17 age-technology projects to receive $24 million

MONTREAL – MEDTEQ+ and AGE-WELL, two major players in Canada’s AgeTech ecosystem, announce the launch of a new cohort of 17 collaborative projects focused on technologies designed to improve the quality of life of older adults and caregivers, supported through the envisAGE initiative.

The total budget for the 17 projects amounts to nearly $24 million, including over $6-million in funding from the envisAGE initiative through the government of Canada’s Strategic Response Fund.

The selected projects all aim to address priority issues related to Canada’s aging population. They focus on maintaining autonomy and independence, cognitive health, home care, well-being and healthy lifestyles, social inclusion, supportive communities, health services, mobility, and support for family caregivers.

“This new cohort once again demonstrates the collaborative strength of Canada’s AgeTech ecosystem. The projects bring together organizations from different regions of the country around a common mission: to improve the quality of life for seniors and provide practical tools for family caregivers and professionals,” said Sabrina Boutin (pictured), executive director of envisAGE and vice president of strategy and global partnerships at MEDTEQ+.

• Supporting Safer Recovery at Home Through Digital Rehabilitation Innovation
  In collaboration with Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Tenzr Health, Alberta Health Services and Acute Care Alberta, this project aims to support safer recovery at home for older adults through an innovative digital rehabilitation program.
• Paratus Platform: Securing and Standardizing Critical Interventions in Older Adult Care Settings
  Developed in collaboration with Paratus Medical Inc., OROT – Santé Québec Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire, Ressource Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix, and Les Habitations Bordeleau, this project brings together complementary partners from the technology, clinical, and community sectors to secure and standardize critical interventions in older adults’ care settings.
• Structured Home Mobility Tracking to Support Older Adults’ Independence
  Led by Parados, the NIM Intelliance Innovation Centre / Santé Québec Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire, Just Like Family Home Care, and Physio Vibe, this project aims to better document and monitor changes in older adults’ mobility at home.
• IRIS-Aînés: Proactive Management of Respiratory Virus Outbreaks in Older Adults Living Facilities for the Benefit of Residents and the Healthcare System
  Developed in collaboration with Nosotech Inc., OROT, Santé Québec Bas-Saint-Laurent, Santé Québec Lanaudière, and Santé Québec Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire, as well as older adults living facilities such as Habitations Bordeleau, this project aims to improve outbreak management.
• Safe Medication Optimization in the Emergency Department for Older Adults Using the NurEx Geriatric Module
  Developed in collaboration with NURA Medical, St. Mary’s Hospital Centre, Lakeshore General Hospital (Santé Québec Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire), and Beachhead™ NIM Intelliance, this project aims to improve medication preparation and safe administration in emergency care settings.
• Technological Innovation in Home Care: Evaluation of an Interactive Platform to Support Patients and Clinical Teams
  Conducted in collaboration with AzurDev Inc., Santé Québec Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire, and OROT, this project will assess the patient experience, the workload of healthcare teams, and the reduction in avoidable hospitalizations, and aims to improve the quality and coordination of home care through a smart and innovative digital solution that allows patients to access personalized content, receive reminders, and easily communicate with clinical teams and their caregivers.
• Deploying Pontosense’s Privacy-First AI Radar Monitoring with Home Instead to Improve Fall Safety, Wellness, and Aging-in-Place Across 1,500 Canadian Homes
  In collaboration with Pontosense Inc., Home Instead: In-Home Senior Care, and KITE Research Institute (UHN), this project will analyze the system’s technical performance, the experiences of caregivers and clients, and its operational impact in real-world conditions, and will implement a privacy-focused home monitoring solution in more than 1,500 households across Canada.
• Enhancing Long-term Care Resident Safety and Sleep Quality with the Integration of a RealTime Location Nurse Call System with Nighttime Sensors
  In collaboration with Geonavo Positioning Systems Inc. (Tenera Care), the KITE Research Institute (University Health Network), and Shannex Inc., this project brings together technology, research, and care delivery partners to improve safety and quality of life for residents in long-term care.
• Advancing Aging in Place by Preventing Limb Loss and Emergency Escalation for High-Risk Older Adults
  Led by ParaMed in collaboration with Own Health Inc. and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, this project will develop a coordinated, technology-enabled Limb Preservation pathway to help older adults living with diabetes, peripheral artery disease, and chronic wounds remain safely at home while reducing the risk of serious infections, hospitalization and lower limb amputation.
• AI-Driven Mobility Monitoring and Gamified Rehabilitation to Improve Patient Activity, Safety, and Recovery Outcomes in Inpatient Care Settings
  Led by WeTraq in collaboration with Scarborough Health Network and KITE Research Institute (University Health Network), this project will use wearable technology, artificial intelligence, and gamified rehabilitation tools to support safer mobility, reduce fall risk, and improve recovery outcomes for older adults in inpatient rehabilitation settings.
• Home Care Inspired by the RPA Service Model – A New Hybrid Model to Support Aging at Home
  Led by Virtuose Technologies in partnership with Les Habitations Bordeleau, the Research Center of the Montréal University Institute of Geriatrics (CRIUGM)[MP1], and the Gérontopôle Nouvelle-Aquitaine, this project aims to validate a hybrid home support model inspired by the services offered in older adults living facilities.
• Implementation and Evaluation of an AI Conversational System with Critical Event Detection to Improve Clinical, Financial, and Organizational Management in Residential Care
  Led by Amical AI in partnership with OROT – Santé Québec Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire and the Santé Québec Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire, this project aims to evaluate the implementation of an intelligent conversational system to improve care in long-term care facilities.
• Deploying the NL Connected Care Network: Scalable Care Pods across Newfoundland and Labrador
  In collaboration with Fonemed, NL Health Services, and Keyin College, this project brings together care delivery, evaluation, and community partners to improve equitable access to healthcare across Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Helping People Maintain their Independence and Facilitating Access to Home Care Services through the Independence and Home Care Services Hub
  Led by Aidexpress in collaboration with Fondation AGES and Université Laval, this project aims to develop a Home Care and Independence Hub to facilitate access to reliable and tailored services for older adults, family caregivers, and community organizations throughout Quebec.
• PAIR+: Evaluation of an Artificial Intelligence Model to Support Aging in Place in a Municipal Context
  Led by Amical in collaboration with SOMUM and partner Université Laval, this project aims to evaluate the integration of conversational artificial intelligence into the PAIR Program to enhance safety, reduce isolation, and support older adults living alone to remain in their homes.
• Commercial Validation and Scalable Implementation of the Take Care Platform within Right at Home Canada
  Led by Take Care in partnership with Right at Home Canada and the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (CTAAN), this project will validate and scale a digital advanced care planning platform within home care services for older adults and caregivers.
• Validating a Privacy-Preserving Ambient Monitoring Platform to Support Aging in Place within Community-Based Care Programs
  Led by Zensor Technologies in partnership with Broadmead Care and the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (CTAAN), this project will validate a privacy-preserving ambient monitoring platform to support older adults aging in place through community-based care programs.

