Forum 2014: a postcard
Our annual event is already history and it is time to step back and look at what the Forum was in Bucharest. With more than 530 participants, this edition was the first one to be hosted in an eastern country. Under the title “Broader, Bigger, Better – AAL solutions for Europe”, the conference was co-organized by the Ambient Assisted Living Association, responsible for the Active and Assisted Living Programme, and the Romanian Ministry of National Education through the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI).
The grand opening launched the conference at the Romanian Palace of Parliament on 9 September. Welcome messages were given by Rafael de Andres Medina, president of the AAL Association President; Sorin Oprescu – Mayor of Bucharest; Remus Pricopie – Romanian Minister of National Education; Mihnea Costoiu – Romanian Minister Delegate for Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technological Development and Peter Wintlev-Jensen – Deputy Head of Unit, DG Connect, European Commission will be addressed to more than 500 attendees.
On 10th and 11th September relevant topics for the Active and Assisted Living Programme and future technology together with the possible evolutions of the AAL market were thoroughly debated during the plenary and parallel sessions. Visionary speakers like David Bott, specialists in gamification like Sebastian Deterding and Pamela M. Kato, entrepreneurs, policy makers, ICT developers, manufacturers, health professionals, businesses, technologists, academics, designers, carers and older adults took part in these sessions.
The AAL Award was another relevant moment of the event. This award is intended to recognize the most promising project of the AAL programme that demonstrates great promise in terms of innovation, human-centric approaches to development and market potential. The competition was very tight and it was won by Confidence project. (for more info click here)
In the headline Mr Remus Pricopie, Romania Minister of National Education (photo by Alex Mazilu – copyright AAL Programme) To see other images visit our Google+ page