5 June at ESTIA in Bidart, France, in the context of an event that brought together various entities from the biomedical, support systems and rehabilitation and higher education sectors. This event facilitated the exchange of ideas and the creation of collaborative networks to promote innovation in health and rehabilitation, one of the key objectives of the project. Participating organisations shared their progress and perspectives, taking the opportunity to strengthen the link between partners and generate synergies.
The project will be developed with a time horizon of 2026, thanks to the work of the multi-regional consortium formed by 9 entities in the field of health and socio-health sector in Spain, France and Portugal, which are:
- Innovative Solutions for Independent Living Cluster (SIVI)
- Social Services Management of Castilla y León
- San Cebrián Foundation
- GOGOA Mobility Robots
- École Supérieure des Technologies Industrielles Avancées (ESTIA)
- University of DEUSTO
- Etablissement Public de Santé de GARAZI
- Beira Baixa Business Association (AEBB)
- Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco (IPCB)
Both the objectives and the expected results of the REVITAL project are considered of great interest for the regions where it will be carried out, Castilla y León (Spain), Central Portugal and Nouvelle-Aquitaine (France), and for other SUDOE regions, due to the common challenge and need of these inland rural areas to revitalise their economic and social fabric, enhancing employment opportunities that solve social challenges from the perspective of innovation, combining social needs with development opportunities.
