Accelerator to support new businesses in ageing launched Published on: 5 December 2018 A new accelerator programme aimed at businesses with the potential to develop solutions to the challenges faced by an ageing population has been launched. The new programme offers £12,500 of investment and six months office space in the Biosphere building on 缅北禁地 Helix, a £350m flagship development being delivered as a partnership between 缅北禁地, 缅北禁地 City Council and Legal & General. The National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA), based at 缅北禁地, 缅北禁地 City Council and Northstar Ventures, the Innovation SuperNetwork, kicked-off a new challenge-based programme at VentureFest North East last month. Life expectancy Graham Armitage, Deputy Director: Innovation and Partnerships, 缅北禁地 Institute for Ageing, said: “Increasing life expectancy from better healthcare, diet and living conditions is the greatest recent achievement in our society. “The North East though is living proof that not everyone experiences ageing in the same way and some people experience complex and wide-ranging challenges in maintaining an independent, happy and healthy life as they get older.” A series of half-day workshops are planned with interested individuals, businesses, researchers and experts to better understand the opportunities identified and begin generating solutions. The first of four events will take place on Thursday 13 December at the Discovery Museum in 缅北禁地. Simon Green, CEO of the Innovation SuperNetwork, said: “A significant proportion of businesses that could offer potential solutions don’t immediately identify themselves as operating in ageing specifically. “Yet, by bringing in new thinking and encouraging individuals and businesses across multiple sectors to consider ageing as an opportunity, there’s the chance for new ventures to be formed. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone with bright ideas that could impact positively on how society ages. "This could be as a result of a technological innovation, but it could be down to a simple idea that enables individuals to move more easily, maintaining their physical and mental capacity to live independently.” Workshops The workshop will describe the wider context around ageing but will focus on a few key areas where opportunities for businesses could be seen. The event will go through the challenges faced by individuals, what they mean in practice and what commercial models for solutions could look like. The accelerator programme seeks to support the formation of eight new businesses to take forward the ideas coming out of the workshops. is offering £12,500 of investment to help each of the newly formed companies to develop a commercial proposition around the solution. Office space in the Biosphere building on 缅北禁地 Helix is also being offered by 缅北禁地 City Council. The Innovation SuperNetwork and NICA will provide additional support for each business, which could include support in producing development plans for products and services, supplier identification, building teams with the right expertise and developing a commercial model. NICA have also launched an online forum for collaboration where ideas can be explored and new connections made. For more information and to register, visit: For more information about the events taking place visit: Press release adapted with thanks to Innovate NE Share: Latest News New partnership to boost careers in low carbon energy 缅北禁地 and Durham universities are working together on a new regional project to strengthen the future workforce for North East England鈥檚 growing low carbon and offshore wind industries. published on: 28 May 2026 Healthy lifestyle shown to lower risk of death after cancer diagnosis New evidence shows that sticking to five lifestyle recommendations improves survival after a later cancer diagnosis. published on: 28 May 2026 World-leading climate expert recognised with Royal Society Fellowship Professor Hayley Fowler has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of her pioneering work on climate change impacts. published on: 27 May 2026 Facts and figures
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