COGKNOW: Translating Research Innovation into Products and Services Maurice MULVENNA 1 , Franka MEILAND 2 , Ferial MOELAERT 3 , Ricardo CASTELLOT 4 , Jonathan WALLACE 1 , Chris NUGENT 1 , Suzanne MARTIN 1 , Richard DAVIES 1 , Steven DEVLIN 1 1 TRAIL Laboratory, University of Ulster Shore Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB,UK Tel: +44 2890 368974, Email: {md.mulvenna, jg.wallace, cd.nugent, s.martin, rj.davies, s.devlin} @ulster.ac.uk 2 Dept. of Psychiatry, Alzheimer Centre, VU University medical centre/GGZ Buitenamstel, Valeriusplein 9, 1075 BG Amsterdam, The Netherlands Email: fj.meiland@vumc.nl 3 Telematica Instituut, Brouwerijstraat 1, 7523 XC Enschede, The Netherlands Email: Ferial.Moelaert@telin.nl 4 Telefonica, Parque Tecnológico de Boecillo, 47151, Boecillo, Valladolid, Spain Email: rcl@tid.es Abstract. This paper describes an eInclusion project supported by the European FP6 research programme, called COGKNOW. The aim of this project is to develop innovative solutions from research that help people in the early stages of dementia maintain their independence and confidence. The project is heavily user-driven and relies also on significant clinical advice and guidance to provide the technical research and development team with strong pathways for development. The project is developing a cognitive prosthetic device that can reinforce feelings of safety, support recreational activities, facilitate communication and most importantly support the person by using a calendar-driven reminding function in the device. COGKNOW is also focused on ensuring that the user-driven and clinically supported development takes cognisance of the potential market for a cognitive prosthetic. Consequently there is a formal assessment of the potential market carried out in the project. At this stage in the project, the functionality identified for the first of three trials in the project has been set out, and this paper introduces these findings and relates them to the proposed business framework. 1. Introduction This paper describes the anticipated issues inherent in carrying out research, then designing a product for the healthcare market and seeking to ensure that the significant innovation from the research matches the market opportunity as the project concludes. In this paper we discuss the design and potential outputs with regard to devices and service delivery models for the COGKNOW project, which is designed to tackle some of the problems faced by people with early onset dementia. The aim of COGKNOW [1] is to achieve a breakthrough with research that addresses the needs of those with dementia, particularly those living in the community with mild dementia in Europe – literally helping these people navigate through their day. This entails cognitive reinforcement in the four main areas of helping people to remember, helping to maintain social contact, helping with performing daily life and recreational activities, and providing enhanced feelings of safety. Globally nations are facing the challenges posed by the first fully aged societies in human existence. This has directly resulted in the increased incidence of chronic diseases and conditions. These are degenerative conditions that can only be controlled and not,