This new cohort brings together 16 innovative SMEs, 18 Community labs, 7 evaluation-focused Beachheads, and 1 Innovation Hub from 7 Canadian provinces. Together, these partners are collaborating to implement practical technologies that can improve the lives of older adults and family caregivers while supporting healthcare professionals.

“Older adults play a vital role in our communities and must be able to rely on solutions that support their well-being, safety, and ability to live independently. With the Government of Canada investment, envisAGE is able to support promising Canadian innovations that effectively address the needs of older adults and caregivers. It is also helping to strengthen a growing Canadian industrial and research sector whose expertise is increasingly recognized globally, while advancing technologies developed in Canada that improve the independence and dignity of older adults by responding to the real needs of Canadians from coast to coast.” said Mélanie Joly, minister of industry and minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

“The announcement of 17 new collaborative projects marks a significant milestone for Canada’s AgeTech and health innovation ecosystem. Through the engagement of SMEs, researchers, and clinical and community sectors, we are building a strong ecosystem, enabling companies to obtain the feedback and data essential for their next steps toward commercialization, helping to retain expertise and jobs here, helping to create promising networks among partners across all provinces, and bridging the gap between community needs and the technological solutions developed here,” said Annie-Kim Gilbert, president and chief executive officer of MEDTEQ+.

“These collaborative projects demonstrate the power of research-based co-creation in addressing the challenges of aging. By bringing together researchers, care settings, businesses, and communities, this new cohort supports the development, evaluation, and adoption of AgeTech solutions that respond to the real needs of older adults and their caregivers. Strengthening connections between research, innovation, and practice will accelerate knowledge generation, support the implementation of evidence-based solutions, and advance Canada’s leadership in the field of aging-related technologies and services,” said Bridgette Murphy, chief executive officer of AGE-WELL.

About envisAGE
MEDTEQ+, a leader in accelerating innovation and supporting entrepreneurs in the Canadian MedTech industry, and AGE-WELL, Canada’s leading research and innovation network in AgeTech, have joined forces as co-leads in envisAGE. This large-scale pan-Canadian five-year initiative brings stakeholders together to provide resources and support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to integrate technologies that address the challenges of aging and build Canadian leadership in the AgeTech market. The envisAGE initiative is funded through the Government of Canada’s Strategic Response Fund, with additional contributions from the Government of Quebec, industry, non-profits, and other partners. To learn more about envisAGE, visit: www.envis-age.ca.

About MEDTEQ+
MEDTEQ+, a pan-Canadian industrial research and innovation consortium, is dedicated to helping healthcare technology companies bring their innovations to market, accelerate economic growth and contribute to improving the health of the population. Through its unique expertise and collaborative approach, MEDTEQ+ offers support services across the innovation continuum, validation and integration of technological solutions in real-life environments, financing and networking with key ecosystem partners to accelerate the commercialization of innovative healthcare technologies. MEDTEQ+ also supports the envisAGE initiative, which aims to catalyze the AgeTech ecosystem and stimulate technological development in supporting aging. MEDTEQ+ relies, among others, on financial support from the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada, the private sector and complementary partners to foster research and industry relations. www.medteq.ca.

About AGE-WELL
AGE-WELL is Canada’s Technology and Aging Network. As a pan-Canadian network with global reach, AGE-WELL has mobilized a vast community of researchers, older adults, caregivers, partner organizations, and future leaders to accelerate the delivery of technology-based solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of older Canadians and their caregivers. AGE-WELL serves as a catalyst for technological innovation that supports healthy aging while driving Canada’s growing AgeTech sector. AGE-WELL’s groundbreaking programs are funded by the Government of Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Health Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Since December 2022, AGE-WELL has been a co-lead in the envisAGE initiative, which aims to catalyze Canada’s AgeTech ecosystem by helping companies deliver technology solutions that will change the lives of Canadians. envisAGE is funded through the Government of Canada’s Strategic Response Fund. www.agewell-nce.ca.